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We work with quality-focused grape growers across the state to get the best fruit, grown with respect for the land
Lewis Estate Vineyards
5 Lions Vineyard - Texas Hill Country AVA
In Spring of 2014 we planted our estate vineyard with Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cão, Alicanté Bouschet, Tannat and Arinto.
Doug worked with Touriga and Tinto Cão while at Pedernales Cellars Estate vineyard, and quickly realized their potential for quality and the suitability to Hill Country terroir and climate. When Doug and Duncan started helping the Strickler's farm Round Mountain Vineyard in 2011, Touriga and Tinto Cão were already established and performing well.
After tasting Tannat wines from Tablas Creek in Paso Robles back in 2009, our interest in this obscure variety began to grow. Tannat is a Basque variety, grown in southwestern France and in Uruguay. Tannat has thick skins, lots of tannin, and high natural acidity making it ideal for Texas' rough growing conditions. Our grower, Jim Johnson from Tio Pancho Vineyards, and our friend Allan Fetty from Westcave Cellars, were the first two people to plant Tannat in the Hill Country, and the fruit from both vineyards have been very promising.
Alicanté Bouschet is a cross of Petit Bouschet and Grenache, and grown all over the wine world. It is an important variety in southern Portugal, most notably in Alentejo, and has thick skins and red-flesh, resulting in very dark colored wines, that are really useful for blending.
Arinto is a white grape grown all over Portugal, and maybe most well known from an area called Bucelas. Known for retaining high natural acidity, even in the hottest growing conditions prompted us to explore this little know variety.
Our philosophy is that great wines are made in the vineyard. We focus on quality farming with sustainable methods in our own vineyards and work with growers who are focused on the same goals.
In 2016 we pulled just enough fruit to produce the small-lot 2016 Estate Rosé. 2017 and 2018 were very different but both good vintages. 2019 was very tough, with too much rain and a severe hail storm in July forcing us to drop most of the fruit. 2020 was arguably our best vintage yet. 2021 was our worst vintage yet, with 38”of rain from May 1st-August 15th.
Texas Hill Country AVA
The largest viticultural area in the state and the second largest in the United States, comprised of 58 different soil associations distributed over an area of approximately 9 million acres. This area sits on the Edwards plateau with many hills and steep canyons. The elevation ranges from 425 to 2,400 feet with the areas of lowest elevation in the south and north east end of the region. The major soil texture types in the hill country AVA include clay loam, clay, and sandy clay loam. (Texas A & M)
High Plains AVA
The Texas High Plains is the second largest AVA in Texas and third largest in the U.S. with a total area of approximately 8 million acres. It rises above the Caprock Escarpment to an elevation between 3,000 to 4,000 feet, in west Texas. The lofty elevation combined with low annual precipitation creates a favorable climate with relatively cool night temperatures during fruit ripening. (Texas A & M)
