Guest post by Nathan Boschult
While most people think of Napa, Sonoma Valley, and other places when discussing wine, the Texas High Plains is a hidden gem. It’s home to award-winning wineries and wines — and there is much more than meets the eye. The following information can serve as a guide to the underrated Texas High Plains wine region.
What’s So Fascinating About the Texas High Plains?
The US government designated the High Plains as an American Viticultural Area, meaning the soil is excellent for cultivating grapes to provide various wines. Southern French, Italian, and Spanish grapes help produce some of the best wines in the country. In fact, Llano Estacado Winery is one of the oldest wineries in the state and produces about 180,000 cases of wine every year.
There are quite a few wineries to enjoy in the High Plains, where you can explore the wonderful world of how wines are made. Adelphos Cellars is a family-owned winery with an onsite tasting room where visitors can get an authentic feel behind the scenes. Their fruit is grown and harvested on the 40-acre vineyard, producing award-winning Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, and more. If you’re a connoisseur of wines, joining their wine club is a must.
English Newsom Cellars is nestled in Lubbock, Texas, and has its own award winners. The factory is a beautiful Southwestern-style villa, adding to the charm and culture Texans know and love. The owner of this wine company has another grape farm in a close-by countryside to ensure the highest quality grapes are used for all their wines.
Bingham Family Vineyards has its share of award-winning wines as well. A multigenerational wine family, their crafted estate wines are 100% grown in the High Plains of Texas. One of the huge draws of these wines is their wine club, where the wines are personalized and sent based on customer preference.
More Wines, More Vines
If you thought that was the end of the wine trail, think again. The High Plains has seven more wineries, each with unique characteristics.
Antima Cellars
Antima Cellars is a boutique winery sitting on 160 acres. In existence since 2013, they provide grapes for other wineries and their own. Antima is also part of the Kalasi Cellars winery in Fredericksburg, Texas, a perfect destination for a girls’ getaway in Texas Hill Country that also features an abundance of wineries.
Oswald Vineyard
Family-owned and run, Oswald Vineyard has specialized in barrel-aged red and white wines since 2008. The winery is available for tastings and has a wine club. With mom, dad, and seven of their 10 children making things work, it’s all in the family.
Prairie Chick Winery & Milieu
What started when the family sold grape juice in the 1980s is now Prairie Chick Winery & Milieu. The vineyard didn’t really take off until 2015 and the emergence of their varietals. Prairie Chick has wine and wine accessories and uses the land as a venue for events.
Reddy Vineyards
Reddy Vineyards is well known in the High Plains, with its 300 acres of Vitis vinifera from Europe and grapes that provide depth, flavor, balance, and intensity. Reddy also offers various wine clubs to join, including the Elevation Club, Founders Club, and Inner Circle Club, each requiring a 12-month commitment.
The Triple D Winery
The Triple D Winery is also a tasting room and event center where patrons can enjoy their award-winning wines and have some fun. Around since 2015, Triple D has continued to win awards all over the country from their family vineyard.
Williams Ranch Vineyard
Specializing in Cabernet Sauvignon, Orange Muscat, and Riesling, family winery Williams Ranch Vineyard is known for its tasting room and other events and has been around since 1998. The vineyard’s land produces grapes for other wineries that have won awards for over 20 years and has now entered the market to win some awards of their own.
Y Knot Vineyard
Pulling up the rear, but definitely not least, is the Y Knot Vineyard. Family-owned and operated since 2014, Y Knot specializes in Graciano and Cabernet Sauvignon. They are known for their signature wines and continue to grow their business.
