September Club Release - Sneak Peek Part 2

In addition to the new wine releases featuring Camp Lucy Vineyard, there are several other exciting wines included in the September club releases.

In the 1840 Red Club and 1840 Custom Case Club, you will find Bending Branch’s first release of Alicante Bouschet. This is a 2020 vintage from Newsom Vineyards, and it is very small production with only 91 cases bottled. This wine fits right in with Bending Branch’s bold style. Alicante Bouschet is a teinturier grape variety, meaning both its skin and flesh are red. Many grape varieties with dark skins accumulate anthocyanin pigments in the skin and not the flesh, but the teinturier grape varieties develop the pigments in both. You won’t want to miss this rich, luscious wine. A very limited quantity will also be available at the Paella Picnic.

Another grape with red skin and red flesh is Souzão. This grape variety originated in Portugal, and Dr. Bob Young pioneered the grape variety in Texas. The first planting was at the Bending Branch Estate Vineyard. The 2020 Estate Souzão from Lost Pirogue Vineyard in Center Point, Texas, is newly released to every club member in the September packages.

From the same vineyard, which under new ownership is now named Camledge Vineyard, comes the 2023 Estate Picpoul Blanc. In French, Picpoul literally translates to “lip stinger.” Picpoul Blanc’s high acidity makes a very crisp, food-friendly wine. This elegant Hill Country Picpoul Blanc is polished and balanced with a clean, layered finish. Floral aromas mingle with flavors of pear, Granny Smith apple, lemon zest, pineapple, and green melon. It is included in the Branch Mixed, 1840 Mixed, and 1840 Custom Case Clubs.

And finally, a wine club member favorite is Charbono from the Sierra Foothills of California. When Bending Branch first started and access to Texas grapes was limited, Dr. Bob would travel to California to make wine with Greg Stokes at Ursa Vineyards. The wine was made in California and then transported to Texas in barrels for final aging and bottling. Winemaker Greg Stokes continues the tradition with a few fan favorite wines, including Charbono. The 2020 vintage continues its legacy of quality and boasts rich black cherry with a hint of thyme. The 2020 Charbono is included in the 1840 Club packages. Charbono is another grape variety that Dr. Bob has pioneered in Texas, and Bending Branch’s first productive harvest came from Tallent Vineyards in Mason County last year.

Not only are new releases in the clubs, but there are great selections like 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2019 Petite Sirah from Newsom Vineyards that are included. You can see the full club list HERE.

Members will be able to taste many of these wines at the upcoming Paella Picnic. For details about the event, please check your emails. If you are not a member and want to join, we welcome you to do so online or by talking to a Bending Branch team member at the tasting room.

September Club Release - Sneak Peek

It’s almost club release time! The Bending Branch team has been looking forward to the September club release for many reasons. One of the biggest reasons being that there are some great new wine releases in the packages.

I want to share information about three of the new wines since there is also a great opportunity in a couple of weeks to learn about the vineyard where the grapes were grown.

We’re excited to share that each club package will contain a bottle of 2020 Lucy’s Reserve red wine blend from Camp Lucy Vineyard. Bright and fruit-forward, the 2020 Lucy’s Reserve is a blend of Mourvèdre, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. Notes of blackberry, rich raspberry, toasted pecan, and cranberry accent this wine’s lingering finish. It is very food friendly and can be paired with a wide variety of dishes, including spaghetti with meatballs, smoked pork loin, eggplant parmigiana, meat lovers’ pizza, chicken nachos, and more.

The 1840 Mixed Club also includes the 2020 Petit Verdot from Camp Lucy Vineyard. Petit Verdot has been shining in Texas, and this Hill Country Petit Verdot is no exception. The 2020 vintage is the first single-variety release of Petit Verdot from Camp Lucy, and the wine has great scents of rhubarb, violet, vanilla, and dried lavender. On the palate, you will find sage, blackberry, and marionberry jam. It’s an ideal pairing with coffee-crusted braised lamb or skirt steak grilled flatbread.

The 2020 Malbec from Camp Lucy Vineyard can be found in the 1840 Red package and it is also a selection for the 1840 Case Club package. Since 2018, Bending Branch has produced single-variety Malbec from Camp Lucy. Aromas of plum and tobacco open up to dark cherry, dried strawberry, sour cherry, watermelon, raspberry and cocoa on the palate. This wine will be a delightful complement to braised duck breast in a creamy mushroom sauce.

Since 2017, Bending Branch has worked with Camp Lucy to make wines from their extraordinary vineyard. The label design showcases an artist’s rendition of Ian’s Chapel at Camp Lucy. Ian’s Chapel is where many celebrations take place, and it is just one of the remarkable facilities at the beautiful Hill Country resort. 

Camp Lucy Vineyard Manager Robin Reeves expertly maintains five acres of vineyard planted with four grape varieties. You can learn more about the Camp Lucy Vineyard from Robin at a unique wine experience at Camp Lucy on September 12. Robin will lead an on-site vineyard tour where he will share insights about grape growing and working with Malbec, Mourvèdre, Montepulciano, and Petit Verdot. The evening will include a wine tasting and dinner amidst the vines. I’m looking forward to attending this event and sharing information with guests about how the wines were made and more. It will be a special evening to enjoy wine in the vineyard where the wine’s grapes were grown as part of an exceptional dinner. TICKETS

If you want to enhance your time in Dripping Springs, you can further immerse yourself in the Camp Lucy experience by staying the night at the beautiful Camp Lucy resort. Guests of the dinner may enjoy exclusive lodging rates by using the discount code “FLASH.”

 

Reserve now! 1840 Blending Experience

One of the year’s most highly anticipated weekends is now a whole month long!

The 1840 Club Blending Party is now the Blending Experience, and it’s available to all 1840 and 1840 Custom Case Club members by reservation from January 2 through January 31, 2021.  It’s easy and fun.

• Assemble a team of 2 to 8 1840 club members. 
• Choose your preferred date. Reservations are for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Email club@bendingbranchwinery.com or call the estate tasting room at 830-995-2948 to confirm availability and reserve your table (or 2 tables if your team is larger than 6 people, per Governor Abbott’s Executive Order).
• When you arrive at Bending Branch for your reservation, you’ll be provided with samples from the barrel of four wines, and the necessary measuring tools. When you’ve mastered the perfect blend, submit your official entry form to the manager on duty.  (You will not submit a sample of the wine.)

Don’t wait until the end of the month - reservations are limited! And remember, COVID-19 mitigation measures are in effect, so all seating is outdoors, by reservation only. Read our Service Advisory.  

The Bending Branch winemaking team will recreate all submissions in February, when owner and winemaker Dr. Bob Young, and General Manager Jennifer McInnis will judge the entries. Winners will be announced at a virtual live celebration on Zoom at 4 p.m., Saturday, March 6. Winning teams will enjoy a creative Winner Dinner experience, to be determined at a later date depending on pandemic protocols.

Blending Experience FAQs

May I enter the competition by myself, or must I have a team?

A team must be from 2 to 8 members.

May I have more than 8 people on my team?

Eight is the maximum team size.

Can a team include non-member guests?

All Blending Experience participants must be 1840 Club or 1840 Custom Case Club members. No exceptions. A non-member can join the club today for a minimum of one year membership and participate.

May I be a member of more than one team?

Each club member may only participate once, on a single team.

May we have the Blending Experience at the members lounge?

Yes, the Blending Experience is available by reservation at both the estate tasting room and the members lounge.

What if there are no reservations available when I can attend?

Plan ahead! Reservations are limited and end on January 31, 2021.

What if I cannot come to the winery during the month of January? Can you ship the wines to me?

All blending entries must be done in person, by reservation, at Bending Branch Winery. No exceptions. 

Is there a charge for the Blending Experience?

The Blending Experience is complimentary for 1840 Club members and 1840 Custom Case Club members. The Blending Experience is the member’s complimentary tasting/glass for this visit.

Do I have to be present at the virtual live celebration to win?

Entries will be judged in a blind tasting, and winners need not be present to win. But you won’t want to miss the celebration 4 P.M., Saturday, March 6, 2021, on Zoom.