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Today I took the scenic route to Walkers for some juice when I ran into this place going through a small town.
I thought I was in Texas!
- Thread starter Runningwolf
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tonyt
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So wife and I are traveling from the Right side of Texas to San Antonio this weekend. On Saturday we hope to visit a few of the local Hill Country wineries near S.A.. Can any of you recommend the best ones near S.A.? Link to google map.http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla
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Unfortunately I don't think there are any ones close to SA. I was just there a few weeks ago visiting my family. I have an older brother who works for the biggest chain of wine/liquor stores in TX and he knows quite a bit about the TX wine industry.
He said most all the wineries were in a huge transition right now and most if not all of them are plowing under their vineyards are replanting with both Spanish and Italian varietals that seem to be showing some promise to grow and mature in the long hot, humid Texas Summers.
I asked him who he thought was currently the best in the TX hill country and he quickly responded Becker Vineyards .
They are up in the hill country North of SA between Fredericksburg and Johnson City. They have actually developed a nice little "wine trail" up that way. I think most of the Whites are OK but its going to be awhile before we know if any of these new plantings take hold and develop well. Becker seems to have some decent reds but I did not get a chance to try any personally. Let us know what yo find out if you head up that way!
He said most all the wineries were in a huge transition right now and most if not all of them are plowing under their vineyards are replanting with both Spanish and Italian varietals that seem to be showing some promise to grow and mature in the long hot, humid Texas Summers.
I asked him who he thought was currently the best in the TX hill country and he quickly responded Becker Vineyards .
They are up in the hill country North of SA between Fredericksburg and Johnson City. They have actually developed a nice little "wine trail" up that way. I think most of the Whites are OK but its going to be awhile before we know if any of these new plantings take hold and develop well. Becker seems to have some decent reds but I did not get a chance to try any personally. Let us know what yo find out if you head up that way!
Forgot to mention that THE BEST wine store in the entire city is on your map. Gabriel's Superstore on Loop 1604 and Blanco rd. HUGE selection, great prices. I always bring back 3-6 bottles of good stuff each time I head out that way. Definitely worth the side trip.
Bartman
Senior Member
Your brother doesn't happen to work for Gabriel's Superstore, or the chain that owns it, does he Mike?
Seriously, though, the Fredricksburg area has a large number (~8-9) decent wineries, a couple of which are really nice. They are all pretty small and family-operated mostly. The Hill country (roughly north and west of San Antonioand south of Waco - roughly 300-mile diameter oval) wineries/vineyards haev had a hard time because the long hot summer is tough for most grape varieties - Spanish varietals (Tempranillo especially) and southern Italian varietals have done comparatively well lately; classic French varietals (cabernet, pinot noir) just struggle, at best. Viognier is supposed to be THE Texas white grape varietal in the near future, and many vineyards are adding it in significant quantities. Varietals that have been successfully transplanted to South Africa and Australia have some mixed success in Texas, Malbec may become a widely planted varietal too.
West Texas has a very different climate from the Hill country, much drier and greater variation between night and noon temperatures, which is better for most grape varietals; Pierce's disease has been a constant problem for the more humid southern and coastal areas of the state.
Point is, when I traveled through the Hill country wineries a couple years ago, most of the good wines they were making came from grapes grown outside of Texas. They were quite proud of the varietals that had produced well in the local terroir, which were relatively few. Once I learned what those were, I looked to taste those rather than stuff grown elsewhere.
Seriously, though, the Fredricksburg area has a large number (~8-9) decent wineries, a couple of which are really nice. They are all pretty small and family-operated mostly. The Hill country (roughly north and west of San Antonioand south of Waco - roughly 300-mile diameter oval) wineries/vineyards haev had a hard time because the long hot summer is tough for most grape varieties - Spanish varietals (Tempranillo especially) and southern Italian varietals have done comparatively well lately; classic French varietals (cabernet, pinot noir) just struggle, at best. Viognier is supposed to be THE Texas white grape varietal in the near future, and many vineyards are adding it in significant quantities. Varietals that have been successfully transplanted to South Africa and Australia have some mixed success in Texas, Malbec may become a widely planted varietal too.
West Texas has a very different climate from the Hill country, much drier and greater variation between night and noon temperatures, which is better for most grape varietals; Pierce's disease has been a constant problem for the more humid southern and coastal areas of the state.
Point is, when I traveled through the Hill country wineries a couple years ago, most of the good wines they were making came from grapes grown outside of Texas. They were quite proud of the varietals that had produced well in the local terroir, which were relatively few. Once I learned what those were, I looked to taste those rather than stuff grown elsewhere.
Nope,
He works for that "other" little Texas chain that is H@ll bent on at least Texas domination of wine and liquor sales..........
He works for that "other" little Texas chain that is H@ll bent on at least Texas domination of wine and liquor sales..........
BartReeder said:Your brother doesn't happen to work for Gabriel's Superstore, or the chain that owns it, does he Mike?.
