by: Melanie Warner
Fall Creek Vineyards is deep in the heart of Texas Hill Country located 80 miles outside of Austin, Texas. The land is family-owned and operated for five generations as a working cattle ranch rich with history. 35,000 Indian artifacts were unearthed on this property and the famous Chisholm Trail once ran through it. The 5th largest oak tree in the world lives on this property. With a rich history and fertile soil, it’s an ideal microclimate for wine-growing. The sandy loam soil is a result of alluvial soil from the Colorado River that eroded the limestone, sandstone, and granite hills surrounding the valley of the vineyard.The 20,000 square foot winery was launched in 1975 by owners Ed and Susan Auler, who were inspired after a trip to France. Ed began to study the climate and soil and realized it would be perfect for growing premium grapes.
2010 Chenin Blanc was one of my favorites and has won multiple awards. It has also been featured multiple times on the Top 10 Chenin Blanc list in Bon Appetit Magazine. The Meritus has been called the ‘greatest wine to come out of Texas’ by many enthusiasts. Ed’s Red was another one of my favorites.
Wine Club is available and can ship to your door. In true Texas form, proceeds from the sale of six special wines benefit the Alamo Restoration. There is so much to see and do in the Texas Hill Country, but Fall Creek Vineyards has a unique history, a cozy tasting room, a commitment to excellence, and multiple awards – that all make for a tough choice of which wine to try first. It’s certainly worth the stop if you are in the area.
