A lot of Texas wineries start out small and with popularity and success, they expand. Valley Mills Vineyards is one of those wineries. Texas Wine Lover first visited Valley Mills Vineyards back in 2012 when the winery was in a roadside building on Highway 6. Fast forward to 2019 and the winery built a new production facility and tasting room next to their vineyard. The new facility is quite a contrast from where they started. Now at the helm of making their 100% Texas wines is Joey Bagnasco who we are proud to feature this month as the featured winemaker profile!
- What did you do before becoming a winemaker (if anything)?
I studied English literature, knew that school was out for good after college, took several odd jobs and extended trips, and then found my way into the Texas wine industry. From the age of 16, I was involved with growing grapes (at first with my father), so stepping into winemaking about eight years ago felt like the next logical step.
- What is the toughest challenge about being a winemaker in Texas?
I don’t think that it’s necessarily tougher here than elsewhere. On the viticultural side, Texas is a tough place to keep grapevines healthy over decades, but winemaking involves similar challenges all around the world. In a hot region like ours, winemakers do need to pay attention to proper harvest timing and pH management.
- Is winemaking an art or a science or both?
Calling it an art feels squishy/hubristic. It’s an applied science.
- What is your favorite food and wine pairing?
I love variety, so this is tough, but a good one that comes to mind is Champagne and oysters (as long as I don’t have to shuck).
- If you didn’t make wine, what would you do?
Probably live a simpler life as a stockbroker or junk bond salesman.
- What first attracted you to winemaking and how long have you been doing it?
I started learning the process in earnest at the age of 24 or so. Back then winemaking felt like some big secret that no one would explain to me, which was enough motivation to figure it out.
- What is the most common question you are asked as a winemaker?
Q: “Do you squish the grapes with your feet like they did in I Love Lucy?”
A: No.
- After a long day in the winery or vineyard, what do you do?
Listen to Van Halen and tend to my veggie garden.
- What’s the greatest part about being a winemaker?
If you focus and play your cards right, you can eke out a living wage.
- What is your winemaking philosophy, that is, what are you trying to achieve with your wines?
I try to create the best version of what the fruit wants to be and end up with wines that are technically flawless and structurally balanced.
- Anything else you would like to add?
Please stop reading the Texas Wine Lover blog and head to www.valleymillsvineyards.com/shop to purchase outrageous quantities of my wine. (Editor’s note: Come on, show Joey some Texas wine lover love!)
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