Texas wines to add cheer to your holidays

The holidays offer so many opportunities to enjoy a delicious bottle of wine! Of course Texas offers plenty of delicious options sure to delight you and the wine lovers in your life. Whether it’s a festive holiday party or relaxing evening enjoying your favorite Christmas movie at home, I’ve got you covered. Here are three Texas wineries offering some fantastic deals on wines that will add extra cheer to the holidays!

Fall Creek Vineyards

This celebrated winery helped put the Texas wine industry on the map in the 1980s and has earned international recognition since. Their stellar holiday package of beautiful wines that will impress your most discerning friends on your gift list.

2019 Carignan, Vintners Selection

The 2019 Carignan, Vintners Selection, comprised of grapes grown on the Oxbow Estate Vineyard in the Texas Hill Country.

The aromas are a mix of strawberry, raspberry, and cinnamon, with dried cranberries and baking spices swirling around your palate. The wine is on the lighter side of medium bodied, with peppy acidity, and soft tannins. Well balanced with everything playing very nicely together like good little children on Santa’s nice list! 

An elegant medium body wine with a delicious balance of fruit and structure, it pairs incredibly well with roasted turkey

2018 Mourvèdre, Terroir Selection

The 2018 Terroir Selection Mourvedre with grapes from Salt Lick Vineyards is sure to please. Aromas and flavors of deep red fruit and baking spices, with a fantastically balanced acid and tannins, are coupled with sumptuous body and a velvety finish. This the perfect wine to settle in for a cozy movie night!

This is a shining star paired rosemary encrusted roast lamb.

Kerrville Hills Winery

Kerrville Hills Winery, sitting atop a hill overlooking the beautiful Texas Hill Country outside of Kerrville, recently released scrumptious red wines that will make the angels sing. Winemaker, John Rivenburgh, who has been making wines in Texas for over 20 years, released two fantastic full-bodied wines that are sure to be a hit with your holiday meals. Both wines are included in the winery’s Holiday Bundle, which also includes the 2016 Rivenburgh Wines Picpoul Blanc (Timmons Estate).

2019 Petite Sirah, Newsom Vineyards

The 2019 Petite Sirah, made from grapes grown at Newsom Vineyards, located in the Texas High Plains, is real gift. One sip of this inky wine and you will have visions of sugar-plums dancing in your head. It is resplendent with big blackberry and blueberry flavors mingled with spice and licorice.

Every elf will put down their toy tools to enjoy this paired with roast pork loin with sautéed mushrooms. We enjoyed it with venison sliders on King’s Hawaiian savory butter rolls, topped with gouda, tomato, and lettuce. The sliders actually accentuated the cola and brought out notes of vanilla in the wine.*

2019 Zinfandel, Reddy Vineyards

The 2019 Zinfandel, produced with grapes from Reddy Vineyards in the Texas High Plains, makes a fabulous stocking stuffer. The medium-bodied wine ‘decks the halls’ with blackberry, strawberry jam, plum, licorice and black pepper flavors with festive acidity and silky tannins.

The fruit flavors and liveliness of this wine make it a holiday treat with butter roasted quail with corn bread stuffing.

Texas Heritage Vineyard

Texas Heritage Vineyard, located on the eastern side of Fredericksburg, Texas along Highway 290 is producing wines that are quickly amassing accolades throughout the wine world. While Texas Heritage is not offering a holiday bundle, their most recent Class Champion winners at the Houston Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition are even making Santa’s cheeks rosier.

2017 Alicante Bouschet, Lahey Vineyards

The Texas Heritage Vineyard 2017 Alicante Bouschet from Lahey Vineyards is exactly the kind of wine you gift your loved ones!!

The wine, 100% Alicante Bouschet, is a deep garnet. It’s very fragrant a with aromas of black plum, dark cherry, black berry, and sweet tobacco. On the palate the wine has a sweet-smoky quality, and a touch of dark chocolate with a very smooth finish. Undoubtedly it’s a crowd pleaser at any holiday party, and pairs well with Beef Wellington for Christmas dinner.

Check out all the accolades this wine has received!
?Gold Medal Winner – 2020 TWGGA Lone Star International Wine Competition
?Silver Medal/Top of Class Winner – 2020 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo International Wine Competition
?Bronze Medal Winner – 2019 New Orleans International Wine Competition

2018 Stella Solitaria

The 2018 Stella Solitaria, meaning “Lone Star” in Italian, is a “Super Tuscan” blend of Sangiovese, Barbera, and Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s bursting with bright red fruit flavors of cherry and plum. Extremely well-balanced with a festive, but not over-the-top, acidity, soft tannins, and a silky smooth finish. Stella Solitaria is absolutely delicious!

Obviously whether it’s a cozy winter evening for two or a holiday dinner with loved ones, this wine is a real treat! It’s a perfect holiday gift, and a lovely accompaniment to roast goose.

?The 2018 Stella Solitaria was recognized a Class Champion and Texas Class Champion; winning a Double Gold medal at the Houston Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition!!

Add Texas wine to your holiday cheer!

Haven’t finished your holiday shopping yet? These Texas wines are sure-fire ways to please your family and friends and add some extra cheer to their holidays!

Here’s your one-stop shop to finding all the wines in the article.

Fall Creek Vineyards Holiday Package

Kerrville Hills Winery Holiday Bundle

Texas Heritage Vineyards Wines

* Note Bene:
1. The Kerrville Hills Zinfandel needs to decant a good 45+ minutes to reveal its secrets. I sped that up a little by double decanting about 30 minutes into the wait. The photo shows sliders with fresh buns. We actually ate the sliders with grilled and buttered buns, which is what the tasting notes are based on. Fresh buns don’t not quite produce the same experience.

** Wines were provided by Big Thirst Marketing, who represents Fall Creek Vineyards, Kerrville Hills Winery, and Texas Heritage Winery. All opinions, tasting notes, and errors are my own. All links were provided for informative purposes.