Mike And Robin C.
Yelp
Welcome to Eden. From the meticulously managed vines to the 360-degree valley views, the surreal initial feeling is like you are in a mystical spot. Many long time Texas wine fans may remember this place as Hoover Valley Vineyards. Owners Reed and Joan Williams had been managing the 78-acre estate for just over a decade. With 55 acres of vines, 13 varietals planted, and gorgeous scenic country hills surrounding the valley, it has been an impressive site for sourcing quality Texas grapes. William Chris Vineyards and Lost Draw had been sourcing this spot for grapes for a while and it seemed like a natural fit for them to add this to their expanding business. Well, with some negotiations and wine talking, the marriage made in Hill Country heaven became reality in 2021. As part of the ownership change, the site was named Uplift Vineyard. This unique vineyard location has a lot of great things going for it. First, it benefits from the microclimate effects from the nearby Colorado river and surrounding "Texas Mountains". Second, the soil profile ranges from sandy, to sandy loam, to clay which helps the planting of the ideal grapes on specific soil compositions. Thirdly, the wisdom and knowledge from the long-time vineyard manager Rob Strain keeps the site working like a charm. Grapes grown on the site include Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, Roussanne, Merlot, Malbec, Aglianico, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Marsanne, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Grenache. The estate wines at Uplift will use only the top-quality fruit from each harvest. Clair Richardson is the lead winemaker at Uplift. In addition, renowned winemaker Jean Hoefliger is onboard to provide his invaluable consulting to help guide this new place to its full potential. Currently, wine production is done at the William Chris Vineyards location in Hye. Eventually, wines will be made on site at the new production building. Your tasting experience here is truly unique and memorable. Take in the full breadth of the wonderful vineyard views as you ride around the estate in the vineyard golf cart. Inside the tasting room, the walls are decorated with lovely artwork, elegant tables with a rustic feel, as well as a spacious open floor plan. Upstairs will be the new club-member lounge with a fantastic view of the estate from the outside porch. For this tasting session, the intros started with a glass of Lost Draw Uplift Blanc. Sourced from the Uplift estate, this white wine is a blend of 69% Viognier, 19% Marsanne, and 19% Roussanne. It's clean, crisp, with some rich minerality to it. Next, we were treated to some barrel samples of their Montepulciano and Sangiovese. Aged in French Oak, there's nothing like sampling great wine straight from the barrel and participating in your own "thieving" process! The next set of wines were enjoyed with a pairing of some fine beef cooked on a sizzling hot stone. You get to mix and match your own fixings of customized seasoning, tomato pesto, or smoked salt. The first wine to try this pairing with was the 2020 Aglianico. The wine has deep red fruit flavors, bold, and quite fruit forward. Next was the 2021 Montepulciano. The depth of flavors was incredible along with herbal notes and red berries. Following that wonderful beast, was the 2020 Whitlock. This estate red is a blend of 90% Malbec, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Aglianico. It is well balanced, with great fruit aromas, plus a fine finish. Finally, was the 2021 Sangiovese. This lovely red wine is full bodied with rich red fruit enveloping your palate like there's no tomorrow. But wait...there was one more. The "hard-to-get" 2020 Montepulciano was also available, and it is drinking well right now! It's smooth, elegant, and rich in berries. Additional wines are in the works, including a Cabernet Sauvignon and some Rhône style blends. Uplift Vineyard is a spectacular jewel in the Texas Hill Country AVA. There is no shame in walking away with a case or two. Cheers!
