Bishop Arts Winery

http://bishopartswinery.com

Update: I was in Dallas in March 2015 and decided to visit again on a Saturday. As I pulled up to the winery, there were cars in the parking lot so my hopes were high. But as I parked in front of the side door, there was the Closed sign. I guess local businesses were able to take advantage of their parking lot. As it turns out for me, it wasn’t “third time’s the charm,” but “three strikes you’re out.”

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Bishop Arts Winery is located in the Bishop Arts district of Dallas and is owned by Elias and Dolores Rodriguez. The winery opened May, 2013.

It’s not often when I can’t tell you about my experience at doing a tasting at a winery, and in fact, I think this is the first time. The reason I can’t tell you at Bishop Arts Winery is because I was never able to actually have a tasting.

I happened to be in Dallas on a Friday and the website listed the winery’s hours from 12:00-10:00 pm. I found the winery at 3:15 pm and when the door wouldn’t open, I looked past the Open sign on the window, saw somebody sitting inside which turned out to be a mannequin, and realized I was out of luck. A sign on the window had emergency contact phone numbers so I called the one for Elias Rodriguez. A woman answered and said he was in a meeting (I assume day job) and he would be there in about an hour and a half.

I was deciding what to do next since I had an appointment next at Calais Winery, when a couple pulled up. After talking to the man, I learned he was Rudy DiSanto who is the wine consultant for Bishop Arts Winery and is the assistant winemaker at Tara Vineyard and Winery. He told me that Bishop Arts Winery’s wines are made in east Texas right now, but they are looking to find production space in the Bishop Arts district.

After talking for a little while, another car pulled up and Rudy said it was Elias Rodriguez with someone else. Elias looked a little confused as he came up to the winery door and then he left again. I asked what happened and was told he forgot the winery key at work. I couldn’t wait anymore since I had the appointment at Calais Winery so I decided to try again sometime.

The next day after visiting a winery, it was around 3:00 pm. Since the hours for Saturday were the same as Friday’s and it probably wasn’t a real work day, I was sure three hours after they were supposed to be open was going to work this time. I then headed out of my way to make a second visit. I pulled up and the car from the previous day was there and the mannequin was on the front porch (kind of unusual).

I got inside the winery this time (making progress) and then the woman who was with Rudy from the previous day came out from the back and said Elias would be back soon. Okay. I asked if I could do a tasting, but I don’t think she understood what I asked as she walked to the back again. That was enough for me, so I took some photos you see here to try and learn what kind of wine they have (if you can get a tasting) and left for a meeting.

According to their website, they have a trolley which can be rented. I don’t know why or where it would go, but it’s available. They also have special Sangria nights and live music on Saturdays (must happen at night). In addition they have a wine club.

From the tasting list shown in the winery, these are the wines available:

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Blackberry
• Chardonnay
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Peach
• Granny’s Green Apple

There is a tasting fee for three wines and you can buy wine by the glass and frozen sangria is available. There is a small and large cheese plate available along with handmade chocolates.

In addition to the Bishop Arts wines, they sell these Homestead Winery wines.

• Bois d’ Arc Red
• Rose of Ivanhoe
• Chocolate Rose
• Viognier
• Moscato

Perhaps if I am in the Dallas area again, I may try a third time to visit. Third time’s the charm?