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WINERIES

34 Central Texas wineries

By Dale Rice
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Winemaking in Central Texas now stretches almost from Fort Worth to San Antonio, with a concentration in the Hill Country. Here is a guide to 34 wineries:

1. Barking Rocks Winery

Founded: 2002

Address: 1919 Allen Court, Granbury

Phone: (817) 579-0007

Web site: www.barkingrockswine.com

Tasting room hours: 1 to 6 p.m. Saturdays

Specialty style: Small batch, dry varietals

Showcase wine: 2004 sangiovese, an intense wine from high plains grapes, 2004 winner of the 2007 Lone Star International Wine Competition bronze medal

2. Bluff Dale Vineyards

Founded: 2004

Address: 5222 County Road 148, Bluff Dale

Phone: (254) 728-3540

Web site: www.bluffdalevineyards.com

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays-Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays

Specialty style: Several varietals, blends, sweet and dry wines.

Showcase wine: 2004 cabernet sauvignon reserve. It has a strong structure with the potential to continue improving through 2009.

3. Brennan Vineyards

Founded: 2001

Address: 802 S. Austin St., Comanche

Phone: (325) 356-9100

Web site: www.brennanvineyards.com

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays

Specialty style: Syrah, cabernet sauvignon, viognier, Comanche Rose

Showcase wine: 2006 viognier, winner of the Grand Star Award for Best Texas White at the Lone Star International Wine Competition

4. Rising Star Vineyards

Founded: 2005

Address:1001 County Road 290, Rising Star

Phone: (254) 643-1776

Web site: www.risingstarvineyards.com

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m to 6 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays

Specialty style: Small lots of hand-crafted wines with an emphasis on unique blends and treatments.

Showcase wine: 2006 Barbera, a lush red with lots of mouth-feel and a big mid-palate impact.

5. Red Caboose Winery

Founded: 2007

Address: 1147 County Road 1110, Meridian

Phone: (254) 435-9911

Web site: www.redcaboosewinery.com

Tasting room hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays; call for appointments other days

Specialty style: Red wines including tempranillo, viognier

Showcase wine: 2005 cabernet sauvignon

6. Alamosa Wine Cellars

Founded: 1999

Address: 677 County Road 430, Bend

Phone: (325) 628-3313

Web site: alamosawinecellars.com

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays (wine trail weekends until 6 p.m.)

Specialty style: Warm-climate varietals

Showcase wine: El Guapo, a tempranillo (Spanish varietal) well-adapted to the Central Texas climate

7. Pillar Bluff Vineyards

Founded: 1999

Address: 300 County Road 111, Lampasas

Phone: (512) 556-4078

Web site: pillarbluff.com

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays

Specialty style: French varietals including chardonnay, chenin blanc, Bordeaux and white merlot (seasonal)

Showcase wine: Boar Doe, a rugged, hearty blend of five Bordeaux-style grapes

8. Texas Legato Winery

Founded: 2006

Address: 2935 FM 1478, Lampasas

Phone: (512) 556-9600 or (817) 313-9565

Web site: www.texaslegato.com

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays on wine-trail weekends, otherwise by appointment

Specialty style: Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, malbec, petite syrah, chardonnay, Family Reunion, Sweet Surrender (a sweet merlot) and Sojourn (a port-styled wine)

Showcase wine: Family Reunion, a blend of red wines.

9. Fall Creek Vineyards

Founded: 1979

Address: 1820 County Road 222, Tow

Phone: (325) 379-5361

Web site: fcv.com

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays

Specialty style: Classic chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, sauvignon blanc, viognier, shiraz and blended 'Old World grapes' in 'New World style'

Showcase wine: 2004 Meritus, a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and malbec, winner of the Double Gold Medal from the Tasters Guild International

10. Sandstone Cellars Winery

Founded: 2003

Address: 211 San Antonio St., Mason

Phone: (325) 347-9463

Web site: sandstonecellarswinery.com

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays

Specialty style: Mediterranean varietals blended for Mason County terroir

Showcase wine: 2005 II, a blend of eight Mediterranean varietals aged 10 months in Pennsylvania oak

11. Lost Creek Vineyard

Founded: 2003

Address: The Sunrise Beach location of Lost Creek Vineyard is closed due to damage from flooding. They hope to reopen in the first part of 2008. Visit their store on 302 E. Main St. in Johnson City.

Phone: (830) 868-7828

Web site: lostcreekvineyard.com

Tasting room hours: N/A

Specialty style: Six different wines including blanc du bois

Showcase wine: Buddy's Select, a spicy wine made from a blend of cabernet and merlot

12. Flat Creek Estate

Founded: 1999

Address: 24912 Singleton Bend East Road, Marble Falls

Phone: (512) 267-6310

Web site: flatcreekestate.com

Tasting room hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays

Specialty style: Italian muscats (muscato blanco and orange muscato) and Italian reds and whites (sangiovese) and pinot grigio

Showcase wine: Super Texan, a light- to medium-bodied Super Tuscan-styled sangiovese, a San Francisco International Wine competition Double Gold winner

13. McReynolds Winery

Founded: 1999

Address: 706 Shovel Mountain Road, Cypress Mill

Phone: (830) 825-3544

Web site: mcreynoldswines.com

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays

Specialty style: Chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and merlot

Showcase wine: Chardonnay, a medium-bodied wine with not too much oak

14. Spicewood Vineyards

Founded: 1992

Address: 1419 Burnet County Road 409, Spicewood

Phone: (830) 693-5328

Web site: spicewoodvineyards.com

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays; call for appointments at other times

Specialty style: 100 percent locally grown wines, including sauvignon blanc, zinfandel and Merlot Nouveau

Showcase wine: Zinfandel, a dark, spicy wine with lush fruit flavors

15. Stone House Vineyard

Founded: 1999

Address: 24350 Haynie Flat Road, Spicewood

Phone: (512) 264-3630 or (512) 264-9890

Web site: www.stonehousevineyard.com

Tasting room hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Fridays-Sundays

Specialty style: Norton grape varietal producing red table wine and port; Australian wines from the Barossa Valley and three special reserve wines

Showcase wine: Claros, a red wine aged for 18 months in French oak barriques, winner of Silver Medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, Gold Medal and Sweepstake at the San Diego International Wine Competition 2007

16. Bell Mountain Vineyards

Founded: 1976

Address: 463 Bell Mountain Road, Fredericksburg

Phone: (830) 685-3297

Web site: bellmountainwine.com

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; other days by appointment

Specialty style: Premium varieties of the Old World including merlot, cabernet sauvignon blanc, dry and late harvest riesling and chardonnay

Showcase wine: Merlot, a rich wine made from the vintage of the decade

17. Torre di Pietra Vineyards

Founded: 2002

Address: 10915 E. U.S. 290, Fredericksburg

Phone: (830) 644-2829

Web site: texashillcountrywine.com

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays

Specialty style: Mediterranean and traditional reds, including mourvédre, touriga nacional, cabernet sauvignon, the Red Flirt and malbec

Showcase wine: Primitivo, an Italian varietal from the Doss Valley vineyard

18. Grape Creek Vineyard

Founded: 1989

Address: 10587 E. U.S. 290

Phone: (830) 644-2710

Web site: grapecreek.com

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays

Specialty styles: Cabernet sauvignon, cabernet trois, cabernet blanc, pinot grigio and a Bordeaux-style blend

Showcase wine: Bellissimo, a Super Tuscan-style blend of merlot, sangiovese and cabernet sauvignon grapes

19. Chisholm Trail Winery

Founded: 1999-2001

Address: 2367 Usener Road, Fredericksburg

Phone: (830) 990-2675

Web site: chisholmtrailwinery.com

Tasting room hours: Noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays-Mondays

Specialty style: Cabernet sauvignon, Desperado (a dry red wine blend)

Showcase wine: Ghost Rider, a sweet, easy-drinking merlot

20. Fredericksburg Winery

Founded: 1996

Address: 247 W. Main St., Fredericksburg

Phone: (830) 990-8747

Web site: fbgwinery.com

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon to 5:30 p.m. Sundays

Specialty style: A wide variety of red, white and rosé

Showcase wine: New port, a sweet, full bodied, ruby-red wine

21. Becker Vineyards

Founded: 1992

Address: 464 Becker Farms Road, Stonewall

Phone: (830) 644-2681

Web site: www.beckervineyards.com

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays

Specialty style: Handcrafted, small-production wines, traditional dry style, aged in French and American oak barrels

Showcase wine: Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, a typically big red aged in American oak barrels from 20 months to two years

22. Woodrose Winery & Retreat

Founded: 2000

Address: 662 Woodrose Lane, Stonewall

Phone: (830) 644-2539

Web site: woodrosewinery.com

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays-Fridays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays

Specialty style: Fruit-forward and approachable wines

Showase wine: Cabernet sauvignon, a full-bodied wine cold-fermented for color and flavor and aged for a year in oak

23. Texas Hills Vineyard

Founded: 1995

Address: 878 RM 2766, Johnson City

Phone: (830) 868-2321

Web site: texashillsvineyard.com

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays

Specialty style: Italian-style, not as much oak, pinots and cabernets

Showcase wine: Kick Butt Cab, fruit-forward with lots of depth, made with grapes from 22-year-old vines, winner of silver medal at 2006 Lone Star International Wine Competition

24. Driftwood Vineyards

Founded: 1998-2001

Address: 4001 Elder Hill Road, Driftwood

Phone: (512) 692-6229

Web site: driftwoodvineyards.com

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Specialty style: Rhone Style Wines: Viognier, Longhorn Red (cabernet/syrah)

Showcase wine: Super Texan, a Texas version of a Super Tuscan wine from Italy

25. Mandola Estate Winery

Founded: 2005

Address: 13308 FM 150 W., Driftwood

Phone: (512) 858-1470

Web site: mandolawines.com

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Mondays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays

Specialty style: Central and Southern Italian wine varieties

Showcase wine: 2004 Spino Montepulciano, a fruity dry red made from grapes originating in the Abruzzo region in east-central Italy.

26. Wimberley Valley Winery at Driftwood

Founded: 1983

Address: 2825 Lone Man Mountain Road, Driftwood

Phone: (512) 847-2592

Web site: None

Tasting room hours: None

Specialty style: Sweet wines, including sweet red, blush, white and sangria, mulled and spiced

Showcase wine: Texas Country Cellars Sweet Red, a blend of medium-body blends

27. Singing Water Vineyards

Founded: 1998

Address: 316 Mill Dam Road, Comfort

Phone: (830) 995-2246

Web site: shopcomfort.com/singingwater

Tasting room hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays on wine trail weekends

Specialty style: Merlot, cabernet and red blends, sauvignon blanc

Showcase wine: Reserve merlot/cabernet sauvignon blend, a dry, fruity wine made from the most mature grapes from the Comfort vineyard blended with West Texas cabernet, aged in oak for 18 months

28. Comfort Cellars Winery

Founded: 1999

Address: 723 Front St., Comfort

Phone: (830) 995-3274

Web site: www.comfortcellars.com

Tasting room hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Sundays-Mondays, noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays-Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays

Specialty style: An eclectic variety including raisin wine, orange chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir

Showcase wine: None

29. Sister Creek Vineyards

Founded: 1988

Address: 1142 Sisterdale Road, Sisterdale

Phone: (830) 324-6704

Web site: sistercreekvineyards.com

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays

Specialty style: Old European styles including Bordeaux- and Italian-style blends

Showcase wine: Muscat cannelli, a crisp, white, low-alcohol Italian-style wine

30. FawnCrest Vineyard

Founded: 1999

Address: 1370 West Side Circle, Canyon Lake

Phone: (830) 935-2407

Web site: fawncrest.com

Tasting room hours: Noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays

Specialty style: Dry Bordeaux-style reds

Showcase wine: Meritage, a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc in the same tank so flavors flow together

31. La Cruz de Comal

Founded: 2004

Address: 7405 RM 2722, Startzville

Phone: (830) 899-2723

Web site: lacruzdecomalwines.com

Tasting room hours: Not open to the public; visits arranged by appointment

Specialty style: Authentic Texas Hill Country wine

Showcase wine: Troubadour, a fleshy, sturdy red made primarily from merlot, blended with malbec and/or cabernet sauvignon and aged in new French oak barrels

32. Three Dudes Winery

Founded: 2005

Address: 125 Old Martindale Road, San Marcos

Phone: (512) 392-5634

Web site: threedudeswinery.com

Tasting room hours: Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays

Specialty style: Chenin blanc, white zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and Texas white

Showcase wine: Texas white, a chenin blanc-based, blended wine

33. Dry Comal Creek Vineyards & Winery

Founded: 1998

Address: 1741 Herbelin Road, New Braunfels

Phone: (830) 885-4121