Hawk Shadow Estate Winery – Dripping Springs, Texas
Just north of Dripping Springs, but south of the Pedernales River are some spectacular Texas Hill Country views. What a perfect place to establish a vineyard and winery! This all family run business has done just that. Owners Doug Reed, Tom Reed, and Chip Concklin opened up their tasting room in February 2014 and are serving some great tasting Texas wines along with generous Texas hospitality. Tim Drake from Flat Creek has assisted with some consulting, as well. They currently have seven acres planted on the estate with one area on its fourth leaf and the other on its ninth. Varietals include: Grenache, Syrah, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo,and Aglianico. The vines look quite healthy and cared for. As we all know, great wine starts with great grapes. Most of what is currently available for tasting has been sourced from the Texas High Plains while the estate vineyard has been maturing. There are three whites for tasting, but by no means are these your traditional white wines. As the owners will tell you, they make and serve “red style white wine for red wine drinkers”. The 2011 Orange Muscat is dry with some tawny toasted notes, making it quite unique compared to other Orange Muscats in the state as this one is dry without the sweet side that traditionally is used for this varietal. The 2012 version (same vineyard, different year) labeled, Big O, has a bit more alcohol, but also tastes just as good yet completely different from the 2011. Who thought that dry Orange Muscats could taste this good without being sweet, but the owners have done a fine job on those two. The barrel fermented and unfiltered Chenin Blanc will initially present the buttery notes with a lovely smoothness then finishes off as citrusy. The Texas Gal, a blend of Chenin Blanc and Muscat Canelli, has a hint of sweetness but not too much. For the reds, the 2012 Tres Robles is a blend of 78% Mourvedre and the rest comprised of Malbec and Syrah. It's light oak notes compliment the very strong strawberry, pomegranate and rhubarb aromas on the nose. Their local estate produced 2011 HSV is sold out but not to worry! A new vintage is already bottled and should be released by Fall 2014. You’ll also be in for a treat with their Wild Child 2. It has a nice smokiness yet remains quite smooth. They also have a Tempranillo barrel aged in Hungarian oak for twenty months….expect this one to be superb. Twenty months is a good bench mark for the winemaker. After all, quality cannot be rushed. Also in the works is a Syrah that is quite herbaceous. It, too, will be great on its own or as a complimentary blend in the future. When we visited, they were just about ready to harvest in the next day or two as the sugar was looking good on the fruit. We sampled some of their yet to be harvested Tempranillio grapes and they had wonderful flavors and characters for this yet to be aged juice. You could tell that the 2014 Tempranillo is going to be great tasting wine and a keeper for the cellar! We really enjoyed our initial visit to this up and coming rising star for Texas Hill Country Wineries. The owners and staff (family members) are extremely friendly, make you feel comfortable and at home, and are very happy to visit with you about what is going on at the winery. Hopefully, their future crops will be fruitful and their cases will multiply! We are definitely going back to check in and see how things progress and pick up some of the new releases. Cheers and Welcome to the Texas Hill Country Winery industry Hawk Shadow!!
hawksshadow.com
Dripping Springs, TX | Weekend Getaway Part 2 | Texas Wineries | Airbnb Cabin Tour
Dripping Spring Part 2 is finally here! We love taking little weekend road trips to unwind and detach from everyday madness. In August we went back to Dripping Springs, TX for some kayaking and wine. Check out some of the highlights from our little getaway!
Where we stayed:
Countryside Cabin - Airbnb Dripping Springs, Texas, United States
Hawk's Shadow Winery:
Sidecar Tasting Room:
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Solaro Estate Winery -- Dripping Springs, Texas
One of the newest boutique wineries to open in Texas is making some high quality robust reds that will make you want to come back for seconds and thirds. Winemaking can be both an art and a science and this winemaker has done a superb job balancing both skills. This winery ...is dedicated to creating pure Texas pleasure via the grape with mostly 100% Texas sourced grapes from single sourced vineyards. Over half of their wines use Texas sourced grapes, making this winery a must visit for those truly passionate about more locally and Texas sourced products and wines. Their current lineup is all about the reds, with every one well worth sipping and enjoying. They cater to dry reds and are doing a fantastic job producing them, with Rieslings and Muscat soon to follow later this fall or early winter. The tasting room is a delightful spot with floor and ceiling windows allowing visitors to soak up some beautiful Texas hill country scenery of distant rolling hills amid the foreground of grapevines, while savoring the fruits of the harvest.
Alli on the Job - Making Wine with Hawk's Shadow Winery
You don't have to go all the way to California for a Good Cabernet. Many call our Texas Hill Country the new Napa!
The business of making wine is a year round job that combines art and science. In this 'Alli on the Job', I head to Hawk's Shadow Winery and Vineyard and jump in on the process with one of the owners of this family business, Doug Reed.
If you have a job you think I should try for Alli on the Job, send me a message!
Driftwood Estate Winery
Enjoying a Saturday during my Celebrate the Life vacation. This is Driftwood Estate Winery in Driftwood, Texas. Nice grounds, & a decent reserve Syrah available.
200 River Run, Dripping Springs, TX
AGENT: Joe Jarusinsky, EMAIL: joejarusinsky@sbcglobal.net, PHONE: 512-497-0105, AGENCY: Keller Williams Realty
Great Horse Property, completely Fenced on 5+ Acres, with One-of-a-Kind Custom Home w/ 4 Covered Parking spaces, Workshop, Man/Woman Cave, Boat/RV Parking, Raised Bed Garden, 2 Horse Pens, Non-Climb Horse Fencing, 4 Water Stations, Storage/Tack Room/Stable, & Much More! And of course, Coveted Dripping Springs Schools. 1/4 Mile from Lake and Park, and Close to Hwys 71 & 290, Galleria, Lake Travis & Downtown Austin! Peaceful, Private Country Living with easy Access to Shopping, Dining, & City frills. HURRY!ere to enter the listing description
Torr Na Lochs Vineyard & Winery
Texas Hill Country Vineyard & Winery Opening 2015! We hope that you will visit us soon at Torr Na Lochs – our hill over the lakes – and sip our estate wines as you overlook Lake Buchanan and Inks Lake.
The Crown Jewel of Texas Wineries
In the beautiful Texas Hill Country sits a pristine 80± acre wine estate on the north side of Lake Travis near Austin, Texas. As the crown jewel of Texas wineries, Flat Creek Estate has earned more than 250 awards and accolades, including a coveted Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition. It's no wonder, considering the tranquil estate is nestled in the gently rolling hills of Central Texas where the deep sandy-loam soil is perfect for growing grapes. From the first vines planted nearly 16 years ago, Flat Creek's fertile vineyards have grown to approximately 20 acres of Sangiovese, Syrah, Montepulciano. Tempranillo, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc and others from which the winery produces more than 10,000 cases of exceptional wine annually. The estate features a well-appointed two-bedroom apartment that would make for easy living quarters while building the luxurious home of your dreams. In addition, the estate features a wine-tasting room, bistro, clubhouse, event pavilion, office and work out facility as well as wine production and storage facilities. A heli-pad makes for easy access to and from the estate. To view the video and for more information please visit centraltexaswinery.com.
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Duchman Family Winery -- Driftwood, Texas
Founded in 2004, this Italian style winery in Texas is making good, affordable wines. Some Texas wine lovers will remember this place as Mandola Winery, which has since been sold. (Not to worry though, the Mandola's have a restaurant conveniently located next door.) One will first notice the vast vineyards that have been planted at the estate with a wide variety of grapes. The wine selection is well balanced between white and reds. The majority of the wines are crafted in a dry style, yet there are a few sweeter and dessert wines available in the mix. The Montepulciano should not be missed! An upscale restaurant on the premises has one of the more unique views of the vineyard and the Hill Country. When visiting, sit back under the oak trees at one of the picnic tables with your favorite bottle and enjoy this piece of Italy in Texas. Salute!
duchmanfamilywinery.com
Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve, Dripping Springs Texas
Hamilton Pool Preserve is a natural pool that was created when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to massive erosion thousands of years ago.
Dripping Springs celebrates TX history
Dripping Springs celebrates TX history.
Jay Webber performs By The Fire at El Gaucho Winery in Spicewood Texas 2019
Jay Webber is an Austin, Texas area musician performing all original music in the Texas Hill Country and across the United States. Jay Webber's been making beautiful music and performing live for decades in Texas, Florida, Michigan, and all across the country. Jay is an amazing artist who composes and performs all original music. He's released four albums, including I Can See and the iconic Live at the Ark.
Merlot - 2011; Compass Rose Cellars; Hye, Texas
It's always a pleasure to feature an early startup winery's work. One gets to see how the wine maker's first style of vision is. This first release from the year of hell (a.k.a. Texas 2011 drought) has yielded some of the best fruit for the state of Texas. First impressions really are a big deal in the industry and this wine will put a big smile on your mouth via your taste buds! By no means is this your stereotypical mellow Merlot. While the aroma and flavor are similar, it is a bit more dry with some stronger tannins than most, yet, it is still light bodied. It also has hints of dark cherry and vanilla. The slight acidity pairs nicely with heavier meals like an Italian sausage dish. Be careful though, you may finish the whole bottle in one sitting! No worries, when we tasted them we were wise to by a few extra bottles, and you should too. Keep a few of these bottles around and try them out over the years at your favorite Texas Hill Country spot with friends and family and enjoy the richness of both the Texas scenery and the lovely wine from this region. Cheers!
compassrosecellars.com
Fat Ass Ranch and Winery - Fredericksburg, Texas
Having Just opened last Memorial Day weekend, the newest winery on the Texas Hill Country Winery Trail, HWY 290, is not only an eye catcher with its name, but also a cool place to just hang out and shoot the breeze with some good wine. Owners Gail and Jennie McCulloch have put their own unique Texas style stamp on the decor with a moonshine still out front, installed silo style restrooms, used pickup tailgates to fashion benches and parked a replica of the General Lee hot rod out front. Both the inside and the back patio have ample room for seating and sipping. They use all Texas grapes for their wines. The folks at Texas Custom Wine Works are assisting with the wine making. There are currently four wines to try. The whites are all made in stainless steel. Both dry and sweet ones are made from the same blend: Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay. If you're a crisp white wine drinker, then the first dry white you'll like. The same goes for the dry and sweet red, they have the same blend of grapes with different sweetness: Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc. The sweet red has a very nice jammy taste to it. We were told that peach and watermelon wines are on the way soon. Future plans are to have a vineyard on site. Besides the wine, they have a number of cool items in the shop for sale made by Jennie and friends. Do check out the bug guards for your wine glass with some clever and catchy verses. It's worth the stop, even if it is just to say you've been to the Fat Ass Winery down the road!
facebook.com/pages/Fat-Ass-Ranch-and-Winery/588933507887986
Wimberley Valley Winery -- Driftwood, Texas
The winery was started back in 1983. Many Texas wine lovers probably remember tasting their wines in historic Old Town Spring, Texas. Now, thanks to more modern Texas wine laws and few ordinance changes for the county and precinct, they now have a tasting room where it all began. Sweet and fruit wine lovers can definitely find something they like here. Some of the fruit wines are seasonal, so keep a wine nose out for them. The Christmas Cuvee is something you'll surely want to have with family and friends for the holidays. The new tasting room facility has an excellent décor that'll make you feel welcomed with lots of comfortable chairs for lounging and sharing your thoughts over a few glasses. Outside, you might notice some miniature horses grazing the lands. That's just part of the homey and country feel of the place. The pace of things out here in the country is slower, so relax and stop to smell the wine and roses.
wimberleyvalleywinery.com
GREYHOUND MEETS AND WINE TASTING (Texas Hill Country)
My video gear:
AUSTIN VLOG PART ONE!!
Welcome back if you're a subscriber and welcome if you are not!
If you have seen a video before, you probably know that my greyhound Nima is the star of this youtube channel lol. This past weekend the adoption agency - Austin Greyhound Adoption - help their annual fundraiser and this was our first time going! The event takes place at Hawk's Shadow Winery and it involves wine tastings, silent auction and the best part, A BUNCH OF GREYHOUNDS!!
Hope y'all guys enjoy!
Spicewood Vineyards -- Spicewood, Texas
Nestled in the woody area of Spicewood, Texas is an established winery making wine primarily from 100% Texas Hill Country grapes. Spicewood Vineyards has changed ownership over the years, and has been increasing the number of vines on the property to further enhance their estate grown grape varietals. With a balance of red and white wines, a wine lover can enjoy a good tasting session while also enjoying the lovely hill country landscape. This winery continues the original owner's traditions of making great wines from area grown grapes and is moving toward producing more Spanish style wines. Be looking for continued expansion in the types of varietals in their blends and offerings in the future. (They're now more than just Merlot!)
spicewoodvineyards.com
Torr Na Lochs - Burnet, Texas
The stretch of state highway 29 between Burnet and Lake Buchanan is a wonderfully scenic area in the Texas Hill Country. With the granite slopes and surrounding lakes, you might wonder how could someone put a winery out here with all this rocky terrain? Wouldn't it be nice if you could find something like that out in that area though, so you could have a lovely spot to sit and sip as you enjoy the last slip of sunset tucking in at night. Well someone has! Owners Blake and Karen DeBerry purchased the 180 acre granite ponderosa about 11 years ago with the intent on retirement. Well, one thing led to another and now they have staked out their claim in the expanding Texas wine industry. Grape vines on granite you ask? Why yes! Some of the classic and great tasting old world wines in Europe come from vineyards on granite soils. Although much of the property is solid granite, there are plots that have good decomposed granite soil suitable for starting a vineyard. The 1250 foot elevation is just an added bonus for these young vines. Planting began back in 2014 with three acres of Syrah, Petite Syrah, and Malbec with plans to expand in the future. The building is quite beautiful and the tasting room is very spacious and open. The winery building was inspired after visiting another winery in Australia and as an ode to that inspiration, they have a special bottle from that winery proudly on display and highlighted on their entrance way and front porch. They have a great perch high above the surrounding Hill Country with views of Inks Lake and Lake Buchanan that you can indulge in as you sip their great wines. Plus, the roaming donkeys will be happy to great you as you drive in or out. (When you see the sign near the entrance about donkey crossing, take that literally - there are donkeys on the property and they like to roam across the area and may be taking a break on the road, so drive slowly and respect the animals.) Their inaugural selection of six wines are all made with Texas grapes. Currently, they are collaborating with winemakers from the Texas Hill Country and West Texas to help them get started with their wines. For whites, you'll start off with the 2014 Fion Geal. It's a six white blend that is quite clean and crisp. The chilled lemon-lime finish is refreshing during the Texas summer heat. The next white is a 2014 Roussanne. You'll definitely pick up the nice citrus flavors with a touch of oak. The last white is a 2014 Sweet Sunset which is a 50/50 blend of Roussanne and Orange Muscat. This soft citrus wine is a sweet treat for the hot afternoons and would make a lovely addition to brunch. Rosé lovers will be pleased with the 2014 Rosé di Montepulciano. It's a very nice, refreshing and smooth drinking Rosé that deserves to be served chilled to enhance the strawberry notes. For their fine reds, you'll start with the Fion Dearg. This blend of Tempranillo, Mouvedre, and Carignan has spicy and smoky notes that meld with bold cherry flavors. You'll definitely be pleased with the 2013 Sangiovese which rounds out the lineup. This last red has a nice balance of acids and tannins with subtle peppery notes in this dry wine. Future wines currently in the barrel include a Montepulciano, Dolcetto, and a red blend. Their grand opening will be September 12th, so mark you fall calendars and head out to welcome one of the newest wineries to the fold and check out all they have to offer. Their vineyard has great potential to show what the granite terroir of the Hill Country can do for the Texas grape growing industry. The potential for bold flavor profiles, aromatic fruit, and well balanced acids are positive here. We can't wait to try the estate grapes wines in the future. This is a nice jewel to check out on your next Texas wine trekking trip. Congratulations to Blake and Karen on the start of something great in the Texas Hill Country! Cheers!
torrnalochs.com
Lost Maples Winery – Vanderpool, Texas
You’re in for a real treat when you come to visit this place both in scenery and wines. Bandera County is definitely one of the best places along the southern part of the Hill Country to swim and camp. Now, you have a great winery to add to your get-a-way adventures. Owners Tom and Glenda Slaughter starting growing grapes on the family land back in 2005/2006. Their Polvadeau Vineyards stakes its claim as the first commercial vineyard in Bandera County. Glenda’s family has been here for 175+ years and she is staying true to loving and tending the land. Their 12 acre estate currently has about 2000 vines of Black Spanish grapes planted. One look at the vines and you don’t need to be an expert to tell that they take good care of their plants. That care and love for the land is also reflected in the wine that they make. All wines are made at their estate facility. They opened back in January 2015. Currently, there are five wines to try out. The 2013 Polvadeau Vin Blanc is a Sauvignon Blanc based wine which is quite crisp with bold citrus flavors. The 2013 Polvadeau Vin Symphonique is made with the symphony grape. Sourced from California, this hybrid grape is highly aromatic. It has a sweet sense at first, but then quickly dissipates and leaves a refreshing feel on the palate. The 2013 Lenoir (Polvadeau Vin Rouge) was oaked for two years. It is quite nice with good flavors and smooth finish. Who knew a Lenoir could have this kind of quality taste! The 2014 Polvadeau L’Inspiration is a blend of 80% Lenoir and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, which has a surprising Pinot Noir like taste. Lastly, the 2014 Polvadeau du Dieu is their Lenoir dessert wine. Fortified with cognac, this fortified wine at 18% alcohol is sure to be a nice pairing for your favorite dark chocolate. We also got to taste their 60/40 Petite Sirah/Lenoir blend (Polvadeu Vin Rouge XL) which is expected to be released shortly. The Slaughters have really hit the mark on this last wine and it's sure to be a top selling Lenoir blend . If you want to taste what quality Lenoir wine is, then do come here. Plus, there’s nothing like checking out a brand new facility! As it turns out, Tom was also a musician with Mickey Gilley back in the days. Gilley’s will be re-opening again and will be featuring Lost Maples bottled wines. What a way to come back with a Texas twist! Tom and Glenda are really nice people and will take great care of you when you stop in to visit. They are very friendly and warm hosts with some fun tales to tell we're certain! Feel free to take your time and enjoy the fantastic surrounding scenery as it is a delightful drive on some of the most beautiful roads in Texas. They are also conveniently located very close to the entrance of the Lost Maples park, so you might want to plan an extended outing to visit both as you enjoy getting lost in this little piece of mountainous paradise. Have fun and enjoy!
lostmapleswinery.com
Suspense: The Twist / The Visitor / The Blue Hour
The program's heyday was in the early 1950s, when radio actor, producer and director Elliott Lewis took over (still during the Wilcox/Autolite run). Here the material reached new levels of sophistication. The writing was taut, and the casting, which had always been a strong point of the series (featuring such film stars as Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten, Henry Fonda, Humphrey Bogart, Judy Garland, Ronald Colman, Marlene Dietrich, Eve McVeagh, Lena Horne, and Cary Grant), took an unexpected turn when Lewis expanded the repertory to include many of radio's famous drama and comedy stars — often playing against type — such as Jack Benny. Jim and Marian Jordan of Fibber McGee and Molly were heard in the episode, Backseat Driver, which originally aired February 3, 1949.
The highest production values enhanced Suspense, and many of the shows retain their power to grip and entertain. At the time he took over Suspense, Lewis was familiar to radio fans for playing Frankie Remley, the wastrel guitar-playing sidekick to Phil Harris in The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show. On the May 10, 1951 Suspense, Lewis reversed the roles with Death on My Hands: A bandleader (Harris) is horrified when an autograph-seeking fan accidentally shoots herself and dies in his hotel room, and a vocalist (Faye) tries to help him as the townfolk call for vigilante justice against him.
With the rise of television and the departures of Lewis and Autolite, subsequent producers (Antony Ellis, William N. Robson and others) struggled to maintain the series despite shrinking budgets, the availability of fewer name actors, and listenership decline. To save money, the program frequently used scripts first broadcast by another noteworthy CBS anthology, Escape. In addition to these tales of exotic adventure, Suspense expanded its repertoire to include more science fiction and supernatural content. By the end of its run, the series was remaking scripts from the long-canceled program The Mysterious Traveler. A time travel tale like Robert Arthur's The Man Who Went Back to Save Lincoln or a thriller about a death ray-wielding mad scientist would alternate with more run-of-the-mill crime dramas.