My wife and I set out to visit our next Texas winery, this time in the beautiful Piney Woods of East Texas. Twisted Pines Winery is located near Marshall, Texas just 3.5 miles South of Interstate 20. On this trip, we chose to travel the back roads of the East Texas Piney Woods rather than take the interstate. The charming small Texas towns, rolling hills, and beautiful deep, dark and evergreen pine forests made for a very enjoyable trip. The founder of Twisted Pines, Victor Davis, grew up in this area and has an innate appreciation for the land and its bounty. Just down the road on the property where Victor and his family were raised, stands a magnificent, twisted pine tree at the end of his driveway. Being in a rural area without street signs, this twisted pine tree let him and others know that they were home. Its branches mirror the unique and intricate path that led him to his Lifetime Dream…creating a family business that brings them all together.
Victor operates a very successful Oil and Gas Pipeline midstream business. His goal is to build a family-run business that is driven by “family values” and not just “financially driven.” It is very important for him that this business allows for the involvement of quality time with family to work together, learn from each others’ strengths and God-given talents, and become successful as a family unit. With that in mind, Twisted Pines Winery was started in 2023.
Victor’s nearly 6,200 sq ft barndominium has been transformed into a beautiful tasting room that also includes space for future wine production. The tasting room sits on a 300-acre ranch and faces a beautiful 42-acre lake. The vineyard has two acres of Blanc du Bois vines already planted with future plans to expand both the acres planted and the varieties of grapes.
When we arrived, I immediately started taking pictures of the beautiful lake, tasting room building, and surrounding area. Tyler Davis, Victor’s son, came out to the patio and extended a very warm welcome. Tyler is President of Twisted Pines Winery and manages the day-to-day business. After a tour of the property and tasting room, we indicated that we would like to have a tasting of their current wines. On the day of our visit, they offered 12 wines. All of the wines offered were 100% Texas wines and we tasted all 12. Normally they offer a wine flight of five wines that “you select” for a fixed price. The wines are served at your table.
Reds and Rosé
- Sangiovese Rosé (Dry)
- Sangiovese
- Sangiovese Select
- Dry Red Blend
- Mourvèdre
- Sweet Red Blend
White
- Picpoul Blanc
- Dry White Blend
- Texas Sweet Moscato
- Fleur de Soleil (Dry)
Sparkling
- Muscat Canelli (Off-Dry)
- Pink Gewürztraminer (Dry)
We took home a bottle of our favorites, Picpoul Blanc and Sangiovese Select. Their food menu included a grazing board and six different pizzas. After tasting 12 wines, we decided we needed to eat something and chose the grazing board. It was excellent.
The mall area between the tasting room and the lake is perfect for providing frequent music events. The plan is to offer both local and national talent on at least a monthly basis. Tyler has a background in Touring Management so his contacts in the music industry will greatly benefit Twisted Pines’ music events. The tasting room, large patio, and beautiful mall area are ideal for many different kinds of events. The day before we arrived, they hosted a large wedding.
I previously mentioned the beautiful 42-acre lake in front of the tasting room. There is also another 9-acre lake on a different part of the ranch. Plans are in the works to add a number of lakeside cabin rentals which will add another whole benefit to visiting this Texas winery and vineyard. It’s definitely something we are looking forward to.
Tyler and Victor Davis
Make sure to stop by this special Texas wine destination and share in their story while savoring the fruits of their labor. Each bottle of wine is a testament to the enduring spirit of the Twisted Pine and the dreams it inspired.
398 FM2983, Marshall, TX 75672
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