Texas Wine is Fine by Wendie Barragan
If you are a wine lover..
…, you love all kinds of wine from many regions of the world. Napa Valley in California has many popular wineries. The top wineries in the world range from Australia to New Zealand and even South Africa. But did you know -- right in the heart of Texas -- there are wineries ready to welcome you with open arms?
Many Texas locals visit Fredericksburg to experience more than 30 wineries and tasting rooms. From Tempranillo, to Malbec and Rose, many wineries offer tasting samples for less than $20.00. Many locals are as drawn by the southern Texas hospitality as by the unique winery experience.
I love traveling locally to discover unique wineries but being a full-time working mother makes it hard to plan last minute trips. I googled local wineries near the Dallas area that are open on Saturdays and to my surprise? I found Caudalie Crest in Celina TX, (located near McKinney, TX). Their website is user friendly and includes an event calendar.
I immediately picked up the phone to ask if children were welcome. A gentle, cheery voice answered my call and happily assured me that families & children were always welcome. I turned to my kids and said,
Hey boys, let’s go on a road trip and see some goats on a farm!
The sky was clear and blue with bright rays of sunshine, which made our drive very relaxing. We drove past miles and miles of open farmland and beautiful tall trees. A day away from the city life is so calming. We arrived at the winery equipped with a charming, quaint home.
The owners live on site and care for their animals and the vineyard. They greeted us with a warm, British welcome; I felt as if I had traveled across the pond. The tasting room is homey and comfortable with limited seating, but the outside covered patio is large enough to seat families.
My boys found a game of chess to entertain themselves while my husband and I began our tasting experience.
the wine
My first wine tasting was the Wicked Ticked pink rosé, which was semi-sweet with hints of strawberry and melon. It was so refreshing and sweet and perfectly paired with the cheeseboard. While I enjoyed my sips, I watched as Sue and Ray Verrill graciously welcomed every guest and made them feel at home. For our next tasting, we tried the Sweet Prairie Snow, which is a white wine, Blanc du Bois with hints of pear, citrus, and a light floral fragrance. I felt as if I was walking through a flowery meadow while sipping on this wine.
Ray gave us a brief history of the vineyard and highlighted that they use 100% Texas grapes and use stainless tanks with oak chips to make the wines. His passion for Texas wine making was very inspiring and they also sell local products, such as jams and jellies as the season allows. I took a stroll through the vineyard while my boys excitedly ran around me in circles, because that is what energetic kids do to their moms. We found the goats and horses, which are very well taken care of and looked so calm. My boys chatted with the goats then chased grasshoppers in the field.
I enjoyed the relaxing and welcoming atmosphere so much that the owners welcomed us back for their future events-- which will include food trucks, live music, and even a Texas Sundown for adults only. Our visit to Caudalie Crest winery was very enjoyable and I can’t wait to go back. Texas wine is such a treasure and supporting local business is a great way to support our community. It is less than an hour drive from Dallas and a great family getaway for an afternoon of relaxing, wine tasting, and family bonding time.
About Wendie
Hi, I’m Wendie
Wendie is a professional taco connoisseur, mother of 2, and nature lover. She is focused on building a community that supports bilingual, Latina moms just like her.