Compass Rose Cellars

Compass Rose Cellars has their production located in Mason but the tasting room is in Hye. However, the plan is to eventually move the production to Hye also on the 35 acre lot. The winery is owned by Mark Watson and Robert Nida is the winemaker. The winery opened January 28, 2011, and the tasting room opened in the summer of 2014.

While visiting Hye Market and Hye End Tasting Room one time, we ran into Mark Watson who volunteered to show us how his tasting room was coming along. We jumped in his truck and he drove us up the road where the tasting room was at foundation level. We could see why he was excited with the location since it does have an excellent view of the area.

Since that visit, we have visited the tasting room a couple times. As mentioned, the tasting room is located up the road from Hye and after driving up a dirt road to the top of a hill, the tasting room comes into view.

Inside the tasting room, there is a tasting bar where you can do a tasting. There is no seating inside the tasting room because the best place to sit and do a tasting is outside on the patio with the gorgeous view. That is what we did the first time we visited.

Since it was a little chilly at that time, Mark Watson had things planned and ready. He gave everybody a blanket to use while sitting on the comfortable patio chairs and couches, and then proceeded to provide a tasting for us of their wines. Since then I have seen they have heaters for use on the patio, but the blankets still made a nice cozy way to enjoy wine on the patio.

There is a tasting fee for the wines being offered. The wines are poured from uncorked bottles into stemless wine glasses which is perfect when sitting outside on the patio. The winery only uses 100% Texas grapes and our first visit included four wines. On my last visit there were two more wines added. These are the wines which were available on my last visit:

• Chenin Blanc 2013 – Mesa Vineyards, 109 cases
• Pinot Grigio 2012 – Tallent Vineyards, 343 cases
• Syrah 2012 – Tallent Vineyards, 97 cases
• Jaquez 2012 – fortified dessert wine, 50 cases
• Merlot 2012 – Granite Hill Vineyards, 50 cases
• Blanc du Bois 2013 – Las Nubes Ranch, 32 cases

I was told there is more wine being aged in barrels: Petite Sirah, Petite Verdot, and Cabernet Franc.

Food available for purchase are items like a small cheese plate, large cheese & meat plate, hummus plate, assorted truffles, almond bark, and mocha crunch.

Dinner events are often held at the tasting room and the winery has a wine club called The Journey.

Next time you are in Hye and want to just relax with a beautiful view, stop by Compass Rose Cellars and enjoy the view and hospitality.