Rancho Ponte Vineyard

I'll just get to the point right now: I'm in LOVE with this winery! From the large barn-like exterior and the sizable polished western tasting room, to the friendly & interesting staff, and of course, the vino,this is a destination not to be missed. You can find it along the Wine Road 290 at 315 RR 1376 in Fredericksburg. The winery has been open a few weeks, and you want to be sure to stop by, as their delectable vintages can only be bought on-site.

You can taste 5 wines for $8 & you get to keep your glass. I was impressed by all that I tried, but two really stood out for me: Their signature 2006 Triple MBlend (Merlot, Mourvedre, Muscat Canelli) and the 2006 Max's Merlot (named after their son). The Triple MBlend offered a light Merlot where the Muscat, though not overbearing, was readily recognizable. I am not partial to dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet, or sweet, because for my tastes, there's a time and a place and a mood for any varietal. However, I appreciate a wine that can offer that unique blend of flavors, & the Triple MBlend delivers.

The Merlot was impressive enough I bought a bottle ($19.95). We both found it to be somewhat complex for a Merlot, slightly sweet, well-balanced, not overly acidic, and with a hint of sweet Texas pastureland (though I wouldn't say barnyard).

One of the characteristics of a good winery experience that will leave a lasting impression for us is the staff. As we travel throughout the state, we want to find interesting folks (quirky is great too!) who will complete the day's journey. And, as with their wines, we found memorable folks at Rancho Ponte Vineyard, particularly Roger. Through him, we learned interesting anecdotes about the Texas wine industry. Roger also grows his own grapes, and his wife has written five cookbooks (check out her beautiful website for some scrumptious recipes:

http://www.thetexasfoodandwinegourmet.com/index.asp

By the way, after visiting two wineries, we decided some java & a snack, preferably a pastry, were in order (not hard to find in Fredericksburg. Fortunately for us, we happened upon Rather Sweet Bakery, where we encountered the most mouth-watering raspberry scone & excellent cup(s) of coffee. Not only would we return to Rancho Ponte Vineyard, we'll make sure to stop by this sweet little sweetshop as well:

www.rathersweet.com