Rock & Vine

ROCK&Vine Fredericksburg’s wine and lifestyle magazine

Pursuing a craft Stonewall vineyard owners make wines for the love it and succeed in the process Wine a part of unique menu experience at Navajo Grill Haberdashery clicks with Hill Country fashion hunters Agave Gallery carves out niche in Texas art OCTOBER 2014 FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS

Warning: D O N ’ T T RY T H I S AT H O M E Oak Smoked Tenderloin with a robust cabernet. Black Diamond Buffalo Enchiladas with a super Texan sangiovese. Pecan Pan Seared Rainbow Trout with a Hill Country viognier. Once you’ve had a taste of the Cabernet Grill, you’ll

find reasons to return again and again. Pair the largest Texas wine list with a creative chef and you get an experience that’s simply impossible to duplicate.

Add the casual yet elegant atmosphere, and you’ll agree — it’s dangerously addictive.

8 3 0 9 9 0 5 7 3 4 C A B E R N E TG R I L L . C O M

FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS O N H W Y 1 6 , J U S T 2 . 8 M I L E S S O U T H O F MA I N S T.

EDITOR’S NOTE

ROCK

Where patience is a virtue

T

he Hill Country wine region now has somewhat over 600 acres of vineyards with more than 70 wineries. Our beautiful limestone and granite hills and pristine creeks make this the land of wine and wildflowers. And, yes, they pair well.

The Hill Country is the nation’s second-most visited wine destination and it’s among the best in the country for overall wine production.

Dr. Richard Becker was one of the first to turn his hobby into a business and now his family is one of the patriarchs of this growing industry. And he still produces wine for the love of it. In the Becker Vineyards profile in this issue, Nichole Bendele is quoted saying, “If you’re in a rush, this is not the business to be in.”

That’s the approach we’re taking with this magazine.

The local wine industry will continue to grow and we plan to be there to continue and cover it, along with the many things that make Fredericksburg an attractive place. Rock & Vine is about showcasing what makes this area such a unique place to visit or reside.

In this issue, we feature a true Texas artist in John Bennett and his Agave Gallery, as well as a unique dining establishment in Navajo Grill. Also in this issue, check out some local music favorites, a Main Street hot spot shopping destination and a natural beauty in the attraction that is Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. There also are some interesting Hill Country factoids on our last page, which will be a quirky, standing feature in this magazine.

Rumors circulate that more wineries are on the way here and monthly there are new signs along the Highway 290 corridor that confirm it. With the addition of the Texas Center for Wine and Culinary Arts, as well as continued study opportunities at Texas Tech University-Fredericksburg, there is more on the way.

&Vine

Fredericksburg’s wine and lifestyle magazine Issue No. 2

Rock & Vine Magazine features the best of the Texas Hill Country wine industry, as well as lifestyle, attractions, history, characters and thinkers.

A product of Fredericksburg Publishing Company, Inc.

Publisher/Editor Ken Esten Cooke Contributing Writers Lindsey Bertrand Christine Granados Sheila Kale Joe Kammlah Megan Willome Ashley Thomas Kristen N. Townsend Contributing Photographer/Graphics Alana Lively, Marc Land

Rock & Vine Magazine 712 W. Main St. P.O. Box 1639 Fredericksburg, TX 78624 To advertise, call our staff at the number below.

Advertising Information 830-997-2155 Advertising Sales Kim Jung, Director Ann Duecker Subscription Information $15 for one year 830-997-2155

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4

Deep in the heart of

Texas Wine Country BECKER VINEYARDS has grown from an interest, to a business, to one of the top wineries in the industry.

By Lindsey Bertrand

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Site photos by Alana Lively

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W

inemaking never began as a simple hobby for Dr. Richard and Bunny Becker.

It began, as all long-lasting endeavors do, from love. The Beckers have always loved to grow things. They garden prolifically, sometimes producing enough fruits and vegetables for blocks’ worth of neighbors, and Bunny is practiced in French cooking. This cultivation of pastimes throughout the years carried over into a budding interest in wine and viticulture.

In the 1980’s, Richard Becker began to study food and wine pairings. He and Bunny traveled to Europe, tasting and buying wines from different regions. They developed their own palates, and an idea began to form. Could they translate what they had learned during their travels into something that could work in Texas?

In the early 1990’s, the Becker’s bought land in Stonewall with the intent to restore an old farmhouse on the property. As their travels brought them more and more to the Hill Country, they began to taste the wines

Dr. Richard and Bunny Becker were the Tall in Texas award winners at the 28th Annual Grape Fest in Grapevine.

Becker Vineyards 464 Becker Farms Road Stonewall, Texas 78671 (830) 644-2681 www.beckervineyards.com of Grape Creek Vineyards in Stonewall and of Sister Creek Vineyards in Sisterdale. During this time, the wine industry in Texas was just beginning to take a foothold, and its epicenter was the Hill Country.

Wine enthusiasts elsewhere were convinced that Texans knew nothing of wine, that they had no palates. “Texans

The beautiful private tasting room at Becker Vineyards.

only like sweet wines” was the prevailing sentiment of the wine industry.

Richard disagreed. He went to symposiums and wine festivals to learn what varietals could grow in Texas. He continued to taste Texas and European wines. And he wasn’t afraid to experiment.

“We loved the challenge,” he said.

“We asked ourselves if we could create wine that could compete with the best in the world, and that’s what we set out to do.”

After years of research and tasting, the Becker’s decided it was time to plant their own vineyard in Stonewall.

“Bunny was more conservative than I was at the time,” Richard said. “She suggested we plant a quarter-acre. I thought ten acres sounded good.”

In 1992, the first vines were planted and for three years the Becker’s waited.

“Those first three years were tough,” Richard said. But the Becker’s played it smart, watching over the vines and slowly adding to the processing facilities and the tasting areas.

“If you’re in a rush, this is not the business to be in,” emphasized Nichole Bendele, Becker Vineyards public relations manager.

From the first harvest in 1995, they made three wines.

It wasn’t that the Becker’s were out to change anyone’s minds. They wanted to make what they loved— wines that paired well with food—and they succeeded. From the beginning their wines were about taking the time to gather around a table, enjoying a meal and staying around that table. In the U.S. and in the Hill Country, this meant a more leisurely approach to wine drinking. Wine didn’t have to be reserved for before or after meals. It could be savored at length.

“Even the preparation of food can determine a good wine pairing,” Bendele said. “Experiment. Don’t limit yourself with rigid rules about which wine goes with which type of meal.

It’s always a good idea to try as many wines as you can to educate your palate.”

Even after the first harvest, Richard’s curiosity continued to grow. In 1996, they began harvesting the white grapes that would become their signature Continued on next page

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‘Intuition’ over 20 years has led award winners. viognier. In doing so, Becker Vineyards became the first producer to commercially make a viognier in Texas.

Nearly 20 years later, the Becker’s continue to participate in wine conferences and festivals, and they continue to keep an open mind as they refine their wines. “We’re not following a blueprint here in Texas,� Bendele said. “We are still learning in pursuit of creating the best wines.�

The fruits of their labors never had a business plan, Richard said. “It was all intuition, and the wines have tasted better than I ever thought.�

The proof can be seen throughout Becker Vineyards’ main tasting room. Atop the shelves, bottles stand shoulder to shoulder, their necks adorned with layers of medals from decades of competitions. Other awards are nestled between cookbooks and wine gear.

On the walls hang photos and framed invitations from dinners hosted by heads of state, governors and presidents—all listing wines that grew from love and perseverance as much as they grew from the Texas soil.

For the Becker’s, the reward lies in the time and steadfastness they have invested in their pursuit of a product that people enjoy, qualities that have been rewarded and refined over the years. It’s easy to see that a quality product keeps customers coming back, said Bendele.

Today Becker Vineyards consistently produces more than 20 wines, and their tasting rooms continue to draw large crowds throughout the year. As members of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association for more than two decades, the Becker’s also continue to support research, mentor others in the wine industry and champion Texas wines. For their longstanding dedication, in 2014 Becker Vineyards received the “Tall in Texas� award as part of the 28th Annual Grape Fest in Grapevine, Texas.

As for what lies ahead, the fruits of their endeavor look promising. “The fruit from 2014 is the best we’ve seen in Texas,�

Becker said. “The quality is beyond what we expected, and we are excited by that.�

Lindsey Bertrand writes about Texas, health and science from Fredericksburg. She is the winner of the 2014 Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference’s Ten Spurs Award for nonfiction.

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HILL COUNTRY DINING

Navajo Grill Seasonal gourmet menu dishes up American delights

By Sheila Kale Photos by Alana Lively

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avajo Grill serves up a delicious blend of Southern, Mexican and Cajun food, pairs it with knowledgeable and considerate servers and cloaks it in a warm and welcoming environment that will linger in a diner’s memory.

Owner Mike Raymer planned every detail to delight the senses.

“I know people come for a nice getaway because they’ve heard about us,” Raymer said. “I want to give them a topnotch experience.”

The restaurant on the east end of Main Street blends craftsman-style architecture with Southwest-inspired design to create a functional dining space. A repurposed iron garden gate serves as a wine rack and plow discs are planters that adorn the windows. Raymer’s own photography is displayed on the walls with a printed story beneath each.

Raymer bought the restaurant from Steve Howard in 1998. Howard had required that Raymer cook a meal for him before he considered a sale.

“After passing that test, he put me through a 90-day boot camp. I didn’t know anything. I felt like a NASA monkey in a room full of astronauts,” Raymer said. “A seasoned staff would tell me, ‘Here, take these and turn them into small things.’

“When I told my family I was getting into the restaurant business the room went quiet. Then they began snickering,” he said.

Both his sons and his daughter were already experienced in the food industry.

He was following their footsteps.

He learned on the job. After he bought the restaurant, he worked in the kitchen for 10 years, the last four as pastry chef.

Raymer described the business as “a dragon that never sleeps and is always hungry.” But he loves the people he meets and regularly goes from table to table to

Even simple dishes get a unique treatment at Navajo Grill. share a story and find out a little about each person.

Over the last 16 years all his children have worked with him. It wasn’t planned as a family business, but even his brother, Lloyd, has joined the staff.

“He’s my other half. He holds this place together,” Raymer said. “One evening 20 minutes before opening, the springs on our oven door broke. We saw magnets holding papers on the refrigerator. We pulled them off, attached them to the door, and kept the ovens working for the night.”

Chefs Bryce Baker and Jesse Frost, and pastry chef Cammie Olfers round out the kitchen. Baker worked as a chef in Utah

Chefs Bryce Baker and Jesse Frost

before joining Navajo Grill 12 years ago.

He recently took over executive chef duties from Josh Raymer, Raymer’s son, who now specializes in artisan breads.

“Seasonality and using local food is really important. Our menu changes with availability,” Baker said. “We make everything fresh with hand-picked fruits and vegetables from our local farmer’s market. Something really exciting we’re adding is Akaushi beef. It is super tender and highly marbled. We’ll have a flank steak with black mole sauce.”

With 10 years’ experience, the manager, Fernando Aquilar, is adept at pairing wines including many from local wineries.

The seasonal gourmet menu means ever changing items such as braised short ribs with poblano cheddar grits, and pumpkin crème brûlée. Weekend specials showcase their creativity, usually featuring a different meat, soup, appetizer and fresh-caught fish.

It’s all part of the sensory experience.

Sheila Kale is a writer, inspirational speaker and life coach. You can find out more about her at www.SheilaSpeaksHope.com.

Our Story 4.0 Cellars began as a collaboration between three Texas wineries - Brennan Vineyards, Lost Oak Winery, and McPherson Cellars, which are located respectively in Comanche, Burleson, and Lubbock, Texas.

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“The Texas Cheese & Wine Experience” Join us as we sample five artisan, raw cow milk, Texas cheeses from Veldhuizen Cheese Company paired with five wines selected from 4.0 Cellars. These hand crafted and cave-aged cheeses are known for their distinctive flavor and quality.

Enjoy the experience of sampling the best of what Texas has to offer.

Offered daily at 1:00 p.m. and Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. $20.00 per person and reservations are required. www.fourpointwine.com/tastings.

FOUR POINT CELLARS 10354 E. US HWY. 290 FREDERICKSBURG, TX 78624 830.997.7470 Monday thru Saturday 10am-6pm Sundays 11am - 5pm check the website for more details: www.fourpointwine.com

Our tasting room and wine club provide the perfect backdrop for showcasing our winemaking techniques, passions, and products. At 4.0, you can expect to be treated to an exceptional array of wines, from single varietal wines to diverse blends, all from vineyards located throughout Texas.

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ATTRACTIONS

The Rock Enchants

Visitors of all ages enjoy the challenge of hiking the dome at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.

For visitors and old-timers alike, magic and mysteries abound at Enchanted Rock

By Joe Kammlah It took 20 walks before it hit him. There was a dead body in the park and he knew where it was.

Robert Deming, financial advisor by day and mystery writer by night, knew he had a story – he just didn’t know how it would end.

It was at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, a Texas Parks & Wildlife facility 17 miles north of Fredericksburg, on a mild Texas winter evening while on one of many hikes

Texas s Hill Countr Country ntry y Winery and Vineyards ds Torre di Pietra tra is committed mitted to the highest ighest standards in th the e Vineyards and nd Winery to ensur nsure e that the best quality Wines ar are e available for r your enjoyment. enjoymen ment t.

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10915 E. US HWY 290 0 Fredericksburg,TX X 78624 830-644-2829 -2829 www.torredipietra.com .com

Fredericksburg Publishing Company photo

on, up, down and sideways on this smooth dome of igneous rock in Central Texas that the inspiration for his first book, Enchanted Rock Red, slapped him in the face.

“The park had been conducting a controlled burn (to eliminate excess brush and weeds) when I saw a guy in the middle of a circle of firefighters, obviously debriefing the group. It

Romance e of Tuscany, Tusca cany ny, , Wines of Texas Monday-Thursday Monday-Thursda rsday 11-5 pm Friday-Sunday Friday-S unday nda 11-6 pm LIVE MUSIC every y saturday saturda day y 1-5pm

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ATTRACTIONS hit me at that point that there was a dead body in the park,â&#x20AC;?

Deming said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And I knew where the dead body was. I just didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know the rest of the story.â&#x20AC;?

Deming figures it took about 100 more walks at the park to finish his first fiction.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area does this to people. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not only the name and the legends that make this six million year old rock mystical. It is the raw beauty of the Texas landscape with its view of endless horizons and peeks and any number of Lone Star flora and fauna that brings over 200,000 visitors on a pilgrimage each year.

Still, the legends are rampant in regard to this granite dome, which is part of the Llano Uplift. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s six million years old, give or take a few million. People have been around about 10,000 years.

But in those 10,000 years, stories Enchanted Rock State of its magic and mysticism abound.

Natural Area is located The native tribes in the region, mostapproximately 90 miles ly Tonkawa, Apache and Comanche, west of Austin and asserted the rock had spiritual pownorthwest of San Aners. The rock is said to talk as some tonio. The park is open say it can creak and groan at night. almost year round but Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to see why fables abound. you can check out times and cost at www.

Stories include the traditional tpwd.state.tx.us/statemaiden sacrifices and the hero who parks/enchanted-rock braved the rock to save his sweetor call 830-685-3636. heart from sacrifice. There are Additional information stories of finding silver and gold, of is at www.friendsofencourse. Folklore says if you spend chantedrock.com. the night on the rock you become invisible.

Some are kinda-sorta true. Famed To learn more about the Rock, Deming recTexas Ranger Jack Hayes was said ommends â&#x20AC;&#x153;Enchanted to have held off a group of warriors Rock, a Natural and from atop the rock. While a plaque Human History,â&#x20AC;? by in the park office proclaims just that Lance Allred. Deming, and while Hayes was certainly in a resident of Fredermany a fight on the Texas frontier, icksburg, has published there is no evidence to support this. two mysteries based Nevertheless, Deming likes the on the park â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Enwording on the plaque and repeats chanted Rock Redâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Enchanted Rock it often and unabashed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It says he Blue(s)â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and is now â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;inflicted upon them such heavy writing â&#x20AC;&#x153;Enchanted losses that they fled.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I like that,â&#x20AC;?

Rock White(tail).â&#x20AC;?

Deming said.

But whether or not you are looking for inspiration, the Rock is a great opportunity to enjoy the Texas outdoors. The website boosts caving, hiking, backpacking, camping, rock climbing and picnicking on its menu.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the gem of Texas state parks and if you want to experience the Texas outdoors this is the perfect way to do it.

But if you want to find out where the dead body is, well, you have the read the book.

Joe Kammlah, as a ďŹ fth generation native of Fredericksburg, has a keen interest in the history of Fredericksburg and the Germans in Texas. He has received a number of writing/photography awards from the Associated Press and is on the board of the Gillespie County Historical Society.

Visit all of your favorite wineries.

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CENTRAL TEXAS VINEY

The Hill Country wine region has over 70 wineries. The 600 acres of vineya the region north of Fredericksburg to San Saba, and west of Menard 13

Locator Map of

2340

71

Llano

29

261

18 & 39

1431

Mason

Inks Lake

29

P4

Oatmeal

Lake LBJ Granite Shoals

Sunri Beach Sunrise

1174

16

1431

16 6 71

965

648

Round Mtn.

Willow City

1323

USNER RD

2093

6 43

40

Johnson City 1320

Fredericksburg 14 52 1 26 19 49

20

290

CR 301

Stonewall Hye

32 37

16

Luckenbach

28

22

10

JENSCHKE LN

27

UPPER ALBERT RD

33 54 24 1623 2 1623

8 Blanco

7 5

Spring Branch

42

311

Bulverde

10

53

3237

Canyon City

2673

3159

306

29

E’S AN CR ILL M

281

46

87

38 12

150

12

Canyon Lake

1376

Boerne

1826

150

LON MTN EMAN . RD .

306

41

Bandera

10

473 MILL DA M RD

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290 CR 170

4

Wimberley

15

224

101

12

12

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Comfort

3238

44 71

Dripping Springs

165

Bee Cave

3

32 473

46

Lakeway

201

281

46

HA PO MIL OL TO RD N .

47 3232 Henly

Kerrville

173

962

30

25

Jonesto Lago Vista

62

23

2766

17

51

1376

87

27

CR 302

31

Cypress Mill

36

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Travis Peak

Spicewood Lake CR 409 Travis 45

MTN.

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18

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Marble Falls

Horseshoe Bay

SIN GLE TON BEN D

783

Burnet

34

2323

A Bertram

2342

Kingsland

Castell

1174

690 2341 Buchanan Dam

29

13

35

281

1431

Bluffton 2241

BELL SPRINGS

Central Texas Vineyards and Wineries

Lake Buchanan

Tow

2722

Smithson Valley HERBELIN RD

3009

11 46

S M 9

Gruene

35 New Braunfels

YARDS AND WINERIES

ards span d.

38

50 Florence

Andice

35

Georgetown

20. Fredericksburg Winery 247 W. Main St. Fredericksburg, TX 78624

37. Rancho Point Vineyard 315 Ranch Road 1376 Fredericksburg, TX 78624

1. Alexander Vineyards 6360 Goehmann Ln Fredericksburg, TX 78624

21. Georgetown Winery 715 Main St. Georgetown, TX 78626

38. Salt Lick Cellars 1800-C FM 1826 Driftwood, TX 78619

2. Becker Vineyards 464 Becker Farms Road Stonewall, TX 78671

22. Grape Creek Vineyards 97 Vineyard Lane Fredericksburg, TX 78624

39. Sandstone Cellars Winery 211 San Antonio Street Mason, TX 76856

3. Bell Springs Winery 3700 Bell Springs Road Dripping Springs, TX 78620

23. Hawk’s Shadow Estate Vineyard 7500 McGregor Ln Dripping Springs, TX 78620

40. Santa Maria Cellars 12044 Hwy 16 S. Fredericksburg, TX 78624

5. Bending Branch Winery 142 Lindner Branch Trail Comfort, TX 78013 6. Chisholm Trail Winery 2367 Usener Rd Fredericksburg, TX 78624

83

own

Listing numbers correspond with numbers on map. Locations are approximate due to scale of map.

4. The Bella Vista Ranch 3101 Mount Sharp Rd Wimberly, TX 78676

21

1431

Round Rock

7. Comfort Cellars Winery 723 Front Street Comfort, TX 78013 8. Compass Rose Cellars Inc. 1197 Hye Albert Rd Hye, TX 78635

20

9. Copper Star Cellars 256 W. Mill Street New Braunfels, TX 78130

LOOP 1

44

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10. Driftwood Estate Winery 4001 Elder Hill Rd. Driftwood, TX 78619 11. Dry Comal Creek Vineyards 1741 Herbelin Rd. New Braunfels, TX 78132 12. Dutchman Family Winery 13308 FM 150 W Driftwood, TX 78619

35

13. Fall Creek Vineyards 1820 County Road 222 Tow, TX 78672 14. Fat Ass Ranch Winery 51 Elgin Behrends Rd Fredericksburg, TX 78624

21

183

an Marcos 48

13

24. Hilmy Cellars 12346 E US Hwy 290 Fredericksburg, TX 78624 25. Hye Meadow Winery 10257 US Highway 290 West, Hye, TX 78635 26. Inwood Estates WineryThe Vineyard at Florence 10303 Hwy 290 Fredericksburg, TX 78624 27. Junction Rivers Winery 210 North 6th Street Junction, TX 76849 28. Kerrville Hills Winery 3600 Fredericksburg Road Kerrville, Texas 78028 29. La Cruz de Comal Wines 7405 FM 2722 Startzville, TX 78133 30. Lewis Wines 3209 Highway 290 West (Mail to PO Box 372) Johnson City, TX 78636 31. McReynolds Winery 706 Shovel Mountain Road,Cypress Mill, TX 78663

15. Fawncrest Vineyard & Winery 1370 Westside Circle Canyon Lake, TX 78133

32. Messina Hof Winery Hill Country 9996 US Highway 290 East Fredericksburg, TX 78624

16. Flat Creek Enoteca 112 US Hwy 281 Marble Falls, TX 78654

33. Pedernales Cellars 2916 Upper Albert Road Stonewall, TX 78671

17. Flat Creek Estate 24912 Singleton Bend East Rd. Marble Falls, TX 78654

34. Perissos Vineyards 7214 Park Road 4 West Burnet, TX 78611

18. Fly Gap Winery 2851 Hickory Grove Rd. Mason, TX 76856

35. Pilot Knob Vineyard 3125 CR 212 Bertram, TX 78605

19. Four Point Cellars 10354 U.S. Highway 290 Fredericksburg, TX 78624

36. Pontotoc Vineyard 338 W. Main St. Fredericksburg, TX 78624

41. Singing Water Vineyards 316 Mill Dam Rd. Comfort, TX 78013 42. Sister Creek Vineyards 1142 Sisterdale Rd Boerne, TX 78006 43. Six Shooters Cellars 6264 US Hwy 290 Fredericksburg, TX 78624 44. Solaro Estate 13111 Silver Creek Rd Dripping Springs, TX 78620 45. Spicewood Vineyards 1419 CR 409 Spicewood, TX 78669 46. Stone House Vineyard 24350 Haynie Flat Road Spicewood, TX 78669 47. Texas Hills Vineyard 878 RR 2766, PO Box 1480 Johnson City, TX 78636 48. Three Dude’s Winery 125 Old Martindale Road San Marcos, TX 78628 49. Torre di Pietra Vineyards 10915 East US HWY 290 Fredericksburg, TX 78624 50. The Vineyard at Florence 8711 W. FM 487 Florence, TX 76527 51. Westcave Cellars Winery 25711 Hamilton Pool Rd Round Mountain, TX 7663 52. William Chris Vineyards 10352 Highway 290 Hye, TX 78635 53. Wimberly Valley Winery 2825 County Road 183 Driftwood, TX 78619 54. Woodrose Winery 662 Woodrose Ln Stonewall, TX 78671

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HILL COUNTRY ART SCENE

A meticulous eye for detail has made John Bennett one of the top sculptors in the state for cowboy art.

Carving out

Texas treasures Agave Gallery a work of art outside and in

A

By Megan Willome

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Photos by Alana Lively

few steps off Main Street in an 1875 limestone Sunday house, Agave Gallery features original works of art by nationally acclaimed Texas artists. The gallery’s tagline is “Fine Art. Texas Style!” and that’s what makes Agave distinctive.

“It’s neat to have all Texas artists. I don’t know anyone else doing that,” said John Bennett, studio owner and sculptor. “A number of our artists have owned their own galleries, which is an honor that they’d let us show their work. A lot of our artists show in other galleries. Some of them just show in museums and national art shows. And then there are the awards. They’re recognized for being at the top of the field as professional artists.”

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Agave Gallery is located at 208 East San Antonio Street and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. They stay open later for the monthly First Friday Art Walk and occasionally on Sundays for special events.

Even the landscaping at the gallery says “Texas.”

Learn more about the gallery at www.agavegallery.com or call (830) 990-1727.

Bennett can claim that distinction as well. In 2010 he ness side of the gallery and runs their guest house, Agave was designated Texas State Artist for his sculptures, many Cottage in the Garden. of which are bronzed. He has won multiple Best of Show “We’re carrying so much more than we did initially— awards, and his lifesize bust of Vera McGinnis was purmore artists, more artwork,” Bennett said. “One main chased by the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of thing that we emphasize is that everything is original. We don’t sell prints or reproductions. If you found the artist in Fame in Fort Worth. another gallery, you won’t find what you saw here.”

One of his favorite pieces is a lifesize bronze of former Bennett enjoys the gallery’s location one block south of slave Alice Reeves and her great-granddaughter for the Main Street. “The traffic is targeted. We wanted to not be Friends of the Leesburg Library in Leesburg, Florida. His bronzed maquette of Lady Bird Johnson, former first lady, part of Main Street, the crowd, the traffic. I wouldn’t get anything done,” he joked. as she looked in 1941 is on display at the The Bennett’s Chihuahua, Buddy, someFredericksburg Visitor Information Center. times visits the gallery and makes friends Bennett’s studio is in the back of Agave with visitors. “He’s the star,” Bennett said.

Gallery, and if he’s not too busy, he’s happy The gallery is named for the agave plants to show visitors his latest project and explain that are part of the native landscaping out the process of bronzing.

“Our initial goal was to have an open stufront. Something is always blooming in the dio,” Bennett said. “The other galleries I’m garden, depending on the season—from cacin, I’m just another object in the gallery, but tus to bluebonnets. if you can interact with people who might “That’s kind of our hobby, too,” Bennett be interested in your work, it’s night and day said. He added that some people see the difference.” name “agave” and think they serve tequila.

They do not but they do offer guests bottled Bennett is not the only Texas State Artist water, he said. in the gallery — oil painter Roy Lee Ward In addition to its curb appeal, Agave received the honor in 1993. Ward, like some draws attention to its location with the 1952 of the other exhibitors, also had a career as a Ford Wagon often parked out front, which professional illustrator. has the gallery’s name painted on each side.

Agave Gallery carries 20 artists who work “People walk up and take pictures with it,” in various media, including oil painting, Bennett said. acrylic, watercolor, hand-colored etchings, photography, gourd art, fine woodworking, Bennett’s female sterling silver belt buckles and jewelry.

Megan Willome is managing editor and a conforms are celebrated tributing writer for the Wacoan Magazine in “I always get compliments when I wear Waco. She blogs about poetry and other things for their realistic, Connie Stephens’ jewelry,” said Cathy at www.meganwillome.com. natural look.

Bennett, John’s wife, who handles the busi-

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HILL COUNTRY MUSIC SCENE

Stirring memories through music Almost Patsy Cline Band is a goodwill ambassador to the Hill Country

By Ashley Thomas

P

atsy Cline was known as a classic country artist, with chart topping hits such as “Crazy,” “Faded Love,” and “Sweet Dreams” before the abrupt end to her career. Countless music artists have named her as a main influence of their music and one of those is the Almost Patsy Cline Band.

“Though we call the band ‘The Almost Patsy Cline Band,’ in no way do we try to impersonate or sound like Patsy,” bassist and vocalist Lanette Pennell said. “We feel like Patsy Cline’s music had a timeless quality.”

The Texas group started when Pennell, who was performing solo at a dude

Far more than a tribute act, Almost Patsy Cline Band is a huge draw in the area. ranch thought that the audience would enjoy hearing she and long-time friend and piano-player Vicki Gillespie perform together. When they received positive feedback, Gillespie began accompanying

Pennell to every gig.

They decided more members were needed as their calendars began filling up with shows. Drummer Rick Reynolds and guitarists Larry Lucas and Larry Nolen

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Jr. were hired to play along and they’ve been together ever since.

As audience members flooded the performances with praise and compliments, they decided a band name was in order.

“Naming a band is kind of like naming a cat,” Pennell said. “It needs to reflect the personality of the animal.”

The Not Patsy Cline band was Pennell’s suggestion and the joke morphed into The Almost Patsy Cline Band in 2001. The names gets a giggle and a smile out of any one who comes across the band, said Pennell.

Each band member has a different musical background.

Pennell said Buck Owens and Linda Ronstadt were major influences on her style, while Gillespie grew up listening to rock and roll and singing

Pure harmonies and professionalism bring APC many fans. along to acapella gospel quartets as a young girl.

Reynolds graduated from Percussion Institute of Technology and played for George W. Bush’s inauguration at the Black Tie and Boots Ball.

Lucas played at Fiesta Texas for six years and travelled

with the stage play “Always...

Patsy Cline.” Nolen grew up listening to Roger Miller and Hank Thompson, even making an appearance on stage at the Grand Ole Opry with his father when he was three. He also writes his own material, one of them appearing as the

title of their new album.

“Just as in life, every band has trials and tribulations, and sometimes has to basically start over after a band member change or other challenges,” Pennell said. “We thought it was a very appropriate title since our loyal fans and friends have stuck with us through all of it.”

The band’s varied musical tastes makes for an eclectic set list, including songs from Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Ray Price, Merle Haggard, and The Beatles.

“We like to pick songs that touch people and bring back memories,” Pennell said.

Ashley is a freelance writer and photographer from Hunt. View her work at ashephotography. yolasite.com.

Performance dates are available at almostpatsyclineband.com.

Book your Wedding, Anniversary, Birthday, Fundraiser or other event at this historic location just four blocks from Main St.

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MAIN STREET, U.S.A.

Fanciful fashions

Fredericksburg resident’s sense of style appeals to international audience Photo by Alana Lively

Owner Jill Elliott has built the Haberdashery Boutique into one of the Hill Country’s go-to stops for women’s fashion.

By Kristen N. Townsend

B

y definition, a haberdasher is a dealer in ribbons, buttons, threads and other notions.

Clothing and accessories inside Fredericksburg’s Haberdashery Boutique feature these types of unique embellishments that embody the shop’s tagline: “Adorning the fanciful soul.” For owner Jill Elliott, fashion is all about the tactile details. She said, she loves “the flourishy stuff for the woman who doesn’t want to dress like everyone else.”

After years of buying vintage clothing or repurposing pieces for her own wardrobe, Elliott opened a tiny shop at the back of her father’s store, Hill Country Music, in 2001 where she conducted business for over four years.

“I hated shopping because nothing fit me well or was interesting enough, so I just started buying things that I liked, that I would wear. To this day, I still use my gut instinct,” Elliott said.

That gut instinct earned her the admiration and following of a solid customer

base. Local resident Virginia Muncey was a Neiman Marcus model for over 30 years and remembers the store’s origins. “I became a customer from the time Jill put her first mannequin out on the sidewalk,” Muncey said.

Thirteen years later, Elliott has moved to 221 East Main Street in order to expand her offering. The store is smack dab in the middle of what locals term Fredericksburg’s “miracle mile,” the center of Main Street. It draws visitors by the hundreds of thousands.

“We’ve moved to a new location in order to expand into men’s wear—men’s shoes, leather goods and French soaps,” Elliott said. “We’re staying the same but now we’re able to branch out into new ventures we’ve been wanting to do.”

The shop features designers from all over the world, as well as local artisans.

Elliott said, she enjoys “mixing all of these really creative people together for a unique look you won’t see anywhere else.”

These days, it is not unusual for her to send orders internationally.

“I’ve seen it grow from a tiny space to the attractive boutique that she has now,” Muncey said. “I like the freedom that Jill offers to a shopper. It’s a softer way of dressing. Jill supplies a freshness to fashion and her associates are good at creating a comfort zone for the customer.”

Customers can expect something different when they cross the threshold into Haberdashery. Entire outfit ensembles are displayed on the wall as opposed to the more common linear sales racks. Elliott said she challenges shoppers to start with one piece of her clothing, pairing it with a basic pair of jeans or black slacks. And she promises to be brutally honest with customers.

“I love the people who walk in our door,” she said. “When we succeed at making them feel 100 percent fabulous and hand them their bag at the end of the transaction. That feels really good.”

Kristen N. Townsend is a mother, freelance writer and lifestyle management coordinator for families in the Texas Hill Country.

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READING BETWEEN THE VINES

Spend an afternoon wine tasting in the Texas Hill Country

The ‘little early one’

By Matthew Esté

T *Locally owned and operated * Tasting fees included * Competitive pricing * Complimentary bottled water * Secure storage of your belongings * Comfortable & spacious 14 passenger bus Other transportations services available: *Weddings * Bachelorette Parties * Wildflower Tours * Birthdays/Anniversaries * Dinner Service * Trade Days

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empranillo grapes produce a medium bodied ruby red wine with a nose of berries, vanilla, and the classic cigar box. Loosely translated from Spanish, Tempranillo refers to the fact that this variety ripens a few weeks earlier than other grapes.

The Tempranillo grape is traditionally grown in Rioja, Spain, one of the most productive wine regions in the world, because temperatures can reach 104° in Rioja in June, the grape’s resistance to heat make it easier to grow in the Hill Country climate.

Considered the noble grape of Spain, this thickskinned black grape is gaining nobility in Texas as well.

There are many great Tempranillo made in Texas right now, especially in the Hill Country. Here are a few wonderful examples.

Pedernales Cellars has earned many awards with its great Texas wines, and their Tempranillo are no exception. They have several different wines to choose from.

The Texas Hill Country Tempranillo has flavors of plum and vanilla. Wonderful by itself, this wine shines with portabella fajitas. They also offer a High Plains Tempranillo and a Reserve Tempranillo. Visit them at 2916 Upper Albert Road in Stonewall.

Pontotoc Vineyards is

based in the town of Pontotoc in Mason County.

This is an undertaking of the Money family (and friends) run winery that produces three Tempranillo based wines. The Estate Tempranillo is a wonderful example of the quality wines produced here in Texas with its earthy aromas and dark fruit with a slight spicy finish. I recently had this wine with rare venison backstrap.

I also recommend the Smoothing Iron Mountain and San Fernando Academy; both these wines are Tempranillo based blends. Stop in Pontotoc’s tasting room at 338 W. Main in Fredericksburg (Saturday 10-5); chances are the person pouring the wine has been involved with that wine from vine to bottle.

Although the Tempranillo goes by many names in Spain such as Tinto del Toro and Arinto Tinto, it is often referred to as the “Signature grape of Texas.”

There are many great Tempranillo’s – and other great wines – in the Hill country. I don’t have the space to write about them all, so get together with good friends and visit the areas many tasting rooms.

We’ll see you soon on the wine road.

Matthew Esté is the Beer & Wine Manager for H-E-B in Fredericksburg. He was recently awarded his Level 2 certification from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust.

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BASEMENT RESTAURANT

Open 6 Days a Week 260 E. Main Street Fredericksburg, TX 78624

830.990.5858 Located at Main & Lincoln in the Basement of the old Keidel Hospital.

Entrance in the courtyard E\ WKH ROG Ă&#x20AC;VK SRQG

Open 6 Days a Week Wednesday thru Monday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Dinner 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Closed Tuesday f )8// 6(59,&( %5($.)$67 /81&+ ',11(5 f 35,9$7( 0((7,1* 5220 f '$,/< 63(&,$/6 Â&#x2021; 72 *2 25'(56 :(/&20( ::: 5$7+6.(//(55(67$85$17 1(7 rathskellerresturant@gmail.com

Always open for later options

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CALENDAR UPCOMING WINE EVENTS and Hill Country Happenings OCTOBER 10/23/14 - 10/24/14 Noon-7 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest with Texas food, wine, beer, music, speciality booths and food court at Marketplatz in Fredericksburg. Visit www.fbgfoodandwinefest.com/ for more information.

10/26/14 1-4 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Live Music on The Verandah with Brittany Shane at Becker Vineyards, 464 Becker Farms Road, Stonewall. Call 830-6442681 for more information.

NOVEMBER 11/7/14 5-9 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Free Concert Series with April Hall at Four Point Cellars, 10354 E. US Highway 290, Fredericksburg. Call 830-997-7470 for more information.

11/15/14 - 11/16/14 10 a.m.-5 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 22nd Annual Fredericksburg Fall Antique Show with hundreds of antique exhibitors and dealers showcasing their inventory at Gillespie County Fairgrounds, 530 Fair Drive. Visit www.texasantiqueshows.com/ fredericksburg-texas-antique-show.htm for more information.

11/28/14 - 11/30/14 The Peddler Show features unique, handmade merchandise of craftsmen all over the country. Held at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds, 530 Fair Drive. Visit www.peddlershow.com/fbgnov/ for more information.

DECEMBER 12/5/14 - 12/21/14 Holiday Wine Trail self-guided tour to over 40 wineries along the Hill Country Wine Trail. Admission gets attendees a collectible Christmas ornament, 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3 complimentary tastes per person at each participating winery and special discounts on wine purchases. Call Texas Hill Country Wineries at 872-216-9463 for more information.

12/26/14 - 12/14/14 Zweite Weihnachte â&#x20AC;&#x153;Second Christmas,â&#x20AC;? the German tradition of good food, drink, music & fellowship with friends hosted by the Fredericksburg German Club at Gillespie County Historical Society Social Hall, 312 W. San Antonio St., Fredericksburg. Call 830-9972835 for more information.

BECKER VINEYARDS

Sources from The Hill Country Petrae &Vitis, page 23 Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Thomas_Volney_Munson; â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Hill Country Landerownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide,â&#x20AC;? by Jim Stanley, a Texas Master Naturalist; â&#x20AC;&#x153;German Pride: 101 Reason to be Proud Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re German,â&#x20AC;? Chapter 2, page 6; Texas State Aquarium website: http://texasstateaquarium.org/ prehensile-tailed-porcupine/; Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Schnapps; Fredericksburg Nature Center: http://www.fredericksburgnaturecenter.org/articles/Wild%20Turkey%20 Hens.pdf; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Idioms and Expressions in the German of Fredericksburg, Texas

by Carol Jean McCauley, Chapter 2, page 15; Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ state-parks/enchanted-rock/park_history; â&#x20AC;&#x153;My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbagâ&#x20AC;Śand Other Things You Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Ask Marthaâ&#x20AC;? by Jolie Kerr; Mother Jones Magazine: http://m.motherjones.com/ blue-marble/2014/03/science-saysbeer-marinade-could-prevent-cancer; Mason County Chamber of Commerce; and Daveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Garden: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/63234/#b.

Compiled by Christine Granados.

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23

PETRĂ&#x2020; & VITIS

The Hill Country Texas saved the French wine industry from total ruin in the late 19th century, when horticulturist Thomas Munson used Texas vines to create hybrid grape root stock that were immune UP UIF 1IZMMPYFSB FQJEFNJD UIBU QMBHVFE &VSPQF r It takes a Monarch butterfly five weeks to mature from an egg into a new adult. They lay their eggs on native milkweeds or antelope horns.

Herbert Hoover, elected in 1928, was the first American President with German ancestry (his familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last name was PSJHJOBMMZ )VCFS r The porcupine, which is found wild in the Texas Hill Country, cannot shoot its quills. The quills are barbed, but they would have to be shoved into a predator in order to penetrate. Once a quill penetrates, the warmth and moisture of the wound causes the microscopic scales in the quill to flare open slightly making them difficult to remove.

Schnapps is a fermented fruit brandy, which means it is a clear distilled spirit, much like lightly flavored vodka. Traditional German Schnaps (plural Schnäpse) contains no addition sugar, although American versions of this beverage are often sweetened.

As new immigrants occupied Texas in the late 1800â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wild turkey populations suffered; largely as a result of wholesale habitat destruction and indiscriminant hunting. Statewide wild turkey populations remained low into the mid 1900â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. In 1959

the estimated population was just 100,000. But better protection, maturing of habitat, and trap and transplant of birds in the wild supported by sportsmen resulted in restoration of the species in Texas.

Because the German language lacked many terms to describe the new environment and animals in the Hill Country, settlers combined German with an English words to get their point across: die Stinkkatz (polecat; skunk); die Kupferschlange (copperhead); der Katfisch (catfish) and die Erdeichkatze (ground squirrel).

Suck up a fresh (it has to be fresh) red wine stain by pouring table saltâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;no waterâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;right on the stain. Sodium is a good TUBJO LJMMFS r Researchers from Portugal and Spain found that marinating beef in dark beer can prevent cancer. The dark beer marinade reduces carcinogenic contamination by 53 percent and a Pilsner marinade reduced it by 13 percent.

Masonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Odeon Theater was built in 1928 and is West Texasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; longest running theater. It was here, in 1957, where the movie â&#x20AC;&#x153;Old Yellerâ&#x20AC;? premiered, written by Mason native Fred Gipson.

The wood from the Huizache tree has been used as firewood and posts and for tanning, dying, ink, glue and perfume. Native Americans treated diaper rash and saddle sores with dried and powdered acacia leaves.

Sources are on page 22.