J W Hardin Wine Co

What do you get when you combine a passion for wine, from the ground the vines are planted in, to the finished wine in the bottle, and a love of local history? You get J W Hardin Wine Co located in Comanche, Texas. Co-owned by husband and wife, Dr. Travis and Rebecca Conley, their goal is not only to provide customers with a varied selection of Texas wines but to also educate them on the local history of Comanche County.

I first met Rebecca Conley several years ago when she was working with Brennan Vineyards which is also located in Comanche. I specifically remember one time my parents and I visited Brennan Vineyards and Rebecca took the time out of her day to visit with us and gave us an unforgettable, in-depth wine tasting experience. It was always evident that she had a passion for wine, so when I learned that Rebecca and Travis had plans to open a tasting room in Comanche, I was excited to see what they were going to do.

Loving the town they live in and its deep-rooted history, in 2022 the start of their journey began with the purchase of what is referred to as Lot 1 Block 1. Located on the northeast corner of the square in downtown Comanche, the building was once the Jack Wright Saloon. What is so special about this you ask? Well, it just happens to be the location where John Wesley Hardin shot Sheriff Charlie Webb. Now you know where J W Hardin Wine Co gets its name, and this is just the first of many history lessons to be learned.

When the restoration process began, steps were thoughtfully taken to bring the building back to its former glory. From the painstakingly restored original wood floors to preserving the stucco-covered walls with patches of exposed brick, and the beautiful stained-glass panels lining the top of the glass entrance into the building, it is easy to imagine what the building used to be. When you first enter the tasting room, you pass several tables and chairs lining the walls, a couple of display cabinets where local artisans have items displayed for sale, and then the tasting bar, a lounge area with a couple of couches and chairs, and another table with chairs. The décor is minimal and rustic, reminiscent of what one might expect to see in a saloon back in the day.

Since its soft opening in Spring of 2023, I have made several trips to J W Hardin Wine Co enjoying each visit just as much as the last and always learning something new. When it first opened, they featured a few of their wines along with a few from other wineries. When I last visited on January 26, 2024, all wines were J W Hardin Wine Co.

There is a fee for tastings and wine can also be purchased by the glass or bottle. Charcuterie boards are also available for purchase. Keeping in mind one of Rebecca and Travis’s goals was to help educate customers on the local history, some of their current releases include:

• 44 Caliber (Cabernet Franc) – John’s preferred gun of choice and the one he shot Sheriff Webb with.
• Blood and Dust (Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc)
• Chapter 1 – Among the Willows (Aglianico, Tannat, Syrah) – Cowboy slang for being on the run, which is how John spent most of his life.
• M’Rose Rosé (Dry Rosé) – Named after Beulah M’Rose who hired John to represent her husband Martin M’Rose who was in a Mexico jail. Rumor has it John and Beulah were more than just attorney and client, and their affair eventually led to John’s hiring hitmen to kill Martin. It was also this affair that lead to John’s murder over his failure to pay the hitmen.
• Safflower Cerise (Sparkling Mourvèdre Rosé) – Named after the flower rouge was made from.
• Saracen (Dry Muscat of Alexandria) – Named after Sam Houston’s warhorse that he rode into the battle of San Jacinto.

Heritage Viognier – While this one is no longer available due to its limited production; I have to mention it due to the history of the vineyard the grapes were harvested from. The 23-year-old Comanche Summit Vineyard now owned by Rebecca and Travis, was originally owned and planted by Dr. and Mrs. Pat Brennan of Brennan Vineyards. Thanks to the onset of bees, the grapes were harvested a little earlier than they would have preferred resulting in a lower natural sugar content, known as Brix, than what they would have preferred for Viognier. Also due to the age of the vines, yields were lower and only several hundred pounds of Viognier was harvested. Despite all of this, Heritage Viognier is unlike any other I have tried and in a very good way! The usual alcohol per volume, or APV, for Viognier typically ranges between 13% to 15%. Heritage Viognier is only 9% and has more tropical fruit notes versus the usual citrus notes. I have my fingers crossed that there will be future vintages of this Viognier because it was delicious!

Even though J W Hardin Wine Co has only been opened about a year, they have already expanded…sort of. There are two sides to the Lot 1 Block 1 building with the left-hand side being where the tasting room is located. Knowing that the owners of local brewery, Baby Cow Brewing, were looking for a location to open a tasting room, Rebecca and Travis realized they had the opportunity to bring together the best of two worlds…Texas wine and locally crafted beer. Plans were made, the restoration of the right-hand side of the building began, and on February 3, 2024, the soft opening was held for Baby Cow Brewing. Now customers have the choice of wine or beer and are able to move between the two tasting rooms.

Comanche is the perfect destination location for wine lovers looking to enjoy some amazing Texas wines while avoiding the hustle and bustle of areas like Fredericksburg. There are three local wineries all within 15 minutes of each other (J W Hardin Wine Co, Brennan Vineyards, and Cockrell Vineyards), several local restaurants, shopping, and museums. Keeping all of this in mind, there is a second level to Lot 1 Block 1 and future plans are to turn it into hotel rooms. Be sure to use the Texas Wine Lover website Guide and mobile app to plan your trip.

If you decide to venture out to Comanche to check out the wine scene, but sure to tell them Laurinda sent you!

107 W Grand Ave, Comanche, TX 76442