Gadela Wines

A little earlier this year I saw a listing for a new winery, Gadela Wines, planning to open soon near my neighborhood. When I saw the “We’re open!” announcement on their Facebook page, I was eager to make my first visit.

My wife, Maria, and I recently had a chance to visit Gadela Wines and meet owners Franco and Brenda Knoepffler. They were extremely welcoming and eager to share their story. Franco began making wines as a hobby over 16 years ago and decided to grow this hobby into a family business. The Knoepfflers found their location in a slice of Spring, TX surrounded by The Woodlands over two years ago. They purchased an old house with the dream of turning it into their winery. After two years of hard work, including fully renovating the house to make it a functional winery and tasting room, they are ready to share their wines with everyone.

Gadela Wines is currently offering four of their wines, three white wines and a Cabernet Franc ice wine. They are sourcing juice from Texas and several other wine regions to round out their portfolio of wines. They are about to release two of their red wines, a Montepulciano and a Cabernet Sauvignon / Syrah blend. They have several more red wines being aged that will be released when Franco is happy with them. To keep red wine drinkers happy for the time being, they are offering three Private Reserve wines from Messina Hof, several of which are only otherwise available at Messina Hof locations.

In our tasting, we tried the following wines:

• Gadela Wines label
  • Brisa, a Sauvignon Blanc with flavors of kiwi and pear
  • Riesling (dry)
  • Gewürztraminer
  • Cabernet Franc Ice Wine
• Messina Hof wines
  • Private Reserve Reflections of Love (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc blend)
  • Private Reserve Malbec
  • Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Gadela’s wines are all around enjoyable and nicely balanced. It is spring time in Texas, so their white wines are just in time for an afternoon on a patio. I have not had a Cab Franc ice wine before, and Gadela’s was a nice intro for me being full of red fruit flavors. Getting to try a few of the Messina Hof Private Reserve wines was an added treat. We plan on visiting Gadela Wines again soon after they release their first red wines.

Gadela Wines is in the process of setting up their first events, including painting classes with a local artist. They also have space available for small private events. Gadela Wines is currently open Thursday and Friday evenings and all day Saturday. Visit them in Spring right off Kuykendahl Road.