A New Favorite Winery on the Wine Road: CC Farms

As I think about writing this article, my thoughts are all over the place, as there is so much to say about the newest addition to my “local” wine area. I use the term local loosely because other than the one local winery in Abilene, it takes me anywhere between an hour to an hour and 45 minutes to get to the other wineries in my area.

If you know anything about me, you know one of my absolute favorite things to do is hit the wine road on a Sunday in search of a place to spend a few hours, or better yet, the entire afternoon, enjoying some fine Texas wine. When I heard about a new winery that opened in Spring of 2025 that was just an hour away and that not only had Texas wines, but also served food, I knew the potential for my becoming a frequent visitor was real. I was not wrong! My first visit to CC Farms was on October 5, 2025, and I have been back four times as of January 19, 2026. It would have been more, but life gets in the way, plus there were other local wineries I needed to visit.

Now, where to start? I guess I will start with the “why” of opening a winery. Most winery owners I have visited with decided to open a winery to either build a family legacy or because they were actively looking for something to do post-retirement. The path for owners D.R. Couch and Andy Chevalier was a little different. After years of working corporate jobs and running the never-ending rat race, they were ready to slow down and find a new balance in life. They started looking for land where they could build their new happy and ended up purchasing 50 acres about nine miles southwest of Breckenridge. The original plan was to build their home and live the quiet country life, but that all changed one night thanks to what else…wine. While looking at the two 120-year-old barns on the property, D.R. and Andy were trying to decide what to do with them. Andy mentioned getting rid of them, and D.R. mentioned opening a winery. That is where it all began.

As previously mentioned, CC Farms Winery and Venue Estate is located about nine miles outside of Breckenridge at 5451 FM 3418. As you turn into the property and start down the drive, you first see signage on the right indicating where a test vineyard will soon be planted. The plan is to start with five acres of Tempranillo and Picpoul Blanc and see how it goes. Then on the left is The Prairie House, a quaint two-bedroom guesthouse, followed by a small parking lot used for overflow parking and where their Harvest Host guests park. Across the drive from that is another barn that I keep forgetting to ask about, so I need to remember to ask next time I go out there. As you keep winding down the drive, you pass a small pond on the left surrounded by benches, which will make for a peaceful seating area when the pond is full and the weather is nice. Somewhere on the property, I say this because I have not seen it yet, is a luxury 5^th wheel serving as another lodging option.

Up next is a picturesque farm-to-table garden with a greenhouse where produce is grown for use in Café Serene American Brasserie, also known as The Bistro. Café Serene is part of the winery and is a true café, as they offer a wide variety of foods with everything being made from scratch. Options range from charcuterie boards to Grandma Shirley’s Farmhouse biscuits and honey to omelets to salads and weekly specials. Let me tell you, the food is amazing! From the menu, I have had a charcuterie board, Grandma Shirley’s biscuits, the bacon ranch chicken salad, garlic cheese curds, and chilaquiles. As far as their specials go, I have had the garlic confit mac and cheese with chicken cutlet and the shrimp and grits…twice. Keep an eye on their social media page for announcements of each weekly special, because if you are in the area, I guarantee you will not want to miss them.

Lastly, you come to the tasting room. Literally built from the ground up in one of the 120-year-old barns because the only thing there was the metal frame. Wanting to preserve the character of the barn, built from metal shipped over from England, the decision was made to leave bends in the metal framing, which were the result of a tornado and an unfortunate encounter with a tractor. On the outside, the wood barn is topped with four whirlybirds, a stone fireplace chimney, and is flanked by a small black metal building. As you enter the tasting room, you are immediately struck by the contrast between the pitch-black ceiling, the cream-colored stone pillars and fireplace, and the polished concrete floor. Tables of various sizes with chairs are scattered throughout the room, and two leather chairs are situated in front of the fireplace. In the back left-hand corner is the tasting bar. The best way I can describe it is a mix of rustic lodge and farmhouse chic.

There is a door to the left that leads to a small breezeway with additional seating connecting the tasting room to the small black metal building. This building houses a large commercial kitchen, two rooms that can be used for private meetings or as bridal suites for weddings, and Spa Meraki, a full-service spa. There is also a small gift shop area where you can not only find items from local artisans, but also a line of seasonings created by D.R. and Andy that they had been selling long before the winery opened.

There is a door at the back of the tasting room leading to an outdoor seating area. Circling a huge fire pit are several Adirondack chairs that are surrounded by several metal umbrella tables with chairs that are covered by a pergola. The combination of umbrella tables and pergola lends enough shade to make for a pleasant afternoon of sitting outside, enjoying the quiet countryside, and enjoying some wine. Down a short walkway, you find a unique arbor that makes for the perfect setting for outdoor wedding ceremonies.

Now for the wine! When D.R. and Andy decided to open a winery, they made the concise decision to honor Texas and the Texas wine industry by only using Texas grapes for their wines. CC Farms currently has five wines, which they will proudly tell you are produced and bottled for them at Bending Branch Winery in Comfort.

• The Wildflower (Chenin Blanc, Viognier)
• The Picpoul Blanc
• The Baja Cactus (Tannat Rose)
• The Crimson Sky (Cabernet Sauvignon)
• The Sidewinder (Tempranillo) – My personal favorite

There will be a regular rotation of wines as vintages sell out, and their next rotation is already planned:

• Marsanne
• Trebbiano
• Viognier
• Mourvèdre
• Petit Verdot

Each wine label has imagery of something found on the property. For example, The Baja Cactus depicts the blooming cacti, The Crimson Sky depicts the beautiful sunsets, and The Sidewinder of course, depicts rattlesnakes. There are three different wine tasting options, and wine can be purchased by the glass or bottle. Along with wine, they also serve other alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic drinks, and coffee. For tasting rooms that want to test a branded coffee option without managing roasting, packaging, and fulfillment themselves, working with a private label coffee supplier can make that kind of retail add-on easier to launch.

I have to give a shoutout to the two amazing ladies who have been taking care of the winery patrons for as long as I have been going, Haley and Amanda. No matter how crazy busy they might be, these two always have a smile on their face and ensure everyone is having a great time. They definitely help make one’s time at the winery enjoyable.

The last thing I want to mention is that D.R. and Andy’s focus was not just on starting their own business, but also on supporting other local businesses and being involved in their new community. Along with featuring local artisans’ products in their gift shop, they have also hosted a couple of Farmer’s Markets. The first one featured twelve vendors and saw around 500 guests flow through the property that day. Also hosting events such as paint-and-sips and special wine dinners, with even more planned for 2026. These two are well on their way to making a lasting impact on Breckenridge.

If you cannot tell, I am thoroughly impressed with what D.R. and Andy have created and am so thankful to have them in my local wine area. CC Farms Winery and Venue Estate is an absolute must if you are ever in or around Breckenridge, so if you go, please tell them you read about them here on Texas Wine Lover, so they know the word is getting out. Who knows, you might also run into me sometime!