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Blog of Bell Springs Winery
Austin is a city known for its outrageous food and fun. No matter where you go, the city is sure to serve up the adventure you are looking for. As great as it is to have so many options, sometimes it makes it hard to know where to start.
If you are a local looking for new places to try, or a visitor researching the top things to do in Austin, don't underestimate visiting Austin wineries. Texas is in the top ten of all fifty states for grape and wine production. There are many wineries all over the Lone Star land, but some of the best are in Austin. Here's the inside scoop on the go-to local wine and brew businesses. Westcave Cellars Westcave Cellars is tucked in the heart of Texas and puts heart into everything they do. This winery began from a couple's love of fine wine and hard work. Since the mid-1990s, the Fetty family has worked hard to expand their grape and wine offerings. The business began as a grow and supply company for local winemakers, then expanded to bringing everything in-house. Westcave Cellars prides itself on offering 100% Texas grown and made wine. Every week, they welcome the community to enjoy live music and divine wine on Sunday afternoons. For a more personal visit to this Austin winery, visitors can enjoy a private tour and tasting. Hawk's Shadow The story of Hawk's Shadow is a true testament to the patience it takes to make a fine wine. Since 1989, owners Doug and Carol have worked to learn the ins and outs of viticulture and winemaking. They too entered the wine business as grape suppliers. Fast forward to 2010 and Hawk's Shadow winery came to life. In the years since, this Austin winery has become a home where all wine lovers are welcome. The land produces rich Grenache, Syrah, and Tempranillo grapes, with some others as well. Visitors can stop by for a quick tasting and a picture at the hilltop, or enjoy a nice dinner in the underground barrel cellar. Either way, Hawk's Shadow stands out among other top Austin wineries. Bell Springs Winery Speaking of top Austin wineries, no wine lover's trip is complete without a visit to Bell Springs Winery. We have to mention ourselves in articles like these. :) This destination is a quick drive outside of Austin but offers something for the whole family. Wine enthusiasts can enjoy local, Texas-grown options as well as top selections from around the United States and Europe. Take your glass out on the deck and have a picnic overlooking the beauty of Texas in the backyard. Or, choose a bottle to share while you watch the game at the Sidecar Tasting Room in historic downtown Dripping Springs. For a fun-filled experience you are sure to remember, stop by Bell Springs for a weekly event. Get dealt in a game of Texas Hold'Em on Tuesdays, play trivia on Thursdays, or come out for live music all weekend long. Be sure to check the calendar as your trip to Austin approaches, too. There may be something special on the calendar like yoga or holiday festivities. No matter what you choose to do for your visit, a trip to Bell Springs is a must on your list of Austin wineries. Bring close friends and family along or invite everyone out for a special event, like a wedding or rehearsal dinner. Dripping Springs Distillery For those in the group who prefer martinis over sangria, a stop at Dripping Springs Distillery is in order. This family-owned operation prides itself on making small batches of high-quality spirits. Each barrel makes 50 gallons of top-notch vodka or gin. It is topped off with Hill Country Artesian Spring Water, keeping all the efforts true to the spirit of the Texas Hill Country. The attention to detail and patience to produce quality has earned Dripping Springs Distillery many awards over the years. Stop by to see why the credit is due! Deep Eddy Another small-batch business is Deep Eddy's - although not that small anymore after being acquired in 2015. Committed to quality from the first taste to the final drop, this world-class vodka is sure to be something you like. Enjoy cocktail flights while you munch on something from Red's Porch food truck. Or, go all-out with your experience and make this a stop for your party bus. Treaty Oak Distillery If your friends are a unique mix of different tastes in spirits, Treaty Oak is a must when you visit Austin wineries. Founder Daniel Barnes has spent years learning the tricks and trade of the distilling business. Here you can find delicious drinks ranging from vodka, bourbon, rum, and beer. Whatever you fancy, Treaty Oaks aims to deliver the best in the business. From his passion, the company has grown to the attraction it is today. Enjoy an up-close look at the custom distilling process, taste the range of liquors in a tasting class, or grab a bite at the restaurant. There truly is something for everyone here and what better reason to raise your glass? Last Stand Brewing Sometimes, you just want to day drink and feel like you're hanging out in your backyard. Last Stand Brewing is just the spot to feel right at home while on vacation. Families can bring their little ones and furry friends as they enjoy a wide range of house-made beers and rotated selections. Play a game of corn hole or enjoy the beautiful Texas outdoors while you sip and savor the moment. Acopon Brewing Acopon Brewing is home to brewing styles from far and wide. This company takes pride in old English traditions. Their passion stems from classic casks of Porters and Old Ales. Still, in true Austin fashion, they offer a little bit of everything. Sip on a strong Russian Imperial Stout or taste the bitter bite of hops in west-coast inspired IPAs as well. Discover Austin Wineries and More Day drinking and evening fun are entirely different worlds in Austin. Do something out of the usual and explore the wonders that are waiting just outside the city. The Texas countryside is calling and Austin wineries have their doors open to welcome you and yours with a glass in hand. For more information about our events and tastings, click here.
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Nothing represents spring in Texas better the bluebonnets blooming across the Texas Hill Country. I am reminded that Spring means almost the perfect weather in Texas and that for a few short months, we will enjoy pleasant temps well below the 90's (and 100's) of July and August.
In the winery, Spring represents lots of bottling and getting ready for the upcoming harvest. Bud break in the vineyard happened in early March this year for us and when the temps started to dip, we hoped it wouldn't freeze and cause damage to this upcoming harvest. We still aren't out of the woods yet as early April hasn't been our friend in several years past. Many tanks are empty and spring cleaning in the winery has begun. Maintenance on pumps, tanks, and other machinery is in full force. We are in regular communication with our growers across the state to understand which varietals are doing well and where a surplus or shortfall may be, in order to make sure we will have enough fruit to make enough wine for 2017. In the tasting room, Spring means increased traffic compared to the winter months. The improvements we make in Winter should show that they were well thought out. Not all, but most! Live music moves from being cozy inside to plenty of space on the patio every Saturday. It seems that with Spring in the Texas Hill Country, everyone smiles more, spends more time outdoors, and genuinely loves to be out tasting Hill Country Wines. For us at Bell Springs, we wanted to take a minute and share our reflections of Spring in the Texas Hill Country. We can't think of a better place to live, work, and meet new people. We hope you agree. See you soon! As part of the general growth of the wine industry in the United States, the wine production of Texas has been steadily growing. Texas is ranked in the top five states for wine production. Despite this growing success, the wine industry in Texas does face some basic issues, such as grape selection. Unlike many other states, Texas is large enough that its distinct regions vary to the point of being quite incompatible in terms of grapevine selection for vineyards. Depending on the area of the state, temperature, weather, and other climatic and geographic factors can vary considerably. Thus, the question becomes, are there any universal varieties being implemented by the Texas wine industry? In order to understand the current trends in grapevine selection in Texas, some historical context is important. Wine production in Texas dates back to Spanish missionaries of the seventeenth century. Seemingly, Texas was meant for grapevines. Fifteen members of the Vitis family of grapevines are native to Texas, and many more have been introduced. The wine industry in Texas did well for more than two hundred and fifty years. Then, the advent of prohibition in the United States stunted the wine industry in Texas. Even decades after prohibition, a quarter of the counties in Texas are still dry. Following prohibition, the wine industry stayed dormant in Texas until the seventies, at which point further development began. Therefore, the Texas wine industry, in addition to great variability in climate and geography, is also attempting to suit the tastes of the wine community, while still recovering from decades of neglect and several devastating winter freezes. As far as particular grapevines, there's little unity amongst Texan vineyards. The state is simply too large for a one size fits all solution. There are several factors that effect decisions regarding grapevine selection. For the most part, vinifera varieties are used. However, vinifera grapevines don't fair well in two specific areas of the state. The high plains, at an elevation of between three and four thousand feet, can have quite cold nights. For some vinifera varieties, which do not go dormant during the winter, such lows can be too low. But, other varieties respond reasonably well to the cool nights. However, the high plains offer a trade-off of sorts. Those grapevines that do tolerate the cold well are protected by the constant wind throughout the region, which usually keeps fungi, especially powdery mildew, from affecting the grapevines. The South and East of the state are another area that presents problems for the cultivation of vinifera varieties. Pierce's Disease is, unfortunately, a constant threat in this region. Therefore, those varieties with a notable resistance to Pierce's Disease are preferable, especially now as Pierce's Disease has crept further North following the turn of the millennium. However, there is a confounding factor with Pierce's Disease. The South and East of Texas, especially the northern area of this region, is comparatively humid. This humidity is intolerable to many vinifera varieties. As a result, disease resistant vinifera varieties can be grown in some of the region. But native varieties, such as Muscadine (a variety of Vitis rotundifolia, not a hybrid) are often used in the areas that are too humid for vinifera varieties. As for individuals who are shaping the grapevine selection in Texas, there are few. The University of Texas system once had a large research vineyard, which has since been leased. More importantly, Dr. Jim Kamas as been devoting research towards combating Pierce's Disease. The preliminary results of his work look promising. Overall, there isn't an oligarchy of professionals who are influencing the grapevine selection in Texas. Rather, there are certain constraints imposed by the climate and factors such as Pierce's Disease which render some varieties superior to other, depending on context. Instead, vinifera varieties are preferred in Texas for one primary reason. We, as a public, have been conditioned by Europe and California to prefer wine from vinifera grapevines. Such varieties are what most consumers think of when they think "wine". Therefore, Texan vineyards are simply pining after the consumers in their predominant use of vinifera grapevines. There are plenty of native, as well as hybrid, varieties that would thrive just as well. But, in the end, we as a public, regardless of the logistics of its production, have a discerning taste for vinifera varieties. Further Reading: |
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