4 minute read
CULTURE
Mandy Hernandez and daughter Grace stay busy keeping customers happy in the Wine Tasting Room and definitely enjoy meeting people from the Orange area and beyond. Van Wade/Orange Leader
FREE STATE CELLARS
A GREAT PLACE TO KICK BACK TO SIP WITH A GREAT VIEW By Van Wade
IIf Orange County folks want to kick back and relax in a calm atmosphere and sip a little wine then Free State Cellars is a very warm and comforting place to go. Free State Cellars is open where the former Piney Woods Winery was on Tejas Drive, just off of Interstate 10 in Orange. The Swope family, of Orange, is running Free State Cellars so people can have a wonderful family experience to relax and enjoy some wine and amazing scenery. The winery is open on Thursdays from 1 p.m.- 7 p.m., Fridays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Their wines are sold by the bottle or the glass. Free State also offers sangrias that chills the wine into adult-like slushees. The Piney Woods Winery was cranked up in 1985 by Alfred Flies, who planted acres of vines and made wonderful fruit wines. Flies
passed away in 2015 at 92 and his family did not want to continue the winery. That is when the Swope family decided to invest in starting their own winery. They became open to the public in early May and have attracted some nice crowds as people are becoming aware of how beautiful and tranquil the setting is, along with – of course – the great tasting wine. You can elevate your visit by reserving a Freer State Encounter in the beautiful outdoor area. Each Encounter offers a different sensory immersion to ensure that the visit is unforgettable. Delectable wines and a love of the land – Free State celebrates those passions in their Tasting Room. Wine fans can explore so many multiple wine selections enjoying playful flavors from the Free State Kitchens, kicking back with an expresso, or strolling the banks of the Adams Bayou.
Mandy Hernandez loves the array of different wines that Free State Cellars offers. Van Wade/Orange Leader
There is such a diverse collections of wines, ranging from crisp whites, bold reds, and rich chocolates, to bright muscadines and a handful of colorful fruit wines. All of the wines can be enjoyed by the glass in the Tasting Room, on the outdoor patios, or strolling through the vineyards and bayou. Here is a list of the wines that are available: TEXAS SELECT HEIRLOOM Viognier; Muscat Canelli; Riesling; Moscato; Ruby Cabernet; Rio Dulce; Tempranillo; and Proprietor’s Reserve Zinfandel. HEIRLOOM MUSCADINE Contrabandf Road; Devil’s Playground; Eighteen-Oh-Six; El Camino Real; Marauding Mystic; No Man’s Land; Reverend Devil; Rio Sabinas; Sweet Lafitte; and Thirteen Years. The Swope family – which includes Mandy Hernandez, Mike Swope, Dana Swope. Laura McHugh, Stephanie Bingham and Nick Swope
have soaked in the local history in helping them name the winery. Shortly after the Louisiana Purchase in the early 1800s, the eastern border between Texas and Spain was in dispute. The neutral ground became to be known as “No Man’s Land,” and it was between the Sabine River and Calcasieu River. The area on the west side of the Sabine, which later became Orange County, was a place where outlaws hid. Jean Lafitte, a famous pirate, ran ships up Sabine Lake and the Sabine River. The moss-draped swamps on the TexasLouisiana border sheltered the 40-mile stretch of “No Man’s Land”, which was also known as the Free State of the Sabine. Treasures were buried and legends were forged and eventually the independence of the Texas nation was born. For more information about what is happening at Free State Cellars or to check about bringing large parties or special requests, call (409) 221-7232 or email info@freestatecellars.com.
