Ab Astris Winery

On your next Wine Road 290 adventure, check out the newest winery star, Ab Astris Winery, located in Stonewall not too far from Fredericksburg. The winery has been open for a little over a month now and by what I have discovered, they are set to become a shining star among the Texas wineries.

What an intriguing name, Ab Astris. This is Latin for “from the stars, knowledge from the stars.”

A star is born when just the right balance of forces come together at just the right time, and when fusion begins, the star will then shine brightly.

Well, the stars have aligned just right for Tony and Erin Smith, owners of Ab Astris Winery and their longtime dream has already begun to shine. Along with co-founders (and family) Kristen and Mike, they are committed to running a successful family business and will produce exceptional Texas wines.

They have a winning blend of a strong family bond, hard work, passion for Texas, and producing wines that are 100% Texas fruit.

Located right off the road in the Texas Hill Country, a single windmill overlooks the vines that are planted around the back of the winery, and an inviting covered porch with plenty of seating just perfect for enjoying a glass or bottle of wine with friends.

Tony and Erin are a couple with passion and love for each other as well as their dream-coming-true winery. They are friendly, easy to talk to, and are eager to share their love for Texas wine with you, and are truly dedicated to quality wines for us to enjoy.

Currently, the vines planted are three acres of Tannat, two acres of the Portuguese grape Souzão, and two acres of Clairette Blanche. In the spring, they will plant five more acres which will include Petite Sirah, Montepulciano, and even more Tannat.

On the property, the soils are rich with limestone in one area and another is rocky soil. Tony and Erin are anticipating beautiful wines with their grapes in the near future and have been so pleased with the wines they are pouring now. They are especially excited about planting and producing Tannat, which is growing very well in Texas and producing quality wine.

Right now, the wines being poured in the tasting room are a collaboration of the Ab Astris team. Winemaker and son-in-law Mike, along with consultation from Texas’ own rock star winemaker, John Rivenburgh, have been working hard to produce their best wines yet. Their hard work has paid off and these stellar wines are available in their tasting room and through the wine club.

If you haven’t tasted 100% Texas wine lately, this will be an excellent opportunity to do so. Stellar wines from the Texas Hill Country and Texas High Plains are front and center.

All Texas. All the time.

100% Texas fruit. This is their mission and mantra. They are dedicated to making the best wines from 100% Texas grapes. Period.

We sampled 100% Roussanne, Roussanne-Muscat blend, Montepulciano, Tempranillo, and Tannat, and 100% enjoyed each wine.

The white wines are medium to full bodied dry, floral, juicy with refreshing acidity, and we doubly enjoyed them while relaxing on the porch.

A rack of ribs, char-grilled steak, or smoked chicken would have paired perfectly with the deep, velvety smooth yet spicy flavors of the Tannat (Tony’s favorite). And, the tasty Tempranillo is just right for a paella dinner as well as the Montepulciano.

There are currently four reds from 2015 and four whites from 2017 vintage selections by the glass or by the bottle. One red (Bordeaux blend) is coming soon.

Take advantage of the September weather and enjoy the outdoor space while sipping on the Texas wine of your choice. If you wish, bring cheese, charcuterie, and bread to savor with your favorite choices for the day.

Good things are happening at Ab Astris.

Photos by Layla Mays http://laylamays.com