The cooler-than-normal and wet spring provided a beneficial start to the growing season for the vineyards throughout Texas. The relatively mild weather without late freezes, significant wind events, or widespread hail damage led to an excellent fruit set and overall healthy growth throughout much of the Texas wine industry.
However, some vineyards in the Hill Country like Wildseed Farm, who lost all their fruit, and a few areas in the Texas High Plains, suffered loss from spring hail.
Weather is always a key factor in determining the quality of the fruit at harvest. Fortunately, for the most part, growers had a relatively mild growing season without a lot of detrimental events like high winds that blow the flowers off the vines.
The favorable weather means that 90 to 95 percent of the crop at some Hill Country vineyards, like at Ron Yates, are in great shape. Until June 7, most of the region enjoyed cool evenings with the temperatures dipping to 61 degrees.
This blissful period was followed by a drought and record high temperatures. Most growers have the experience to deal with these extremes through careful vineyard management and most are reporting high quality. Most of the reds will take one to two years to be in the market but look for the whites and rosés to start appearing in spring.
“I’m incredibly optimistic that the 2023 vintage resulting from this year’s crop will be outstanding,” said Sergio Cuadra, winemaker at Fall Creek Vineyards, who gave the 2023 growing season and resulting fruit the highest rating.
“Every grape that we bring into the winery is very healthy. It has been a very good year for wine grapes in the Texas Hill Country. This is the kind of year where I’ll be extremely happy to showcase the vintage. It will be a standout. I’m eager for these wines to be ready to share with you. It will be outstanding.’’
CELEBRATE TEXAS WINE MONTH DURING OCTOBER
Texas Wine Month is a 31-day celebration of Texas wines and the Texas wine industry. The month-long event includes tastings at local wineries and other wine events across Texas.
The Texas Wine Month Passport event is all month long in the Hill Country with deals on tastings, wine pairings, and special dinners. Taste somewhere new like along the Urban Wine Trail in Grapevine or order wines from a Texas winemaker like our featured winery C.L. Butaud Winery.
C.L. Butaud Winery was founded in Austin, Texas, in 2014 by husband and wife Randy and Brooke Hester. Achieving this goal was the culmination of a decade-long plan.
Houston native Randy Hester knew he wanted to make wine after working as a salesman for the fine wines division of a major distributor. He soon realized that his passion for wine meant more than just selling, he wanted to create high-quality wines and share the fruits of his labor with fellow Texans.
To learn winemaking, and to get training and experience to fulfill this dream, the couple moved to California in 2006 and began working at some of Napa Valley’s most renowned wineries. Hester began as a 36-year-old intern at Cakebread Cellars, eventually working full time, and coupled his training with viticulture and enology courses at Napa Valley College on nights and weekends.
Though his formal education was essential to his growth in winemaking, Hester credits his craft to the world class winemakers that he was fortunate enough to work with, including iconic consultants such as Andy Erickson and Michel Rolland.
As the final step in their 10-year plan, C.L. Butaud Wines became a reality in 2014 focusing on making high-quality wines from 100 percent Texas-grown grapes. They would work their first Texas harvest that year.
The winery’s name is an homage to Randy’s great grandfather, Clet Louis Butaud, who was known as “Frenchy.” Frenchy is also the name of a very approachable line of wines under his nickname.
Randy’s winemaking philosophy is a minimalist approach which respects the centuries of evolution in winemaking with some occasional experimentation backed up by both his own artistic instinct and knowledge of fermentation science. The Hesters’ hard work paid off, having now received well-deserved accolades from wine experts in Texas and on the national and international stage.
C.L. Butaud wines have received high reviews from Decanter, Wine Advocate, James Suckling, and VinePair as well as being recognized by Texas Monthly magazine, the Austin American Statesman, and the Texas Department of Agriculture.
Visit them at their southwest Austin Tasting Room, Fridays through Sundays. Please note that reservations are required. On the island, you can enjoy C.L. Butaud wines at Number 13 Prime Steak & Seafood or order wines directly from their winery website for a Texas Wine Month celebration at home.
TOP WINE PICKS
C.L. Butaud “Pa Pa Frenchy” Rose 2022
A pretty and juicy pink, made from Cinsault in a Provencal style, for only $15.
C.L. Butaud Pa Pa Frenchy” Texas Red Wine 2021
A lively and bright wine with a crunchy red fruit character from the Grenache, mingling with herbed, meaty notes from the Mourvedre, and a hint of sweet tobacco from the Tempranillo. This red blend offers both freshness and complexity and is a steal at $18.
C.L. Butaud Blanc de Noir 2021
A unique and refreshing white wine made from red grapes, priced at $48.