Texas is known for a lot of things, including longhorns, oil, and things that are just a bit bigger than anywhere else. During a recent visit to Fredericksburg we learned about their burgeoning wine industry when we visited Heath Sparkling Wines.
Fredericksburg is a fun small town that celebrates all things German. The downtown is full of interesting shops and restaurants which attract throngs of happy tourists. While we did our share of shopping and eating German food, we couldn’t resist checking out the local wine scene. Heath Sparkling Wines had great reviews so we put it at the top of our touring list. We drove down a quiet country road until we reached the Heath address and we suddenly felt as though we had been transported to Napa as we entered the property. There was a grand sweeping drive leading to a magnificent building at the top of a hill, with parking that was beyond ample. Since we were visiting somewhat off-season and arriving exactly at opening time, we had our choice of spots.
Upon entering the glass-fronted building we were greeted by several employees who happily set us up with a sparkling wine tasting experience. We learned that the tasting included a pairing of seasonal small bites. That totally fit with the vibe that was already set, but when we saw our private tasting table, we were further impressed. It was becoming apparent that we were in for something truly special! We each had four beautiful champagne flutes, a matching tray containing the paired food, cutlery, and a tasting guide. The floor-to-ceiling glass wall to our right provided a view of the outdoor tables and their Members Only facility. Behind the tasting bar were two large display screens tastefully framed and showing videos of the various Heath Family Brands properties. Quite a scene was set.
We were introduced to wine guide Chuck, who would lead us through our tasting and educate us about the company’s approach to making their wines. Chuck was an amazing ambassador for Heath Sparkling, with an impressive depth of knowledge and an affable nature that made us feel like old friends. As we prepared for our first tasting (their Blanc de Blancs sparkling paired with white chocolate popcorn pot du crême) we learned that the fruit for their sparkling is locally grown at their Grape Creek Vineyards, adjacent to the tasting room property. Winemaker Jason Englert selects his fruit for low sugar and relatively high acid levels to produce the base still wine. Winemaker Penny Gadd-Costerthen then uses the original méthode champenoise techniques to transform this wine into their line of lovely sparkling wines, each with its own personality.
We then went on to our second sparkling, their Euphoria sparkling paired with cucumber yogurt soup topped with crab salad. Since I have a severe allergy to seafood, rather than just skipping the food pairing for me, they created a fresh cucumber yogurt soup without any troubling crab for me! As we sipped, we learned from Chuck that Heath Family Brands has a number of wine labels. In addition to Heath Sparkling Wines, they also have Jenblossom Cellars, Grape Creek Vineyards, and Invention Vineyards. Each has its own source of fruit, wine varietals and style, and target market. They have their own tasting rooms and distinct and separate wine clubs. Quite an incredible family of wines!
We continued our tasting with their Ebullience sparkling which was paired with a succulent bit of sunflower pesto chicken. As we sipped and nibbled on the chicken, we spent some time enjoying the tiny bubbles streaming up from each glass. Chuck told us that each of their champagne flutes has four tiny pits laser etched into the bottom of the bowl, specifically to encourage this lovely bubble stream. That was further evidence of a very particular level of detail meant to optimize the tasting experience. Our final taste was their Adoration sparkling paired with watermelon tataki (flash-seared watermelon that is still raw inside). This was a lovely conclusion to our tasting! Or so we thought.
As we were basking in the glow that results from a tasting on this level, we considered joining their sparkling wine club. Then Chuck made our decision even more difficult: their other wine labels were also available to us if we joined that club too! So one thing led to another and we decided to join both their sparkling club and one of their red wine clubs. We left the tasting room very pleased with our time spent learning about Heath Sparkling Wines with Chuck, with three wine bottles in one hand and four of their amazing champagne flutes in the other. Who knew that Fredericksburg would offer such an amazing wine tasting experience!
About the Author: John grills a mean steak and is always in the market for another wine fridge. Believes that if a winery has more than 10 employees, it's probably too big. Buys wine faster than he drinks it, but who cares?
