Inwood Estates Vineyards has two locations, the first in Dallas and the second in Florence. Over time we were able to visit both locations. Dan and Rose Mary Gatlin are the owners of Inwood Estates Vineyards and Dan is also the winemaker. Dan first started making wine in 1981 and is one of the well-known winemakers in Texas.
Inwood Estates Vineyards – Dallas
The Dallas location of Inwood Estates Vineyards opened in 2006. When I arrived at the winery, I was surprised to find it was located in a warehouse setting. When I entered the winery, a tasting was already in progress.
Marc was the pourer and helped me to do a tasting. There were two tasting fees at the time, one for five wines and a higher fee for eight wines. You can sit at the tasting bar to a tasting. Inwood Estates uses corks in their wines and the tastings are poured from the bottle.
I didn’t get a chance to ask many questions since they were busy but that was okay as I had previously tasted most of their wines at the Florence location. I did learn that Segundo is their second label which is made from barrels or lots judged not good enough for the Inwood wines. They are blended with other American wines to create a value wine priced in the low $20’s.
There is no gift shop in the Dallas tasting room. Tours are available if anybody wants one.
Inwood Estates Vineyards Dallas location is on the Dallas Wine Trail.
Inwood Estates Vineyards – Florence
Inwood Estates in Florence is located right next to the Vineyard at Florence so it is easy to walk from one winery to the next. The winery location opened in 2009.
You sit at the bar while you do a tasting. All bottles are corked and poured using a measured pourer. There are two tasting fees, one for all their wines or another price per wine.
Some wines use 100% Texas grapes while others use grapes from California and Washington.
The first time we visited the Florence location, we were able to take a tour of the production facility which is visible from the tasting room. The tour was interesting but tours were not available the second time we visited. We were told the last time we visited that we just missed Dan Gatlin. Dan lives in the luxury houses which are part of The Vineyard at Florence so the Florence location of his winery is close to him.
Even though we missed Dan at Florence, we did get a chance to meet him at Mendelbaum Cellars. Since there had been many comments by people on the higher price of his 2008 “Cornelious” Reserve Tempranillo, I decided to be bold and ask him about it. Dan explained the difference between his lower priced Tempranillo and the higher priced “Cornelius.” He explained a lot of differences between the two including red cherry taste for the lower priced and a dark black cherry taste for the higher priced wine. The key also is where he can get the grapes in Texas which is Newsom Vineyards in the High Plains, a location which is above 3,500 feet. There were other differences between the wines and it was a very informative conversation.
A gift shop is available with wine accessories along with salsas to sample from. Tables are available if you want to sit and enjoy a glass of wine.
We were confused why there were two wineries next to each other so the pourer told us the story. Dan Gatlin of course is the winemaker for both Inwood Estates locations. In addition when The Vineyard at Florence was opening, they needed a winemaker and Dan Gatlin fulfilled that role too. So all Texas wine made at The Vineyard at Florence and Inwood Estates is made by Dan Gatlin.
Inwood Estates Vineyards has a wine club called the Gran Reserva Wine Club.
The Florence location is on the Thirsty Oaks wine trail.
Great post…Dan makes some nice wine. I came home with a mixed case of the Bel amore wines from The Vineyard at Florence, and they are all great! I’m looking forward to tasting some of the Vineyards Estates wines, as they were out of some of then when I was there in the fall.