Texas Summers (and the other seasons of the year) are made for Rosé wines!
I first stopped in at Dry Comal Creek Vineyards (at the edge of the sometimes-dry and sometimes-wet creek of the same name) to visit its founder Franklin Howser. He was a retired lawyer with a serious wine hobby going professional. As I recall, at the time (in 2008) he made a pretty darn good Black Spanish (Lenoir) table wine (click here), one of the best that I’ve ever tasted, actually!
Franklin had originally purchased the property as a get away place in the 1970’s. When he retired lawyering in the 1990’s, he decided to turn his wine hobby into a serious business by planting a vineyard and starting a winery. In 2017, Mr. Houser was ready to retire from the wine business, and sold the vineyard to the Romero Family from Ft. Worth.
From there, Dry Comal Creek Vineyards has evolved now making a broad selection of wines from their estate and contracted vineyards around Texas. They include Albariño to Roussanne for white wines and Aglianico to Tempranillo and Cabernet blends for red wines. This tasting stop has an alluring attraction… There is no cost to enjoy their shady “Outdoor Lounge”. It is a great place to partake in some of Dry Comal Creek’s quality 100% Texas wines! No reservation needed to enjoy wine in the yard under the oaks.
Dry Comal Creek’s winery and estate vineyard are picture perfect, an example of what a boutique winery should be, set in relaxed and bucolic surroundings.
What’s not to like with Dry Creek’s visual appeal? And, for that matter, if you plan for a tasting stop, you will agree what’s not to like about the wine, either. Since we are still blazingly hot and still hardly half way through Summer, let’s stick with a rosé and a fine example of a Texas Rosé, as well. It’s the Dry Comal Creek Vineyards 2022 Alegria.
Dry Comal Creek Vineyards 2022 Alegria (Texas High Plains AVA)
Like the winery that made it, this wine is both beautiful to look at and experience. I guarantee you one thing… If you taste this wine, it will be one of your top ranked summer favorites from porch-to-pool and pool-to-table. This wine has the versatility to accompany almost any situation and many food pairings. In both 2021 and 2022 Alegria are blends consisting mainly of Texas high plains Cinsault from Lilli of the Vine Vineyards around Lamesa with a touch of the Dry Comal Creek’s own estate Black Spanish.
Alegria – The Tasting
Alegria offers a pale salmon-pink color true to many of the best Rosé wines around the world. Once in your glass, it follows with aromas of ruby red grapefruit and muddled strawberries leading to a dry strawberry-mango-grapefruit fruit salad medley on your palate. These fine attributes are supported by medium+ acidity and a very light-subtle tannic feel ending with a friendly and silky finish.
The grapes were intentionally harvested early to produce bright fruit and crisp acidity. It was then handled in the winery like a white wine through the winemaking process in stainless steel without oak.
How to Find Dry Comal Creek Vineyards for a Tasting Stop?
Well, this tasting stop is just a skip-and-a-jump west of San Marcos, on Herbelin Road just off of Route 46.
Reservations at Dry Comal Creek are recommended for tastings. Tastings are all seated and cost $25 per person for a 45 minute tasting that includes five 100% Texas wines with descriptions and narrative. Tasting “Walk-Ins” will be accommodated if space permits. Click here for more information on winery visits.
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