Harvest is here!

Bending Branch’s first grapes of the 2024 season were hand-harvested on July 12. Malbec from Cherokee Rose Vineyard was harvested with a destiny of becoming sparkling rosé. This will be Bending Branch’s first sparkling rosé of Malbec, and it will be sparkled in the traditional method.

Farmed by the Durden family, Cherokee Rose Vineyard is a single-variety vineyard located in Comfort, Texas, just nine miles away from Bending Branch Winery. Since 2017, Bending Branch has made Malbec from Cherokee Rose’s 4.2-acre vineyard. The red wine has been a club member favorite, especially when it has been bottled under the reserve label.

When the Malbec ripens further, the rest of the vineyard’s grapes will be harvested for red wine. If you’re interested in joining for harvest activities this year, be on the lookout for emails from Bending Branch. There will be a few opportunities at vineyards local to the winery.

Thank you to the Bending Branch pickers!

Jul 12, 2024 at 2:38 PM Permalink

Harvest 2019 Update

Harvest 2019 is underway at Bending Branch Winery. We have received all of our grapes from the Hill Country, and now Texas High Plains fruit is starting to arrive by the ton.

Recent update from owner Dr. Robert W. Young: “Bending Branch Winery has harvested most of its grapes from the Texas Hill Country AVA, and central Texas. We received outstanding Tannat and Picpoul Blanc from Lost Pirogue Vineyards in Center Point, about eight miles from Bending Branch Winery. The fruit flavors and chemistries of both varietals were amazing.”

“Thus far, all the fruit has been high quality with yields varying by vineyard, but mostly increased from last year. We have also processed Malbec, Tempranillo, Barbera, Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Montepulciano, and Grenache for the red varietals, and Viognier and Pinot Grigio for whites. Bending Branch Winery is expecting grapes from the Texas High Plains vineyards by end of August.”

Click here for Texas Wine Lover's harvest update from the wineries in the Texas Fine Wine group.

Aug 30, 2019 at 8:29 AM Permalink

Bud break in the Texas Hill Country

Lost Pirogue Vineyard in Center Point is awakening after last year’s very wet autumn, and a winter that was colder and drier than typical. Still, bud break this year was right on schedule, only a day later than in 2018. The Picpoul Blanc vines pictured here had just begun to bud out when the vineyard experienced an early March cold-snap. Some early buds may have been nipped, but many more are pushing out as the days get sunnier. Flowering is next, followed by green leaves in a couple of weeks – or sooner if the vineyard gets significant rain. Bring on harvest 2019!

Mar 27, 2019 at 12:00 PM Permalink