Grayson Hills Winery
By: Dave and Kelli Potter
Sometimes the best things are right in your backyard. Here in Texas we have pretty big backyards. Okay, ours mine is not really that big, but there is a lot to see in Texas and like most Texans we think of Texas as our own backyard. We recently took a little road trip North by North East to Grayson County. We make our way through the back roads of northeast Texas to a small town called Whitewright, Texas located just between Sherman and McKinney to the East of Hwy 75. We started our day at a quaint location called Grayson Hills Winery.
This young and small winery packs a big punch - big things do come in small packages. Like many small wineries they choose not to make a bunch of different types of wines, but focus on a few wines that taste good. With some award winning wines under their belt, they are a very promising winery that in my opinion will soon run with the big dogs in Texas wine production.
On the wine list Grayson Hills offers 6 different wines for your tasting and, more importantly, their wines pretty much cover the spectrum of palate tastes. Our new friends Rick and Connie Magers, owners of Grayson Hills, have done an outstanding job and are making a great product. The facility is warm and VERY inviting, giving off tons of friendly Texas hospitality. While we were there, they made sure we felt welcomed and before we left we were feeling like part of their family.
On the menu we tried a sampling of their 6 wines. First up was the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a nice, dry red. On the palate you get pepper and a little spice with plum and cherry notes on the finish. It has a wonderful nose with blackberry and a big, forward fruit flavor on the tongue. This one should be worthy of medals in the near future.
The second wine we tried was the Barn Red. This is a semi-sweet red that finishes smooth and is the perfect accompaniment to a hot summer day, especially served chilled.
After a tour of the barrel and bottling room we had the pleasure to try Rick’s first effort at a red port wine. This wine, still in the barrel, will soon be a fabulous addition to his wine selection. Made with Tempranillo and Black Spanish grapes it is a perfect port, rich and luscious. We can hardly wait until he decides to call it done and bottle it for our drinking pleasure.
Finally we tried the Sogni D’Oro Moscato, otherwise known as a white port dessert wine. This wine is so wonderful, reminding us of Thanksgiving with its flavors of cream, pecan, hazelnut, and spices. It would pair well with a big slice of pecan pie (a la mode of course) and goes down so smooth and warm- yummy! Aged in French oak I can’t think of a better way to end our tour of this small but flavorful winery. Who knew you could have it this good in north Texas? I suggest you visit for yourself!
