Driftwood Estate Winery Texas

The second winery we visited on our Texas Hill Country Wine Tour was Driftwood Estate Winery. This was a recommendation of my tasting partner’s, Jane, and it was pretty good one.

Driftwood Estate Winery, North America 2017, Austin Texas

The Rules

Driftwood Estate Winery, North America 2017, Austin Texas

The Grounds

By the time we arrived the place was already buzzing. Driftwood Estate Winery is a great spot for a picnic, especially on a day like the day we visited, clear blue skies temp in the high teens and low twenties (Celsius), with a great view out over the vineyard and surrounds.

There is even a Pizza Truck onsite if you decide to hang around for lunch and enjoy the view but did not pack a bite or three.

Driftwood Estate Winery, North America 2017, Austin Texas

One of the fun additions to the place were the various signs posted around the place.

Driftwood Estate Winery

From their website:

The Texas Winery and Vineyard with the
Million Dollar View.

Driftwood Estate Winery and Vineyard embodies the spirit and heart of Texas. Driftwood radiates Texas pride in its production of high quality wines made from Texas grapes. Driftwood Estate Winery sits on a bluff overlooking our Estate Vineyard and the Hill Country from which visitors can enjoy our award winning wines. The view from the bluff is spectacular and the grounds are perfect for a picnic with your favorite glass or bottle of Driftwood Estate wine.

Wine Tasting

At Driftwood Estate Winery they have a different approach to tasting to Stone House Vineyard, instead of pre-defined tasting flights you pay USD15 to taste any six wines listed on their tasting sheet. You also get a tasting glass with the Driftwood Logo. A nice touch, IMHO, is the 10% discount provided to serving Military Personnel.

Driftwood Estate Winery, North America 2017, Austin Texas

The tasting room is filled with wine related knickknacks and tools, this is the second tasting room that they have built with few separate areas for tastings. When we arrived the joint was packed, but we must have timed it just right as a large group were finishing their flights as we entered the tasting room, so we were able to get to the main tasting area and find a good perch.

We were also lucky to be served by a knowledgeable lady who could guide us through their list.

 

The Wine

wdt_ID Wine Photo
1 Name: Driftwood Estate Winery
Vintage: 2015
Region: Texas Hill Country, Texas, USA
Varietal: Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13%
Colour: Bright pale straw
Aroma: A crisp mix of citrus and lemon aromas
Palate: Balanced, fresh
Finish: Medium

Comment: This was a nice wine, a good quaffer. My first Texas grown and produced wine!
2 Name: Driftwood Estate Winery Lone Star Cab
Vintage: 2014
Region: Texas Hill Country Estate and Plains Texas, Texas, USA
Varietal: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon 17% Syrah
Alcohol: 14.5%
Colour: Youthful Mid-Deep Crimson
Aroma: Pleasant combination of black pepper, cherry and cedar aromas
Palate: Medium-bodied
Tannin: Savoury
Finish: Medium-long

Comment: Enjoyed the Lone Star Cab, something to enjoy over a barbeque.
3 >
Name: Driftwood Estate Winery Longhorn Red
Vintage: 2014
Region: Texas, USA
Varietal: 50% Syrah 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: 14.5%
Colour: Vivid Deep Crimson
Aroma: Mixture of blackcurrant and cherry aromas
Palate: Medium-bodied, abundance of cherry
Tannin: Developing
Finish: Medium-long

Comment: Bit too much 'cherry' for me. Still a young wine, wouldn’t mind revisiting it in a few years, hopefully the 'cherry' has subsided.
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4 Name: Driftwood Estate Winery Syrah
Vintage: 2014
Region: Texas Hill Country Estate, Texas, USA
Varietal: 90% Syrah 19% Merlot
Alcohol: 14.9%
Colour: Vivid Mid-Deep Ruby Red
Aroma: Pleasant combo of cherry and cedar aromas
Palate: Medium-bodied, balanced
Tannin: Savoury
Finish: Medium-long

Comment: Best of the Driftwood Estate Winery wines so far. Another good wine for a barbeque, would like to revisit it again with a bit more age, when the cherry aromas are not as pronounced
5 Name: B&E Vineyard Red Rhythm
Vintage: 2013
Region: Paso Robles, California, USA
Varietal: 73% Merlot 27% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: 15.2%
Colour: Youthful Mid-Deep Crimson
Aroma: Complex mix of blackcurrant, spice and cedar aromas
Palate: Medium-bodied, balanced
Tannin: Developing
Finish: Medium-long

Comment: Getting better. A very good quaffer. The best of the Driftwood Estate Winery Wines.
6 Name: Driftwood Estate Winery Starry Nights
Vintage: NV
Region: Deming, New Mexico, USA
Varietal: Muscat
Alcohol: 11%
Colour: Bright Light Gold
Aroma: Powerful combo of apricot and passionfruit aromas
Palate: Balanced, abundance of apricot
Finish: Medium-long

Comment: An interesting wine, although, IMHO I don’t agree with the Winery’s comparison to Prosecco, wouldn’t have done that. Glad I left to this, as recommended, to the last wine to taste, the sweetness would have overpowered my palate.

BTW, this is a Demi-Sec Carbonated Wine

My Favourite

Driftwood Estate Winery, North America 2017, Austin Texas
IMHO the best wine I tasted at Driftwood Estate Winery was the 2013 B&E Vineyard Red Rhythm

Thoughts

I liked Driftwood Estate Winery, whilst the wines are not stars, the whole setup, especially the friendly and helpful staff makes a tasting their fun and interesting. If you were intending to do a tasting tour of the Texas Hill Country and wanted to pick a place for a picnic lunch, this would be the place for me, even if the weather is a bit inclement as you can set up under the large open air barn, not really sure what else to call it. I would return.

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