Urban and Rural

Having tasted in Texas wineries and tasting rooms since 1995, my wife Phyllis and I get a thrill out of discovering new wineries (and there are more every month), getting caught up in the passion of the winemaker, and learning backstories about the names of wineries and particular bottles.

Two trips to the Texas Hill Country in February 2021 enabled us to add Re:Rooted 210 Urban Winery and Siboney Cellars to our “discovery” list. And these wineries also moved to the top of our “wineries other Texas wine lovers MUST visit!”

Re:Rooted 210 Urban Winery

Re:Rooted 210 is the new downtown San Antonio venture of Jennifer Beckmann, Certified Wine Educator and Level 2 Certified Sommelier, who many know from her previous stints at Perissos Vineyard and Winery, Bending Branch Winery, Kuhlman Cellars, and Slate Mill Wine Collective. Siboney (See-Bo-NAY) is a winery begun by Barbara and Miguel Lecuona several years ago that is now establishing a permanent location four miles west of Johnson City on the south side of Highway 290 with the assistance of new partners Bill and Mary Ann Waldrip.

Re:Rooted 210 is defined by Jennifer as an “urban winery and tasting room,” given its location on the ground floor of an apartment building in the shadow of the Tower of the Americas in Hemisfair Plaza. That urbanity is also highlighted by the light fixtures crafted from airplane parts, and the striking artwork by Chicago artist Tony Fitzpatrick, a long-time friend of Jennifer’s.

Jennifer Beckmann

The wines being poured by glass and growler were produced by Jennifer at the Texas Hill Country’s Slate Mill Wine Collective and were “re-rooted” to San Antonio’s 210 area code. Hence the name of the winery.

Just as there is a backstory for the winery name, the names of the wines being poured from kegs have backstories related to Jennifer’s love of scary things and San Antonio history. The wines we tasted were:

• 2019 Ghost Tracks (Albariño/Sauvignon Blanc/Fiano blend)
• 2019 Cable Cars (Roussanne/Viognier blend)
• 2019 San Antonio Rosé (Sangiovese/Cinsaut blend)
• NV Riverwalk Red (Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon blend)
• 2018 Carignan
• 2017 Malbec
• 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon

While Jennifer experienced lengthy COVID-related delays in finally getting her urban location opened in mid-February, Barbara is looking to plant her first of two vineyards at the new permanent Siboney location in April after having shared facilities at Hawk’s Shadow Winery and Kerrville Hills Winery. The foundation for the tasting room/production facility built into the hillside was poured in early March, and other improvements to the 52-acre site are plans that are literally on architectural renderings that can be seen in the temporary tasting room on site.

Barbara noted that the winery’s name honors Miguel’s Cuban grandfather who was an award-winning musician who wrote the song “Siboney” to honor a particular part of the Cuba coast.

Barbara Lecuona and Jerry Smith

The Siboney wines have particular meaning to Barbara that reflect the development of her wine knowledge, understanding of grape varieties, and the effectiveness of different production methods that she has absorbed from working with winemakers Benjamin Calais, Tom Reed, Doug Reed, Chip Concklin, and John Rivenburgh.

The wines we tasted at Siboney were:

• 2019 Coral Estrellas Sparkling Rose (Pét-Nat)
• 2019 Albariño
• 2019 Sauvignon Blanc
• 2017 Quatre Rouges Texas Red Blend
• 2018 Solo (100% Sangiovese)
• 2017 Tempranillo

While construction of the modernistic tasting room is underway, the Siboney wines can be tasted on weekends in Johnson City at Bryan’s on 290, four miles east of Siboney’s developing site.

Both Re:Rooted 210 and Siboney Cellars offer wine club programs and both have a variety of wine experiences planned. More information about each winey is available on their respective websites – www.rerootedwine.com, and www.SiboneyCellars.com,

In addition to Phyllis and I enjoying well-crafted wines and intriguing locations, our visits with Jennifer and Barbara enhanced our appreciation for the vision and passion that female winemakers are bringing to the Texas wine industry. We think that other Texas wine lovers will enjoy the wines and the winemakers at both Re:Rooted 210 Urban Winery and Siboney Cellars!