Contrary to what many wine consumers think, not every winery is located in the Hill Country. More wineries are opening in North Texas, and they are producing excellent Texas wines. One of those wineries is Lonesome Vine, a favorite stop for members of the Texas Wine Lover Facebook group, Texas Wine Friends. The owners of Lonesome Vine are Kristi Abrahamson-Tullis and Andrew Tullis. Kristi handles the winemaking while Andrew manages their six-acre vineyard. We are proud to feature Kristi as this month’s Winemaker Profile.
- What did you do before becoming a winemaker?
Marketing Director for a national anesthesia and pain medicine practice.
- What is the toughest challenge about being a winemaker in Texas?
In the vineyard, it would be the excessive heat and late spring freezes. We are 100% natural in the vineyard, which brings a different set of challenges. On the winemaking side, I see more opportunities than challenges in Texas.
- Is winemaking an art or a science or both?
Definitely both in my opinion.
- What is your favorite food and wine pairing?
A GSM (such as our Come Sundown) with Tuscan Gnocchi and caprese salad.
- If you didn’t make wine, what would you do?
I would probably go back to healthcare marketing full-time, do some consulting, or find something else to grow/manage on the ranch.
- What first attracted you to winemaking and how long have you been doing it?
When I enrolled in Viticulture and Enology classes and started learning more about the process, my interest grew and really solidified when I did the hands-on harvest internships in California and Texas. I have been making wine in some fashion since 2017.
- What is the most common question you are asked as a winemaker?
“What is your background story, and how did you get to this point of growing and making wine?”
- After a long day in the winery or vineyard, what do you do?
Relax with a glass of wine on the porch while listening to music and hanging out with the dogs and cats.
- What’s the greatest part about being a winemaker?
Sharing our passion and knowledge with guests at the tasting room, sharing ideas with other winemakers, the camaraderie of my north Texas wine industry colleagues, and meeting new people.
- What is your winemaking philosophy, that is, what are you trying to achieve with your wines?
To produce high-quality wines with complexity, rich hues, and delightful aromatics from 100% Texas grapes.
If you are a wine grower or winemaker, and have not been featured yet in a Grower Profile or Winemaker Profile, please contact us!
Great place, great people and most importantly great wine!!!
Her wines are absolutely 💯 delightful. Their hospitality is beyond limited. If you haven’t been here yet, go on the road trip. You will be glad you did!
Lovely wine, lovely people. Very much enjoyed our recent visit!
Lonesome Vine has amazing wines and it is true the service and hospitality are so wonderful!! Lonesome Vine and other wineries in North Texas are incredible and compare to wines anywhere in Texas as well as nationally and abroad.