Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary tour and sample of wines. All opinions are my own.
Happy Texas Wine Month! There are so many ways you may enjoy Texas wines while supporting the Texas vineyards and wineries.
Exciting ways to experience Texas Wine Month:
1. Consider visiting your favorite winery, vineyard and winery tasting rooms or perhaps experience one that is new to you! Many wineries offer outdoor seating along with in-person experiences (lawn picnics, wine education, tours).
2. Sign-up for a virtual wine tasting or purchase a wine bundle and create one of your own. Most winery websites offer tasting notes along with pairings to complete the experience. Encourage your friends and family to join and spend a fun-filled experience virtually together with some exceptional wines and your favorite dishes!
3. Purchase wine for delivery or curbside pick-up.
4. When dining out, request a Texas wine to pair with your dining experience.
This month I am sharing how I am celebrating Texas Wine Month and I hope that you find some new favorite wines. The first feature is one of the newest wineries in the state brings a fresh new perspective to the Texas wine industry. Slate Mill Wine Collective along with 1851 Vineyards and Couple in the Kitchen charity wines:
I recently visited Slate Mill Wine Collective located in Fredericksburg, TX. It truly is a wonderful experience touring their space, learning about the mission, barrel tasting some of their incredible Texas wines and taking in the Texas Hill Country views on the spacious patio. Some of the best Texas winemakers and their wines may be found at this Hill Country gem.
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| Slate Mill Wine Collective |
The winery was started by the purchase of the former 1851 Vineyards winery. The winery reopened with a brand new remodel and an expanded tasting room with a an expansion of the production facility, a new 9,600 square foot barrel room, improved crush pad, 14 new fermentation tanks and enlarged tank storage to allow for additional capacity of up to 1,600 barrels and 24,000 gallons a year. This spring they planted more than 55,000 vines to expand the 35-acre estate vineyard to about 130 acres. It is now the largest vineyard in the Hill Country with plans for continued growth.
In addition to operating as a winery, Slate Mill Wine Collective is helping launch the next generation of Texas wine pioneers by providing wine producers access to its on-site custom crush, vineyard services, as well as custom label services. By serving as a winery incubator, Slate Mill has several other excellent wines available at the tasting room including the 1851 Vineyards house brand, and C.L. Butaud, Dandy Rosé, Tatum Cellars, and Majek Vineyard & Winery. This includes the launch of brand new wines just in time for Texas Wine Month which include a charity wine benefitting Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation!
Here are a few wines to help to celebrate Texas Wine Month:
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| Pictured: Couple in the Kitchen Rose, To-Go Dishes at the Lucky Robot, 1851 Vineyards Viognier |
Couple in the Kitchen Rosé is an elegant, full-bodied Bordeaux-style Rosé is made with the perfect blend of Texas-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Tempranillo, and Petite Verdot, the Couple in the Kitchen Rosé has hints of sweets notes of cherry and strawberry with a hint of acidity. In addition, there is a Couple in the Kitchen White which is a 2018 Viognier made with grapes grown in the Texas High Plains makes it an excellent wine to pair with most cuisines, like poultry or mildly spicy Thai food. The Couple in the Kitchen Charity Wines pair nicely with a variety of dishes and may be found at:
Slate Mill Wine Collective
4222 S State Hwy 16, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Jacoby\’s Restaurant & Mercantile
3235 East Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX
The Lucky Robot
1303 South Congress Ave. Austin, TX
Toss Pizzeria
2901 S 1st St, Austin, TX
11905 Bee Cave Rd #100, Austin, TX
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| 1851 Reddy Vineyards 2019 Viognier |
1851 Reddy Vineyards Viognier 2019 is a gorgeous bouquet honeysuckle on the one and pineapple with white peach, the perfect expression of a Texas Viognier. This versatile wine pairs incredibly with pork, lean poultry dishes and your favorite Mediterranean dishes. I personally will have this wine on our Thanksgiving table!
1851 Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine has lovely notes of black cherry, sweet baking spices. This wine pairs perfectly with some true Texas BBQ like fatty brisket, short ribs as well as cheese burgers topped with caramelized onions.
More about Slate Mill Wine Collective:
Slate Mill Wine Collective requires masks unless seated at your table and is following the CDC recommendations. Reservations are required for the tour. Their mission is to promote their passion for the Texas wine industry in an approachable and relaxed environment while helping launch the next generation of Texas wine pioneers. Some come out to sip and explore some of the best in Texas.
Sushi ATX 