Grayson Hills Winery

http://www.graysonhillswinery.com

Grayson Hills Winery is located in Whitewright and is owned by Rick and Connie Magers. They planted a vineyard from 1999 to 2001 and when the dry county changed in 2002, they started planning on a winery which opened in 2006. During that time Rick made the only estate bottled wine in Texoma County which was a 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. It ended up winning a Bronze medal at the 2007 Lone Star International Wine Competition.

It had been over three years since we last visited Grayson Hills Winery so it was definitely time for a return visit. I followed my GPS and went down an unpaved road which I don’t remember from years ago, but we must have done the same back then. Connie Magers was outside the winery watering flowers and Rick Magers came up from the vineyard to say hello.

We went into the tasting room where we began a tasting. Tastings are done while sitting at the tasting bar. There is a tasting fee for whatever wines they currently have. The tasting fee is waived if a bottle is purchased. The tastings are poured from the uncorked bottles. Oyster crackers are available to cleanse your palate.

Wines which were available for me to taste were:

• Tapestrés (Tempranillo, Ruby Cabernet, Cabernet Franc)
• Twilight (Moscato and Riesling)
• Barn Red (Tempranillo and Moscato)
• Sogni D’Oro (Moscato dessert wine)

Grayson Hills uses only 100% Texas grapes in their wine and they produce approximately 500 cases of wine a year. When Grayson Hills got their winery license, there were only 45 wineries in Texas at that time.

There are three acres of vineyard at the winery and they are growing Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. They plan on replacing 400-500 Cabernet Sauvignon vines soon.

Further plans Rick and Connie have are to build an outdoor kitchen where they will then provide farm to table dinners. They will also be starting a wine club.

The biggest news they told me while I was tasting their wines is the future home of Grayson Hills Winery will be in a building currently being remodeled in downtown Whitewright. Connie wants to make it like a mercantile with chocolates, cheeses, bread, and of course Grayson Hills wine. They would like to have a bistro there too.

The Magers plan on living above the new location and opening a guesthouse cottage next to the current winery. Production will happen at the new location and the old winery may be used for barrel storage.

It sounds great and that means when it is finished, I will need to make a return visit to Grayson Hills Winery to visit with Rick and Connie Magers again.