Restivo Family Cellars Reopens with New Hours for the Fall

On a hot day last week, we met Jessica and Andy Restivo. They were waiting for us under the signature tree on their wine labels. It’s a twisted Mexican Plum tree that happens to be the oldest recorded plum tree in Texas. The trees provided cool shade during our visit. But the hospitality we received was very warm.

The family had made the decision to shut down the outdoor tasting area for the summer. “It just got too hot to be outside,” said Jessica Restivo. “Now that the temperature is dropping, the trees and the breeze make it a comfortable setting to sit out for a wonderful evening with friends.”

Restivo Family Cellars is now open on Fridays and Saturdays till 8 p.m. and Sundays till 6 p.m.

The family has not just been sitting idly by during the summer months, as they have been participating in several festivals and wine dinners in the area. Having just opened in 2023, they already have thousands of followers on their Facebook and Instagram pages, not to mention several prestigious awards already from the Lone Star Wine Competition and the Houston Rodeo. They also have plans to showcase their wines at the upcoming A Taste of Cy-Fair.

The Wines

Early on, Andy decided they initially needed a standard option of three whites, three reds, and one rosé to offer their customers. “I was hesitant at first to include anything sweet,” Andy said. “But there are customers who want a sweeter wine option.”

Their Miscela, (Italian for “Blend”) offers a delightful off-dry white blend of Malvasia and Viognier. It was tasty. He wanted to give the Malvasia Bianca as little treatment as possible, so customers could experience this white wine on its own. The mineral notes were very expressive.

He oak-aged his Cuvée Blanc Rhône-style blend of Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne for the Chardonnay drinkers in the group. It was lovely, smooth, and had a nice mouth feel.

“I’m dedicated to using 100 percent Texas grapes,” he said. “And I want to use the varietals that thrive in our climate. But I want to create wines that are accessible to customers who may not be familiar to those grapes.”

Jessica said they wanted their Mourvèdre Rosé to be different from the usual rosé customers encounter. This rosé is a little deeper in color. And there is a definite kick on the back end. You are either going to really like it or not at all. But you should definitely try it.

With their reds, their Dolcetto had an interesting evolution. It was actually barrel-aged for three years before Andy was ready to bottle it. But even with the extreme oak aging, it still retained that light body that Dolcettos are known for.

The Restivos’ family life actually impacted their relationship with this wine. “We opened a bottle and started to pour each other a glass one night,” Jessica said. “All of a sudden, we had to do something with the kids and left the glasses out for quite a while. By the time we came back, the character of the wine had completely changed.” It convinced them to recommend that customers open up the wine and let it breathe for a while before enjoying it.

Their Sangiovese tastes like a classic Chianti. There is that classic earthiness, and the malolactic fermentation adds some creaminess.

The 2025 Primitivo was a Gold Medal, Class Champion, and Texas Class Champion at Houston Rodeo Uncorked! with fruit from Lahey Vineyards. This is a good finishing wine.

Family

Visitors to Restivo Family Cellars will most likely be met by the youngest members, Rosalie and Harrison Restivo. They are the official greeters and children’s fun-times directors. Parents Andy and Jessica Restivo want everyone to know immediately that this is a family-friendly winery.

So many private wineries seem to be dependent upon the next generation of their family for the continued success of the company. This is another young couple involving their children in every aspect of the business. It’s a great experience to see all of them working together and sharing their family time with others.

Friends

Friendship is a big focus with the Restivos. “I made so many friends when we opened,” Jessica said. “I really missed them when we closed for the summer. I am so happy to see everyone coming back already.”

The whole feel of the visit was more like a picnic in a friend’s backyard. Both Jessica and Andy were moving back and forth among guests and answering questions about the wines. But they were mainly socializing, just being good hosts.

Their assistant, Nicki, was a key element in service. She was working in the tasting truck. But she would come out to wait on guests, allowing the family to spend more time with customers. “Nicki just showed up not long after we opened,” Jessica said. “She has been such a blessing to all of us.”

Fellowship

It takes a lot of faith to run a winery in Texas. It’s definitely a core value with the Restivos. Andy teaches Sunday school at their local church, and Jessica is a greeter. Thirty people from their congregation just showed up to help them plant their first acre of Blanc du Bois.

The church changed the time of their Sunday evening service recently, so the Restivos changed their Sunday hours so they could still attend.

After just a year, the winery already has a thriving wine club. Wine club members get 15 percent off, along with a free tasting when they stop by. The Restivos have had several pickup parties.

Like most successful Texas wineries, the hospitality can be as important as the quality of the wines. Customers we talked to said they come back because they care about the family and want to see how the winery is progressing.

The Cypress, Texas, area now has a vineyard in its backyard. The Restivo family is waiting to receive their neighbors under their trees, with a nice glass of wine.

18918 Hopfe Rd, Hockley, TX 77447