A Rising Star (Texas) Winery

Outside Rising Star Winery

It’s Spring Break around our part of Texas, and to close out the week my wife made the impromptu decision to visit  Brennan Vineyards in Commanche, Texas.  Since we were in Commanche, I made the decision to extend our travels and visit another winery located 4 miles north of Rising Star, Texas.  The winery located on the Rising Star Vineryard has been in operation since 2005, with the taste room opening in July 2006.  However the vineyard has been producing grapes since the 1980’s.  In an October 2007 article by Randy Lankford for Texas Cooking, Michael and Vicki Oubre indicated they purchased the vineyard from a NASA scientist who produced grapes for several Texas wineries.  Initially the Oubre’s continued this practice, but chose to start keeping some fruit for their own winery.

As their website states, the Oubre’s got started in the Texas Wine business by planting a small vineyard in Richland Springs, Texas along Hwy 190 in 1999.  When the opportunity to purchase the vineyard north of Rising Star, the Oubre’s jumped at the chance to own a larger and more mature vineyard. According to a Business Images Texas Midwest article by Kevin Litwin in February 2009, the Rising Star Vineyard ships fruit to both Llano Estacado and Becker Vineyards. Michael Oubre pointed out that the 2006 cabernet grapes grown for Llano won a gold medal at the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition.

The Rising Star winery produces roughly 600 cases of wines.  The tasting room was small like the winery, but the attendant was very hospitable and engaging.  The first thing that struck me was that they didn’t offer all of their wines for tasting.  The selections we could choose from included … Chardonnay, Rustler’s Red (blend of Barbera, Merlot, and Zinfadel), Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chenin Blanc.  On other occasions, they offer tastings of … Chardonnay, Barbera, Merlot, Blush, and Chenin Blanc.  What wasn’t offered for tasting on either list was their Muscat Blanc or Syrah, but these were offered for purchase by the glass.  I reconcile this approach to taste offerings with the fact they don’t process all their wines at one bottling.  According to their website, they determined that multiple releases throughout the year assists in managing the limited space they have at the winery.  As my wife is a sweet wine drinker, we figured the Sunset would be our choice based on the “sweet” description.  However, the Rustler’s Red appeared to be more suited to her palate.

Once back at the casa, I was checking out the winery’s website (specifically their blog entitled “Down the Row“) and discovered that the Oubre’s were making changes this year to when they prune their vines.  Rather than pruning the vines during the winter months as had been their practice, in 2010 they decided to prune during the month of April after the “bud-break”.  To this end, they are soliciting seasonal vineyard work as well as exploring the idea of hosting a “pruning party” for volunteers to help out with the pruning process.  While I don’t consider myself having a green thumb, this sounded like an appealing opportunity to cultivate a deeper appreciation of the wine making process.  So while I contemplate this opportunity, maybe we’ll see each other at the vineyard in April.

Read Full Post »

2008 Austin Street Muscat Blanc

2008 Austin Street Muscat Blanc

Several weeks ago, my wife and I enjoyed a great Brennan Vineyards Wine Dinner.  We departed this event with a bottle of Brennan’s Austin Street label 2008 Muscat Blanc.  This is a light desert wine that was paired with a peach champagne sorbetto at the dinner.  I believe Vianei Robinson sums it best when in 2006 she reviewed the Austin Street Muscat Blanc for the Abilene Reporter News and commented, “It has the classic floral aromas of the Muscat grape and a light sweetness that is refreshing, not cloying.”

Muscats are one of my wife’s favorite wines.  Our first introduction was a Becker Vineyards Muscat Canelli eight years ago.  After this, we happened upon a wine tasting storefront in the DFW airport and had our first taste of Sister Creek Vineryards’ Muscat Canelli.  More recently, in 2008, we returned from an extended wine touring weekend with a bottle of Texas Hills Vineyards Orange Muscato.  Overall, my wife favors Sister Creek Vineyard’s Muscat Canelli, but Brennan’s Austin Street Muscat Blanc is a close second.

While the Brennan’s grow their own Muscat de Alexderia grapes, the Muscat Blanc is made from Reddy Vineyards fruit.  Reddy Vineyards is just east of Brownfield, Texas and produces grapes for several wineries around Texas, most notably Haak Winery’s 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon which received several awards.  Dr. Vijay and Subada Reddy have been growing grapes since 1997.  According to a May 2009 High Plains/Midwest AG Journal article, the Reddy’s started with five acres and their current operation has 105 acres, 105,000 plants, that produce 400 tons of grapes in a year.   The Reddy’s website details that 4.5 acres has Muscat Canelli, or as the French refer to it Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains.  These were planted in March of 2004.  In a September 2008 Lubbock Avalanche-Journal article, the Reddy’s indicated they plan to expand their current vineyard operation by another 60 acres over the course of five years.

Brennan’s Austin Street 2008 Muscat Blanc was a great close to an excellent dinner.  If desert wines are your forte, I’m confident you’ll enjoy this Muscat Blanc.

Read Full Post »

Brennan Vineyards Wine Dinner – Pairings

Brennan Vineyard’s Wine Dinner on September 11, 2009 start with assorted cheeses, crackers, and fruits paired with a choice of Brennan’s Austin Street labeled wines: 2008 Comanche Rose or 2008 Three White Chicks.  The 2008 Three White Chicks was among the last of those bottled and rare treat consider it is no longer available for purchase.  The 2008 Three White Chicks is a fun blend of Semillon, Chardonnay, and Viognier, which the Brennan’s were delighted with the response this particular wine had throughout the year.  The 2008 Comanche Rose is what the Brennan’s refer to as a “True Rose made from Nero d’ Avola and Muscat of Alexadria” grapes, according to their Fall 2008 Newsletter.  Previous vintages of the Comanche Rose have won a gold medal at the Texas Open and a bronze medal at the Lone Star International Wine Competition.

As dinner started, a fresh green salad was served followed by a spiked cream of squash soup.  Pat Brennan, winemaker and dinner host, paired this course with the Brennan Vineyards label Viognier.  By Pat’s own admission in a GOTEXAN wine cast on Viognier, the Rhone varietal is the “signature white wine of Texas.”  Brennan Vineyards produces the fruit for Viognier for several other wineries in the state.  Along with other Brennan’s Viognier that have garnered awards and metals at Houston Rodeo International and Lone Star International, the 2008 vintage received a silver medal at the Indy International and at the Finger Lakes International.

For the main course, guests had a choice of grilled beef tenderloin with Henry Bain sauce and creamed potatoes or ginger glazed mahi mahi with yellow saffron rice.  Both were accompanied by sauteed onion and aspoaragus.  Both dishes were paired with Brennan’s Austin Street label Red, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.  The 2005 vinage received a Bronze medal at the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition.

To complete the dinner, peach champagne sorbetto with ginger cookie was paired with Brennan’s 2008 Austin Street Muscat Blanc.  While Brennan grows Muscat of Alexadria, they purchase fruit from the high plains to make their Muscat Blanc.  Surprisingly the pairing with the sorbetto balanced the sweet normally encountered with Muscat.

While the dinner and wines were excellent, seated at a table with two other couples who were attending their first wine dinner truly complimented the evening.  One couple was from Brownwood, Texas and the other from Whitney, Texas.  Sharing our impressions of wine, food, and travels, the three hour affair drew to a close before anyone realized.  Whether with friends, old or new, an evening of fine food … paired with excellent wine … paired with great conversation … makes for a most enjoyable evening.

Read Full Post »