You like to support locally-owned restaurants. You like to purchase Texas-grown produce.

Heck, you probably like to drink Texas-made beer. Its high time that Texas winesindeed, Fort Worth-area winesget added to the list of local products to take pride in purchasing and enjoying. And if you suspect its not good enough to stand in for that California wine youve been serving, maybe its just been too long since youve tried any. Ten or 15 years ago, the quality of wine in Texas was generally pretty mediocre, said Bruce Anderson, Burlesons Sunset Winery winemaker. People who have tried Texas wines that far back are surprised that, by golly, were producing some wines that are holding their own against California wines or wines anywhere in the world. These days, some 170 Texas wineries are offering the gamut from simple and sweet to complex and dry wines to satisfy all tastesand altogether, theyre drawing nearly a million tourists each year.

Uncorked:
A Winery Guide to Fort Worth
Local winemakers are turning out small batches of sophisticated wines with Texas-grown grapes. Whats your house wine?
by Laura Samuel Meyn
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While Hill Country certainly has its fair share of fine wineries, you might be surprised to learn that many in the business consider Texas best viticultural growing area to be the Texas High Plains area around Lubbock. Thats why so many of our local winemakers source grapes from the High Plainsand theyre making award-winning wines with it. There are more wineries now in North Texas than there are in the Hill Country, said Caris Turpen, winemaker at LightCatcher Winery in Fort Worth. Were here, doing well, and new people visit us every week. But its a challenge to make ourselves known. One catch is that many of these wines arent ready for large-scale distribution: The winemakers are concentrating on small batches to sell from their tasting rooms, and they often dont make enough wine to guarantee an ongoing supply to a retailer. So while youll find a handful of local labels at shops around town and on wine lists at a few restaurants, the majority of locally-produced wine can only be tasted and purchased from the source. This month, as the grapes are beginning to grow, winemakers arent yet busy with harvest, and the weather is at its best, its a great time to visit some of our local wineries. Stop by, chat with the winemakers (who will likely be pouring your wine), taste the goods, and be prepared to change your mind about Texas winesnamely Fort Worth, Texas wines.

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Su Vino Winery Finale Ultimo Red Dessert Wine

More Local Wineries

There are plenty more places to try wines made in and around Fort Worth. Some are actual working wineries where you can get on a list to help with the crush come harvesttime, some are tasting rooms for Texas wineries located further afield, and some are custom wineries, where grape juices or concentrates are used to customblend wine on the premises, meaning you can have a wine made to suit your own tastes. (All custom wineries and some of the working wineries offer personalized labels for their wines, making for great gifts.) All are fun destinations for wine-tasting, so keep this guide handy for exploring at your own pace.

Cabernet, Chardonnay, Merlot, and even a Port and Cream Sherry, among others. Prices: $12 to $25.

Brushy Creek Vineyards

Off the beaten path in Alvord is Brushy Creek Vineyards, where owner and winemaker Les Constable is known for his interest in experimenting with lesser-known varietals to see what grows best in Texas. As such, the winery has 10 acres of vineyard with a staggering 36 different grape varieties. Most folks think our best wines are the ones made from grapes they have never heard of, said Constable, who sells out of everything he makes, adding, It is real Texas Wine.
Brushy creek Vineyards 572 cR 2798, Alvord 940.427.4718 or brushycreekvineyards.com Tastings: free with wine purchase ($1 per ounce otherwise), daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or by appointment. Wines: Tempranillo, Rkatsiteli, Sunset Red, Muscat, Riesling and some two dozen others. Prices: $10 to $50.

LightCatcher Winery: 6925 Confederate Park Road, Fort Worth; 817.237.2626 or lightcatcher.com. Tastings: $5 for three wines, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, noon to 6 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 9 p.m. Wines: LightCatcher Cabernet Sauvignon and LightCatcher Merlot; the less-expensive Texas Roads label (Pinot Gris and Remuda Red), and the Happy Dog Sweet Red, among others. Prices: $12 to $36, for most. Why go? LightCatcher Bistro is open on weekends, and the adults-only Jazz Sundays ($10 per person), held the first and third Sunday of each month, are a popular attraction. This month, there will also be a Mothers Day buffet.

LightCatcher Winery
Fort Worth appreciates entrepreneurship and something of a wildcatter mentality that winemaking takes, said Caris Turpen, winemaker at LightCatcher Winery. The challenges are getting people to consider something new, and to overcome their fear that they dont know enough to enjoy wines. And thats why, although Turpen is proudest of her awardwinning LightCatcher Cabernet Sauvignon, youll find a lot more than her signature big red wines on the tasting menu. Sweet wines are a great entry point for people who are otherwise beer drinkers, she said, adding that shes had repeat customers who have started sampling at the sweet end of the spectrum and have gradually migrated toward the dryer wines. Its no wonder they keep coming back: While LightCatcher is a serious working winery, theres a lot more to it. The rustic building houses an ample tasting room, an artsy gift shop and a barrel room that on weekends doubles as LightCatcher Bistro, which, with its Napa-style menu that draws from the on-site vegetable and herb garden, is reason enough to visit. Outside, a large open-air terrace makes for an inviting place to enjoy a glass of wine (dont miss the 2003 LightCatcher Merlot, among others). While the winery maintains a small demonstration vineyard of Black Spanish (or Lenoir) grapes, Turpen sources most of her grapes from West Texas. All of the wines, however, are made on-site. We do it with an eye for enjoying the pleasures of life, Turpen said. Life is hard. There are enormous gifts that are all around us that will help us navigate the tough times if we can partake of the good things.

Bluff Dale Vineyards

About 14 miles south of Granbury, Bluff Dale Vineyards is part of the Way Out Wineries trail, which supports several Road Trip tasting weekends each year (visit wayoutwineries. org). We are most proud of our Port-style wine and Merlot, said co-owner David Haynes. People come back for good conversation, our sweet wines and the picnic areas with spectacular views. Bluff Dale is a full working winery, with some vineyards and all wine production on-site; bring a picnic to enjoy with your purchases.
Bluff Dale Vineyards 5222 county Road 148, Bluff Dale 254.728.3540 or bluffdalevineyards.com. Tastings: $5 for about seven wines, monday, wednesday, thursday, friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. Wines: Look for Nexus (sweet red), Caramella (sweet white),

Cross Timbers Winery

Housed in a historic 1874 farmhouse in Grapevine, Cross Timbers Winery pours its own label of wines grown and produced in Lubbock, plus wines from other Texas wineries, such as McPherson and Messina Hof, and a few from Grapevine sister cities in Mexico and Austria. Cross Timbers has event facilities, including the tasting room, gazebo, patio and a large barn, suitable for anything from special birthday parties to weddings.
cross timbers winery 805 main St., Grapevine 817.488.6789 or crosstimberswinery.com Tastings: $5 for four 1-ounce tastes, monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 12:30 to 5 p.m. Wines: Cross Timbers Blush, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and San Giovese, plus other Texas and international labels. Prices: $20 to $35.

Terry and Caris Turpen, winemakers at LightCatcher Winery

Delaney Vineyards & Winery

Events are the main thing going on at Delaney Vineyards & Winery; its picturesque 10-acre vineyard of Cynthiana grapes provides plenty

of ambiance for private parties as well as for tastings and tours. The winerys main vineyard is in Lamesa, Texas, allowing it to offer a number of varietals. Stop by as part of a wine-tasting tour in Grapevineor if youre scoping out possible wedding or rehearsal dinner sites.
Delaney Vineyards & winery 2000 champagne Blvd., Grapevine 817.481.5668 or delaneyvineyards.com Tastings: $10 for six wines, monday through

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Lone Oak Winery

Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Chardonnay, Texas Champagne Brut, Three Daughters (a red blend), Cynthiana, Merlot, Claret, Sweet Texas Red and Texas Rose. Prices: $11 to $30.

Hui Chuan Sushi, Sake and Tapas' Spicy Cara Roll with yellowtail, shrimp, asparagus, cream cheese and jalapeo, wrapped in soybean paper with salmon and a spicy sauce, is sure to satisfy your taste buds.

DVine Wine
With locations in Fort Worth, Grapevine and Granbury, DVine Wine has the 817 pretty, well covered. As a custom winery, DVine Wine sources juice from California vineyards and makes its own label of more than a dozen wines, ready for tasting and purchase. They can also help customers design personal batches (about 28 bottles for $300) with their own labels. People can come in and do a tasting, and we can custom-tailor the wine to their taste, said winemaker Wally Jones.
DVine wine 4915 camp Bowie Blvd., fort worth 817.569.9463 or dvinewineusa.com. there are also locations in Grapevine and Granbury; wine prices and availability can vary. Tastings: $5 for three tastes, or $10 for four tastes and a glass to keep, tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Wines:

La Bodega Private Reserve Chardonnay; Homestead Winery Rose of Ivanhoe

Shiraz, San Giovese, Cowtown Red (a Barolo), Riesling and Chardonnay, among others. Prices: $12 to $14.

Homestead Winery
With its main production facility in Ivanhoe, Texas, the Grapevine location of Homestead Winery is a tasting roomand a charming one thats well worth a stop. Its housed a couple blocks off historic Grapevines Main Street, in a pretty, yellow 1890s house. In addition to their regular wines, Homestead features its Portejas ($25), a fortified wine made with Zinfandel, with a Texas star on the label.
Homestead winery Grapevine tasting Room 211 E. worth, Grapevine 817.251.9463 or homesteadwinery.com Tastings: $5 for four tastes, daily, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wines: More than a dozen, including Chardonnay, Rose, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, among others. Prices: $11 to $18, for most.

Texas Varietals
Because certain wine grapes dont grow as well in the heat, some texas growers are leaning more toward Spanish and Italian varietals that can flourish in warmer climates, resulting in better, more varietally true wines. tempranillo, Sangiovese, Grenache, malbec, Viognier and Syrah are all showing promise in texas and might someday help define our states place in the world of wines. Black Spanish, also known as Lenoir, is one of the grape varieties thats relatively easy to grow in fort worth, so many local wineries grow that. the guides to varietals, on pages 42 and 44, complete with food pairing suggestions, comes courtesy of the texas Department of Agriculture. Visit gotexanwine.org for more information to help plan your visits to texas wineries, near and far.

Sadie, the gatekeeper at Lone Oak Winery

La Bodega Winery
Its the only winery we know of in an airportand its at DFW. While most of the winemaking happens in Bryan, Texas, La Bodega Winery is cellaring the aptly named Aero Port in oak barrels on-site at DFW. Also available for tasting are dozens more premium Texas wines. We provide a welcoming environment for enjoying a nice glass of wine and tapas on our patio or at the bar, said owner Gina Puente-Brancato.
Lone Oak Winery: 2116 FM 731, Burleson; 817.426.6625 or loneoakwinery.com. Tastings: $5 for any five wines (fee waived with bottle purchase), Thursday through Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. Wines: Among the dozen or so offerings are two versions of the vineyards own Shiraz, two Merlots, some accessible white and blush wines and even a wonderful Ruby Port. Prices: $10 to $25. Why go? Owners Gene and Judy Estes host a Spring Concert Series; this month, look for a May 17 concert by Trey and the Tritones (tritones.com). Bring your own lawn chairs, blankets and a picnic.

With a picturesque setting overlooking a creek and vineyards in Burleson, Lone Oak Winery feels a lot further from the city than it is. A large tasting room and an even larger covered deck give visitors plenty of room to spread out and enjoy Lone Oak winesin fact, its so inviting that by Thursday evening, people start showing up after work, some still in scrubs, to meet up with friends and enjoy the offerings, which include a few sweet wines as well as some serious reds. The Shiraz Vineyard Block A, from the winerys oldest vineyard, is a real standout. Lone Oak owner and grower Gene Estes, whos currently president of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association (TWGGA), grows several varietals on the property, including Tempranillo, Syrah and Blanc Du Bois. Even with all that, Estes said that his vineyard only meets about 25 to 30 percent of his needsand its an issue winemakers all over Texas are grappling with. We (in Texas) have about 170 wineries and 3,000 producing acres, Estes said. My No. 1 mission as president of TWGGA is to work to get funding and grants for new growers and for current growers to expand; were doing well in the wine business, but we need Texas fruit. Estes said that Texas wines have improved tremendously in the last decade, and he enjoys introducing them to new tasters. If we have someone who comes here from California, New York, Washington, Oregon, theyre usually skeptical, and theyre nearly always surprised, he said. Im kind of entertained by that.

Owner Gene Estes with stepdaughter Roxanne Myers at the Lone Oak Winery in Burleson
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Texas Red Varietals

malbec: complex, tannin-laden red with lush flavors of plums, berries and spice. Pair with beef dishes, turkey and hearty stews. tempranillo: Lush, smoky red with a hint of vanilla and rich, dark fruits. Pair with pizza, cabrito and tamales. Syrah: Smokey red with soft tannins, toasted oak, berries and plums. Pair with beef stew, grilled meats, pizza and wild game. Sangiovese: Smooth-textured red varietal spiced with wild raspberries and licorice. Pair with beef, pork, pasta dishes and cheese. Zinfandel: full-bodied, bold and fruity red bursting with berries and spice. Pair with barbecue, red pasta sauce and pizza. merlot: medium-to-full bodied red with a subtle, herbaceous flavor and soft tannins. Pair with meatloaf, grilled tuna and eggplant Parmesan. cabernet Sauvignon: complex, hearty red with bold flavors of cherry, cedar and chocolate. Pair with rack of lamb, t-bone steak and wild game. Pinot Noir: Rich, smooth red with delicate notes of black cherries and cloves. Pair with duck, salmon and turkey. Lenoir: Deep, dark red with notes of raspberry, cinnamon, cherry-chocolate, clove and brown sugar. Pair with raspberries and chocolate, as well as duck, venison and brisket.
Barking Rocks Winery: 1919 Allen St., Granbury; 817.579.0007 or barkingrockswine.com. Tastings: $5 for three wines, Saturday afternoons and by appointment or chance. Wines: Viognier, Little Red Wine in Hood (Syrah blend), Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, with others coming soon. Prices: $15 to $25. Why go? Just a few miles from historic Granbury, a stop at this winery could be tagged onto a Saturday spent on the square. Or, stop in for the First Friday event, a wine-and-cheese social hour that features live music, held the first Friday of each month. Look for weekend-long Road Trip events from Way Out Wineries (wayoutwineries.org), which include Barking Rocks and seven other wineries between the DFW area and the Hill Country.

Barking Rocks Winery

Dont be surprised if the first greeting you get when you pull up to Barking Rocks Winery in Granbury is from a friendly black and white dog named Cellar: He is, after all, the official director of security. Winemaker Tiberia, who co-owns the operation with his wife, is a free spirit who left his corporate job with TXU in 2002 to pursue full-time winemakingand since, decided to go by a single name (like Madonna, he jokes). Backing up his love of wine is an Italian heritage (his parents came through Ellis Island as children), some hard-earned lessons about growing grapes in Texas (his first attempt back in the 90s was, well, unfruitful), and formal studies (he took classes in oenology at Grayson College). These days, Tiberia grows some Black Spanish grapes on-site, and sources the rest of his grapes from Texas growers. The results are expressive, small-batch wines that he makes in an old rock barn. Among his favorites is, naturally, an Italian varietal: Sangiovese is a red that I think has good promise, he says. Its the primary grape of Chianti. Look also for the 2005 Viognier thats in danger of selling out (get some while you canthis is an up-and-coming varietal in Texas). Ready for bottling are two sweet newcomers to the Barking Rocks lineup: an Orange Muscat and a strawberry wine, the result of a collaboration with a local strawberry grower.

Theyre also giving the burgeoning Texas wine industry some face time with world travelers.
La Bodega winery Dfw Airport terminal A (972.574.1440) terminal D (972.973.9463) Tastings: Prices vary for 2-ounce pours, sold at terminal A, Gate 15, monday through friday, 7 a.m. to close, Saturday, 10 a.m. to close, Sunday, noon to close; and at terminal D, Gate 14, monday through friday, 9 a.m. to close, Saturday, 10 a.m. to close, Sunday, noon to close (closing times, usually between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., depending on airport traffic). Wines: La Bodega Winery Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, wines from La Buena Vida Vineyards, Grapevine, as well as other Texas wines. Prices: $15 to $80.

Barking Rocks Winery owner Tiberia thieves wine from a cask in his barrel room. The tool he uses to draw the wine is called a thieve.

La Buena Vida Vineyards, Grapevine

With a tasting room offering several labels and an expansive terrace, this is a relaxing place to enjoy a glass of wineor kick off a day of tasting in Grapevine. Many of the La Buena Vidalabel wines are made by original owner Bobby Smith in Springtown (see the Springtown

Su Vino Finale Ultimo Red Dessert Wine La Bodega Private Reserve Chardonnay

Cross Timbers San Giovese

Delaney Vineyards Texas Rose La Buena Vida Red \Headed Stepchild

Homestead Winery Ivanhoe Sparkling Wine

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Texas White Varietals

chardonnay: clean, crisp, well-balanced white with big flavors of citrus and oak. Pair oak-aged with light beef with cream sauces or smoked chicken; unoaked with lobster and veal. Blanc du Bois: Light, fresh-finished white with notes of grapefruit and apples. Pair with fish with lemon butter sauce, pasta Alfredo and pineapple chicken. Pinot Grigio: creamy, slightly perfumed white with rich color and a fresh palate. Pair with texmex, gulf fried shrimp and oysters. Viognier: Intense, slightly spicy white with notes of floral, peach and apricot. Pair with lettuce wraps (chinese), white fish with mango salsa, and paella.

DVine Wine, Cowtown Red (a Barolo)

Sunset Winery: 1535 S. Burleson Blvd., Burleson; 817.426.1141 or sunsetwinery.com. Tastings: $5 for five to six wines, Thursday through Sunday, noon to 7 p.m., and by appointment. Wines: Sun Ray Cabernet Sauvignon, Moon Glow Merlot, Twilight Tango Malbec, Pink Rainbows (a blush-colored Chenin Blanc blend), Orange Muscat and Santas Special (a locally grown Black Spanish/Lenoir). Prices: $14 to $27. Why go? Right off I-35W, just 10 minutes south of I-20, this unassuming little tasting room is a great detour on your way out of town: Stop by to taste, enjoy a tour, chat with the Andersons, and buy a couple bottles to sharewine will be welcome wherever youre heading. There are picnic tables on the grounds, and theres also a monthly potluck Wine Down party held in the barrel room the third Friday of every month.

Sunset Winery
Bruce and Birgit Andersons Burleson winery occupies the house that they raised their three daughters in during Bruces 25-year career as professor of sociology at University of Texas at Arlington. What was once a living room now has a grape crusher in it; the dining room is crowded with stainless steel tanks; and the kitchen has a really cool little corking machine. But the Andersons, who live in Fort Worth these days, arent your average mom and pop: They produce some serious red wines, including Sunset Winerys 2004 Sun Ray Cabernet Sauvignon, which took a gold medal at the 2008 Lone Star International Competition. My philosophy as a winemaker is to find the best fruit you can, and then try to help it become wine without a lot of interference, said Bruce, who sources most of his grapes from the wellrespected Newsom Vineyards in Plains, Texas. (The Andersons grow Black Spanish, also known as Lenoir, on their Burleson property.) While their red wines are well-respected, the top seller is actually Pink Rainbows, a sweetly accessible blush-colored blend of Chenin Blanc and five other grapes. Its really good with spicy foods, said Birgit, who explained that it was named when their then-2-year-old granddaughter was trying to describe the beauty of a sunset. The Andersons, who first met on the dance floor, are especially proud of their Twilight Tango Malbec, a velvety wine that has flavors of vanilla, black fruit and a hint of tobacco. Its very good with a steak, Birgit said.

listing, below); La Buena Vida Vineyards in Grapevine is now owned by Gina Puente-Brancato, as is La Bodega Winery at DFW Airport. At the Grapevine location, live music is featured Thursday and Saturday afternoons; check the Web site for other special events.
La Buena Vida Vineyards 416 E. college St., Grapevine 817.481.9463 or labuenavida.com Tastings: $7.50 to $9 for three 2-ounce pours, Sunday through tuesday, noon to 5 p.m., wednesday through friday, noon to 7 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wines: Bestsellers include La Buena Vida Red Headed Stepchild Sangria and Springtown Merlot L elegance, a white Merlot. Look also for the Springtown Viognier. Prices: $10 to $60.

Riesling: crisp, unobtrusive white accented by rich, fruit flavors, and a floral bouquet. Pair with Indian cuisine, Greek salad and Jamaican pork. Sauvignon Blanc: Silky smooth white with floral, grassy and delicate herbal properties. Pair with fish, shrimp, cream soups and veggies. chenin Blanc: Delicate, floral white with a dry, well-balanced finish. Pair with cheese crepes, quiche and waldorf salad. orange muscat: fruity, sweet white with notes of gooseberry and orange peel. Pair with ice cream, dark chocolate and smoked salmon. muscat Blanc: Light, fragrant white accented by coriander, peach and citrus flavors. Pair with fish, pasta, raw vegetables and soups. muscat canelli: fresh, fruity white retaining the zesty flavors of the grape. Pair with chocolate, fresh fruit, fish and pasta. Gewurtztraminer: full-bodied, pungent white characterized by fruity, nutty flavors. Pair with barbecue, sushi and blackened fish. Semillon: Bold and oaky, this sweet white carries hints of honey and figs. Pair with fried catfish, olive tapenade and fried chicken, as well as blue cheese or crme brle.

Bruce and Birgit Anderson, owners of Sunset Winery

La Buena Vida Vineyards, Springtown

Bobby Smith, considered one of the pioneers of the Texas wine industry, owns and operates La Buena Vida Vineyards at Springtown, providing much of the wine for La Buena Vida Vineyards at Grapevine. Why make the trek to Springtown? To try his Smith Estate label wines, which you cant get anywhere else; to try his house-made cheeses, crafted from organically produced milk; and to enjoy his tales from the vineyard, as he grows most of the grapes used in his wines.
La Buena Vida Vineyards at Springtown 650 Vineyard Lane, Springtown 817.220.4366 (winery) or 817.821.6794 (owners cell phone) Tastings: free, Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., and by appointment (call Smiths cell phone to schedule). Wines: Smith Estate Tempranillo, Merlot, Pinot Blanc and a limited edition Cabernet Sauvignon, among others. Prices: $14 to $32.

Su Vino Winery
Su Vino Winery is a custom winery, meaning that they come into the winemaking process
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after the crush (sourcing from West Coast wineries), finishing the winemaking on-site. As such, Su Vino has its own label, and it also offers custom-blending for customers (a batch, which yields about 30 bottles, begins around $200). They also carry wine-themed gifts and dcor. Call to find out about regular events, including regular Girls Nights Out and Wine Tasting 101 classes.
Su Vino winery 120 S. main St., Grapevine

817.424.0123 or suvinowinery.com Tastings: $5 for five tastes, tuesday through Saturday, noon to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wines: Select from 15 to 20 Su Vino-label wines, including Bella Rosa (a red blend), Summer Rain (a sweet white wine), and Porto Cocoa (a chocolate-infused Port). Prices: $10 to $25. *For a complete listing of vineyards and wine tasting rooms in and around Fort Worth, visit fwtx.com.

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