Kalasi Cellars

A Family Legacy and New Traditions Meet at This Central Texas Winery | Eater Austin

"Established during the 2020 pandemic on a 16-acre property just a half-mile off Main Street in Fredericksburg, this family-run winery pairs regional winemaking with South Indian heritage: the tasting room is a bright, window-filled space with Telugu music and vivid Indian-print decor, and the menu includes Indian-inspired bar snacks such as samosas with mint chutney, tikka masala naan pizza, and sweet-and-spicy chaat. The operation produces roughly 1,500 cases a year across two labels — a red-labeled Heritage Collection of more familiar varietals made with traditional practices and a purple-labeled Reincarnated Collection showcasing rarer varieties (including malvasia bianca, muscat of Alexandria, carmenere, and teroldego, the latter two being firsts for Texas plantings by the family) — and features on-site production, a red-and-yellow tuk-tuk for short rides, Southdown babydoll sheep used for weed control protected by a llama named Dalai, and plans to add another acre of vines next spring. The founders balance viticulture and winemaking with business and marketing responsibilities, framing their work as a honoring and reinvention of family farming heritage." - Veronica Meewes