Just a few miles west of the Fredericksburg post office on Highway 87, Tyler and Melissa Whatley have created a wine tasting experience that’s no gimmick. In a time when people feel rushed, politics create controversy, and concerns over the economy loom, this couple has designed a beautiful space where they share stories – and wine.
In 2016, living in Alabama and expecting their second child, Tyler was ready to fulfill his dream of owning a ranch in Texas. They settled on the Hill Country and eventually discovered an 1860s German homestead and purchased their home away from home. After restoring the original home and converting a barn into a cottage, they made the property available to others as Melissa’s Farmstead vacation rental. With this project complete, they began to see a new dream forming. Melissa wanted to learn all she could about wine and have a tasting room where they could share wine. Her inspiration was The Last Supper. Melissa says, “Jesus gathered his most trusted friends and made the hardest decisions of his life while breaking bread and sharing wine.” She felt they could create a space for people to break bread and share wine. So, they got to work.
Next to the entrance to Melissa’s Farmstead sat the old Disabled Veterans of America building that had not been used for many years. The property became available, and the Whatleys could clearly see the building being converted to a space where they could share wine.
While the renovations were underway, the couple was able to cultivate a partnership with winemaker Dane Sanvido, who co-owns Untamed Wine Estates with his wife, Mckenzie. In addition to crafting their own wines for Untamed, Dane also makes wines for a handful of small wine brands, such as Whatley Wines. Dane, Melissa, and Tyler came up with a plan to create their first wines in 2021. Unfortunately, the truck carrying their Tempranillo grapes from the High Plains of Texas to the Hill Country had a wreck, and all of those grapes were lost. Luckily, they already had Texas Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, and Malbec ready for production. Because Dane previously made wines in California, he still had contacts and access to grapes, and they were able to round out the vintage with 80% Texas wines and 80% California. If you are a die-hard lover of Texas-grown grapes, you’re in luck. The wines in the tasting room today express 64% Texas. And since 2023’s production, over 90% of the grapes have come from the Lone Star State.
Behind the tasting room, the property includes five acres that were planted in 2021. In 2024, the first estate grapes were harvested, and they are excited by the maturing of the vines. The vineyard was planted by Jackie Mancuso and her crew with Atlas Vineyard Management, and they continue to maintain the vines. The current plantings include Picpoul Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Tempranillo, Mourvèdre, Tannat, Alvarinho, and Aglianico. With several years of growth, they now have a better handle on what will grow well on the property. The Whatleys are prepared to graft new grape varieties on the vines that don’t do as well and will move forward with the intention of growing the best grapes possible on the estate, aiming for a total of 15 acres under vine.
Melissa says she is still working out the kinks in the tasting room and figuring out what their guests will enjoy most. As they learn more about what their customers want, they will be able to offer more curated flights. I enjoyed a tasting with a small bread and charcuterie board, and all of the wines were quite good. With a combination of Texas and California-grown, a total of 30 labels are available. The tasting menu will change regularly to offer different wines and give guests new experiences.
Every wine has a name and a photo on the label that rings true to their belief system. Another fun touch you’ll find is that each wine has a card that shares the basic details of the wine on the front and the story behind the wine on the back. These are like wine trading cards. Something you can take with you and even collect.
The “Divine Wines of Texas” flight features four wines for $30. The first wine was the 2022 Till My Last Breath sparkling. It was bright, crisp, and a lovely summer sipper made from 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. Next, we moved to the 2022 Verses with a “trading card” that starts off, “Ever struggle with your plans versus God’s plan? It’s a common battle – trusting our hearts to decipher the sound of the voice! We have no doubt it was God’s plan for us to make this beautiful Grüner Veltliner from Vingo Vineyards. The journey to its style and its purpose was one that only He could orchestrate. Our prayer is that you keep your heart open and realize redirection in your mind could be God’s gentle way of getting you back on His page and His plan.” You can sense Melissa’s passion and her attention to every detail of the wines and the tasting experience!
As we continued our tasting, the next wine was the 2022 ASA, a rosé of Texas Zinfandel that was light and full of red fruit flavors. Next came the 2022 Dusk, Mourvèdre grown by Lahey Vineyards. And we ended on the 2022 To Be Frank, which is 100% Cabernet Franc, also grown in the far north Panhandle at Vingo Vineyards. As a general rule, the red wines are aged for 20 to 22 months in barrel. Some wines have a small amount held back to create a reserve version, which is aged 30 to 32 months.
With a full kitchen, food pairing flights and wine dinners are definitely in the works. Melissa is a great storyteller, and she enjoys sharing their dream and how each wine has come to be. The couple explained that they want their wines to be “relational,” meaning they hope guests will read the cards about the wines and have engaging conversations with each other. They hope to appeal to thoughtful drinkers and ask that groups and parties call ahead to ensure great experiences for everyone.
Tyler & Melissa Whatley
4076 N US Hwy 87, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
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