Prairie Chick Winery & Milieu

Prairie Chick Winery & Milieu is located in Levelland just west of Lubbock and is owned by Diane Lane. The winery was opened in 2021. If you’re like me, the word milieu was new. A milieu is a French word for community, village, surroundings, and brand. Prairie Chick Winery’s Milieu consists of people, a vineyard, a unique wine tasting room, and a boutique.

The winery is located at the site of their Quatri-Vitis Vineyard. The vineyard was started in the 1980s by Frank and Mary Beard, and was larger than it is now. In those days they sold the grapes to Messina Hof and Teysha Cellars. The vineyard was pulled out in 1996 and then replanted in 2015. Today Quatri-Vitis Vineyard has five acres and they grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Zinfandel, Muscat Canelli, and Malvasia Bianca.

I found the winery and at first I could not find the entrance, but then discovered it was around the back of the winery. That was a good location because the patio is within view of the vineyard.

I met Diane Lane and her son Alex, and they brought me to the tasting room where we started a tasting. There is a tasting fee for five wines. These were the wines that were available during my visit:

• 2019 Turn Road (Riesling)
• 2019 Open Range (Malvasia Bianca)
• 2018 Per-Se-Vere (sweet Rosé)
• 2019 High Centered (Zinfandel)
• 2019 Quatra-Vitis (Cabernet Sauvignon)

I also had the chance to taste 2021 Nanny’s Pearls which is a sparkling rosé and it was very good.

During the tasting, I learned the winery is a family affair because Elliott (Chase) Lane is the winemaker who made the 2019 wines. Chase is also the co-owner of Sandfighter Wines.

Next time you’re in the Lubbock area, head west to Levelland to Prairie Chick Winery & Milieu.