Texas red wine is entering its finest age yet. Here’s what to consume this summertime from Texas wineries and wine makers:
8 single vineyard red wines to attempt:
Becker Malbec Reserve, Tallent Vineyards, Texas Hill Country, 2019: complete bodied with abundant red fruit and tasty natural notes.
Bending Branch Tannat, Newsom Vineyards, Texas High Plains, 2018: well structured, with abundant black cherry, red plum and coffee notes.
Duchman Family Winery, Aglianico, Oswald Vineyards, Texas High Plains, 2016: a rustic red wine, with black cherry and plum tastes, notes of cedar and baking spice, and muscular tannins.
Fall Creek Winery Tempranillo, Salt Lick Vineyard, Texas Hill Country, 2019: medium bodied, with complete, dark red fruit and tips of smoke and leather.
Pedernales Petite Sirah, Farmhouse Vineyards, Texas High Plains, 2018: blackberry and blueberry tastes with tips of violet.
Spicewood Vineyards Tempranillo, Dutton Vineyards, Texas High Plains, 2019: fragrances of black plum and nutmeg, with sour cherry and black plum tastes.
Wedding Oak Granitique, Cherokee Vineyards, Texas Hill Country, 2018: medium tannins with brilliant red cherry fruit.
William Chris Roussanne, La Pradera Vineyards, Texas High Plains, 2020: a medium bodied, crisp white with abundant texture, revealing flower and apple notes.
7 red wines utilizing brand-new grape ranges:
Spicewood Vineyards discovered success with its Battle of Toro, a mix of Touriga Nacional andTempranillo The 2017 vintage was granted leading honors–Judges’ Selection– at the 2021 TexSomInternational Wine Awards Touriga Nacional is an exceptional mixing grape, with qualities comparable to cabernet sauvignon.
Bending Branch Winery, the very first to plant Souzao (a dark skinned grape with great natural level of acidity), launched a single vineyard varietal red wine, Bending Branch Estate Souzao, Lost Pirogue Vineyard, 2017.
Sagrantino is a durable, dark red Italian grape range that’s high in tannins. At the 2021 San Francisco International Wine Competition, the Messina Hof Paulo Limited Edition Sagrantino, 2018, won a double gold award. This year, Bending Branch Winery released its first Sagrantino.
Teroldego is a northern Italian dark-skinned grape with brilliant, tart red fruit and blackberry notes. Pedernales Cellars Teroldego 2019 and Kalasi Cellars Teroldego 2017 are both produced with fruit from Narra Vineyards in the Texas High Plains.
Sandy Road Vineyards has the only Prieto Picudo (a red grape from northern Spain) planted in the U.S. and is amongst the couple of that have actually planted Mencia (a red grape from Spain and Portugal) and Marselan (a cross of cabernet sauvignon and grenache, from Southern France).
3 wonder red wines that defy environment difficulties:
Fall Creek Meritus, Texas Hill Country: This cabernet sauvignon-forward mix differs each year. The 2019 vintage, made from 100% cabernet sauvignon, reveals smooth tannins and abundant dark fruit with mocha and tobacco notes. The 2012 vintage– a cab-merlot mix– has actually aged well, with dried herb and earthy notes providing intricacy.
Becker Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Canada Family Vineyard, Texas High Plains 2018: Made with fruit grown 6 miles from the New Mexico border, the red wine reveals abundant plum and cherry fruit, with natural, allspice, coffee, cocoa, and leather notes.
English Newsom Dry Riesling, Texas High Plains 2020: Showing pineapple and grapefruit tastes, with notes of pear and lemon, this red wine was granted finest of class at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
7 bubblies!
Bending Branch Winery Tannat Frizzante Wine, Texas Hill Country, 2021
Siboney Cellars Coral Estrellas Petillant Naturel, Texas High Plains, 2019
Pedernales Kyla Petillant Naturel Rosé, 2020
Ron Yates Grenache Petillant Naturel, Farmhouse Vineyard, 2021
Spicewood Vineyards Pet Nat of Grenache, 2021
