Red Road Vineyard & Winery is a family-owned and operated vineyard and winery located in East Texas. As we made our way to Naples, Texas for the first time, we couldn’t help but appreciate the beauty of the rolling hills, winding roads, numerous lakes, and heavily wooded countryside. As we arrived at the winery, we discovered the building that housed the winery was originally a historic ice house located near the downtown square of Naples.
Owner Merrill Grove met us in the tasting room where he shared his story as well as providing us with a tasting. It all begins and ends with his passion for excellent wines. His journey began in 1999 in his 11-acre vineyard in nearby Marietta, located on a 77-acre farm he purchased through the Texas Veterans Land Board in 1986. He bravely jumped in on the Texas wine scene planting his first blocks of vines with his late wife Loretta, 4,000 Blanc du Bois in all. Red Road was the 43rd bonded winery in the state of Texas at that time. His dream was to create quality wines that would thrill the senses. Today the vineyard includes Norton, Seyval Blanc, Blanc du Bois, and Black Spanish varietals. According to Grove, his Blanc du Bois, Black Spanish, and Norton vines ripen beautifully in the humid climate of the Piney Woods region since they are disease-resistant. Mouth-filling flavors, a low amount of tannins, mineral richness, and impressive clarity are the signature tastes of Red Road Vineyard & Winery. In addition to the grapes grown in the Red Road Vineyard, a number of their wines are produced from Texas High Plains fruit.
Red Road Vineyard and Winery was the dream of Merrill and his late wife Loretta. The winery came to reality too late for Loretta to enjoy the fruits of their labor. One can only feel certain that she is smiling down every day on Merrill and all that has been accomplished at Red Road Vineyard. Merrill invested in the historic ice-house location in 2004 where the tasting room, cellar, and a part of the winemaking operation can be found. The original structure, which was built in the 1890s, housed the Northeast Texas Power Ice Company.
Being a family-owned and operated business, many family members work in both the vineyard and winery. Deborah, Merrill’s current wife, showed up in the picture four years ago and helps in every aspect of the business from the farm to the winery and tasting room. Many of their children and grandchildren help as well from working the vineyards, to working the tasting room, bottling, labeling, and working festivals.
It was time for a quieter moment and an opportunity to taste Merrill’s collection of award-winning, dry, sweet, semi-sweet, port, and signature blends. Groves stressed to us that “working in small lots, you have a lot more control than large volumes, so things can be more personalized”. On this visit they offered a wine flight of four House or “you select” four wines plus one premium wine. The day of our tasting they offered the following:
2020 Sig Red – Signature Red! Dry Merlot Blended Red Wine, Texas High Plains
2019 Tempranillo – Medium-Bodied Dry Red, Texas High Plains
2014 Mourvèdre – Medium-Bodied Dry Red Wine, Texas High Plains
2010 Tristan Manuel -11-year barrel-Aged Port (Touriga Nacional, California)
2012 Gabrielle -6-year barrel-Aged Port (Souzão, California)
The tasting was ample evidence that Merrill produces expertly crafted and beautifully aromatic wines. We both ordered a glass of Mourvèdre and took home a bottle of the Sedoga, Sig Red, and Mourvèdre.
Deborah & Merrill Grove
We are looking forward to our next visit to Red Road Vineyard & Winery. It seems that Merrill’s dream continues to grow. Scattered throughout the tasting room was an impressive display of his many awards for his wines, and it seems he is even more dedicated to offering the finest wines to his customers going forward. Make sure you put this winery on your “must visit” list the next time you are in East Texas. Red Road Vineyard & Winery is family owned and operated, produces great wines, and has that definite “FAMILY FEELING OF HOME”!!!
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