From Vine to Wine: Our Texas Tempranillo Harvest Is Underway
While most of Texas was still sleeping, our hardworking vineyard crew was already in the vines at 3:00 AM, beginning the harvest of our Texas Tempranillo grapes from Lahey Family Vineyards.
Located in the Texas High Plains, Lahey Family Vineyards provides the Texas-grown fruit that begins this wine’s journey from vineyard to bottle. Tempranillo thrives in this region’s warm days, cooler nights and high elevation, producing grapes with the flavor, color and character we look for when crafting a beautiful Texas red wine.
Why Harvest at 3:00 AM?
Harvesting before sunrise is about more than beating the Texas heat. Picking grapes during the coolest part of the day helps preserve their freshness, flavors and overall quality. Cooler fruit also arrives at the winery in better condition, giving our winemaking team a strong start as the grapes move into production.
Our winemaker, Sam Jennings, was on-site throughout the harvest to ensure the grapes met our standards before beginning their journey to the winery. From evaluating the fruit to overseeing the early stages of production, Sam’s attention to detail helps ensure quality at every step.
It takes a dedicated crew—and a very early alarm—to make it happen! We are incredibly grateful for everyone who worked through the early-morning hours to carefully harvest this year’s Tempranillo.
See Those Bubbles? That’s Fermentation!
Once the grapes arrive at the winery, the winemaking magic begins. Those bubbles you may see forming are a sign of active fermentation.
During fermentation, yeast consumes the grapes’ natural sugars and transforms them into alcohol, releasing carbon dioxide in the process. The bubbling is a visible sign that the juice is officially beginning its transformation into wine.
Over the coming weeks and months, our winemaking team will carefully monitor the wine as its flavors, aromas and structure begin to develop. Every step—from the first grape picked at Lahey Family Vineyards to the final bottle—is part of creating a wine that celebrates the character of Texas.
Our newest Texas Tempranillo vintage is officially underway, and we cannot wait to share more of its journey with you.
Cheers to our vineyard crew, Lahey Family Vineyards, Winemaker Sam Jennings and another exciting Texas harvest! 🍇🍷
