Christoval Vineyards and Winery

Christoval Vineyards and Winery is located in Christoval which is south of San Angelo. The vineyard was first established in 1985 with Cabernet and Riesling being planted in the first two fields. In 2008, San Angelo natives Drexell “Drex” and Nancy Vincent purchased the estate. More vines were planted in 2008 and the winery was bonded in November 2010. The tasting room opened the day after Thanksgiving in 2011.

Drex manages the vineyard and estate. The winery and tasting room is operated by the Vincent’s sons, Bryan and Blake Vincent. Bryan is the winemaker and Blake manages the wine club and tasting room operations.

The 25 acre estate houses the winery and eight acres of the estate vineyard. The original 2.5 acre Riesling field is still active and producing high quality grapes. The additional grapes grown are Tempranillo, Riesling, Vermentino, and Mourvèdre. Also located on the estate is a combination chapel and event center in a 3,000 square foot building designed in 17th century country French style. The chapel holds church services on the first and third Sunday each month. The event center has three large patios and a full catering kitchen available for events.

The parking lot for the winery is near the front of the estate along with the chapel and event center. You must take a stroll down a road past the vineyard to get to the tasting room which was a barn and has been converted into the large tasting room. At the entrance to the tasting room is a statue of children picking grapes. The statue represents the Vincent family grandchildren.

Tastings are done while standing at the tasting bar or sitting at a table. There is a tasting fee for six wines which includes the wine glass. The winery uses both corks and screw caps and the tastings are poured from the bottle. Wine crackers are available to cleanse your palate. Cheese trays and homemade pizza are available for purchase.

The first question I had to ask, since I wasn’t sure, was the correct pronunciation of Christoval. It is pronounced like Cris-toe-vaul with the accent on the second syllable. I was told the small town is known as the Ram capital of the world. This is why the second label of Christoval Vineyards is named Rambouillet with a drawing of a Ram on the label.

The winery uses 100% Texas grapes whether they come from the estate vineyard or the High Plains of Texas. They produce about 2,500 to 3,000 cases of wine a year. Some of the wines available when I visited were:

• Angelo Red (estate Tempranillo, estate Mourvèdre, and Cabernet Sauvignon)
• Barbera (Barbera and Viognier)
• Mourvèdre
• Petit Sirah
• Portmanteau (Tempranillo, Mourvèdre, Merlot, Barbera, Viognier)
• Sangiovese
• Tempranillo
• Vintner’s Select Merlot
• Rosé of Mourvèdre
• Angelo White (Vermentino, Viognier, Muscat, Riesling)
• Muscat Canelli
• Old Vine Riesling (estate Riesling)
• Roussanne
• Vermentino
• Viognier
• Sparkling Almond
• Angelo Blush (Muscat Canelli, Roussanne, Vermentino, Tempranillo, Mourvèdre)

The winery has a wine club where members can enjoy the Texas wine. Events held at the winery include wedding receptions, dinners, parties, and live music on Saturdays weather permitting. The gift shop has gift baskets, clothing, salsa, candy, wine accessories, and books.

Christoval Vineyards and Winery is showing in just a short time they intend on being a Texas winery for people to take note.