New release alert: 2018 Estate Tannat

It's here! The first release of Estate Tannat from Lost Pirogue Vineyard has arrived. Owners Bruce and Jana Colgate impeccably farm a 3-acre vineyard in Center Point that includes an acre dedicated to Tannat. The other two varieties planted, Picpoul Blanc and Souzão, have already seen their first wine releases with Bending Branch.

Tannat is Bending Branch Winery's signature red grape variety, and we've been highly anticipating the release of this special estate wine that was crafted from Lost Pirogue Vineyard's hand-harvested grapes.

The 2018 Estate Tannat is an elegant expression of skillful grape growing and artful winemaking. With notes of smoky dark berries, cinnamon, and clove, this wine will pair beautifully with your favorite cut of steak.

Also available starting today is the new release 2020 Estate Picpoul Blanc, the third vintage of elegant Picpoul Blanc from Lost Pirogue. The 2020 Estate Picpoul was fermented and aged in barrel, broadening the palate and adding complexity. Floral aromas mingle with pear, grapefruit, and creamy apricot in this spring sipper.

If dining with friends, either of these wines are sure to spark conversations about excellent Texas wine. Cheers to you, and bravo to the Colgates and the Bending Branch winemaking team!

  

Beautiful Tannat clusters from Lost Pirogue Vineyard

WINNER! 2021 YourSA Readers’ Choice Awards

We are #1! We’re incredibly honored to be voted Best Winery again in the San Antonio Express-News YourSA Readers' Choice Awards.

Bending Branch Winery has been voted Best Winery by San Antonio Express-News readers for six years in a row: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021. (There was no competition in 2020.)

We want to thank our club members and loyal customers for making this possible. Your support is valuable to our success now more than ever.

Read: The best wineries just a drive from San Antonio

#YourSA21 #SanAntonio #SupportLocal #OpenLocalWine

2021 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

We are absolutely THRILLED to announce our results from the 2021 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition that took place in early March. There were over forty-eight judges, representing various North American wine regions, evaluating nearly 5,700 wines from over 1,000 wineries. The awards that Bending Branch Winery and Ursa Vineyards received are an amazing recognition of the hard work of our incredible winemaking teams and wonderful growers.

• DOUBLE GOLD 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Newsom Vineyards
• DOUBLE GOLD 2017 Tempranillo, Newsom Vineyards
• GOLD 2017 Tannat, Newsom Vineyards
• GOLD 2017 Petite Sirah, Newsom Vineyards
• GOLD 2018 Texas Tannat
• GOLD 2017 Old Vine Petite Sirah, Shell Creek Vineyards
• GOLD 2016 Charbono, Zentner Vineyard
• SILVER 2017 Malbec, Newsom Vineyards
• SILVER 2017 Tannat CM, Tallent Vineyards
• SILVER 2019 Estate Picpoul Blanc, Lost Pirogue Vineyard

Pictured: Greg Stokes, Deborah Elissagaray, Dr. Bob Young, Brenda Young, Alison Young

Two great wineries. One amazing team.

Our California brand, Ursa Vineyards, also had impressive results. Nestled in the pastoral foothills of Placerville, California, Ursa was founded in 2001 by husband-and-wife winemaking team, Greg Stokes and Deborah Elissagaray. A mutual interest in Tannat is what brought together Ursa and Bending Branch Winery, when Dr. Bob Young hired Greg as a consultant in 2007. Their professional relationship flourished, and when Bending Branch was founded in 2009, its first wines were made by Bob and Greg at Ursa. The Young family purchased Ursa in 2014, making Greg and Deborah a permanent part of the team. Ursa wines are featured at our tasting room in downtown Comfort, Ursa at Branch on High.

• DOUBLE GOLD 2017 Merlot, Sierra Foothills
• DOUBLE GOLD 2017 Petite Sirah, Sierra Foothills
• GOLD 2019 Tannat Rosé, Silvaspoons Vineyard
• SILVER 2016 Zinfandel, Sierra Foothills
• SILVER 2018 Mencía, Silvaspoons Vineyard*
• SILVER 2017 Syrah-Sirah, Sierra Foothills*
• SILVER 2017 Tannat, Ferrel Ranch*

* Not yet released.

Virtual Happy Hour

Join the Bending Branch and Ursa teams for a special Drinking Double Gold happy hour on Zoom this Friday, March 19th. Winemaker Greg Stokes will join us to talk about all of these stellar wines. Find the event details and Zoom link on our event page.

1840 Blending Experience Winner Announcement

Join the Bending Branch team on Facebook Live as we announce the winners of the 1840 Blending Experience! Grab your favorite bottle of Bending Branch and join us at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 6th.

There are a total of 51 entries that will go through a first round of judging over two days the first week of March.
Owner Dr. Bob Young and General Manager Jennifer McInnis will evaluate the top 8 blends live and announce the winners.

Winning teams will be treated to a special wine dinner at Bending Branch Winery on Saturday, May 22nd, catered by our friends at The Bread Box.

Was your blend the winner? We can’t wait to find out!

Follow the event on Facebook.
 

2021 YourSA Readers’ Choice Awards

We've made it to the voting round of the 2021 YourSA San Antonio Express-News Readers’ Choice Awards.

Thanks to our loyal fans, Bending Branch has been voted Best Winery for the last five years: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019. (There was no competition in 2020.)

Let's make it six years in a row!

Please take a moment to vote Bending Branch for Best Winery.

Vote here: http://bit.ly/VoteForBBW

You can vote once per day through March 5th. Thank you for your continued support!

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Important Service Updates

“Weather permitting.” It’s the headline of the week!

Our hearts go out to all who have been contending with consequences of the storm, and to all the hardy souls who have been working diligently to keep us safe through the arctic blast. Some of our Bending Branch team have had challenges, too, but we’re keeping tabs on everyone.

Here is our plan, weather permitting. The tasting rooms at Bending Branch Estate and Ursa at Branch on High are scheduled to open again at noon on Saturday. In the meantime, contact us at club@bendingbranchwinery.com if you need to get in touch. There is no one on site to answer the phone since many of us are working from home with sketchy power and internet. We’ll answer your email as soon as we are able.

Until then, here is news you can use about this weekend’s wine club Drive-Thru Pick-Up Party. All club members with Saturday reservations have been rescheduled to Sunday, at any time between noon and 5 p.m. You do not need to change your reservation, just show up on Sunday between noon and 5 p.m.

We will miss you if you cannot attend on Sunday. You may cancel your reservation through Tock. See more drive-thru party details and the Tock link HERE.

Although we won’t be hosting the Drive-Thru Pick-Up Party on Saturday, the tasting room at Bending Branch Estate will be open from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday the 20th, for wine club pick-up and curbside service only. You do not need a reservation to pick up your wine and chocolate.

We will not be at the Pearl Farmers Market on Saturday the 20th, but we plan to be at our usual location on Sunday, February 21st, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

We hope to see you as the weather becomes more cooperative, and we apologize for the change in plans. Once again, please contact us at club@bendingbranchwinery.com if you need assistance.

Looking for a creative Valentine’s Day gift?

Book a live virtual wine and chocolate tasting on Valentine’s Day, and enjoy premium wine and chocolates from the comfort of your home. Not just for sweethearts, this experience works for long-distance family members, friends looking for a Galentine’s Day excursion, singles looking for a group event, and more.

What’s included?

3 bottles of wine

Enjoy three premium bottles of Ursa Vineyards wines – 2018 Grenache (750 ml), 2017 Petite Sirah (750 ml), and 2015 Souzão Port-style wine (375 ml). The Port-style Souzão was just released and is a dessert wine aged in bourbon barrels.

8 chocolate truffles infused with wine

Local confectioner Sweet Comfort infused dark chocolate with wines from Ursa Vineyards. Includes 2 Grenache-infused truffles, 2 Petite Sirah-infused truffles, and 4 Souzão-infused truffles.

Guided virtual tasting on Zoom

Our wine professionals will lead the group of participants through tasting each wine and pairing the wines with the specially curated box of chocolates. The Zoom link and instructions will be emailed to participants prior to the tasting event.

Two times available: 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 14th

Package is $125. Gold Rush Club pricing applies ($100). All package orders are eligible for $10 promotional shipping. Choose your time and purchase HERE.

Valentine’s Day is almost here! If your package needs to be shipped, timing is getting tight. If ordering to ship to a Texas location, we recommend submitting by 10 a.m. on February 10th. If ordering to ship to another state, please contact us at club@ursavineyards.com to verify shipping time.

You can also pick up your package from Ursa at Branch on High, located in historic downtown Comfort. In fact, if you prefer to wait until the last minute, Ursa at Branch on High will be open until 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 13th. Cheers!

2017 Estate Souzão, Lost Pirogue Vineyard

Bending Branch pioneered Souzão in Texas by planting the first acre of this grape variety at Bending Branch Estate Vineyards in Comfort. The 2014 vintage of Estate Souzão had an impressive review by Elin McCoy of Bloomberg when she rated it one of the best wines she tasted in 2017, and called it her “most surprising wine of the year.” Read the full story here.

Fast forward to our exciting new release of the 2017 vintage, exclusively for Bending Branch wine club members. The 2017 Estate Souzão from Lost Pirogue Vineyard reflects both an exceptional vintage in Texas, and the passionate care of growers Bruce and Jana Colgate. Vineyard designated wines, especially from an estate vineyard like Lost Pirogue, are singled out for label recognition because they are notably different from other wines.

Lost Pirogue Vineyard in Center Point is about 8 miles from Bending Branch Winery. Bending Branch has a long-term estate vineyard agreement with Lost Pirogue, and we maintain managerial control by providing the services of Westover Consulting. Bending Branch and Lost Pirogue Vineyard collaborate to execute the vineyard plan and strategies outlined by the vineyard consultant. Both the winery and the vineyard are located in the Texas Hill Country AVA, and Bending Branch performs all aspects of the wine’s production on its premises.

Bruce and Jana Colgate are not only grape growers and owners of Lost Pirogue Vineyard; they are great friends of Bending Branch owners Dr. Bob and Brenda Young, and longtime members of the 1840 Founders Club. They also volunteer at various Bending Branch events, and they hosted an event at their home in 2019 when we released the 2018 Picpoul Blanc harvested from Lost Pirogue.

At Lost Pirogue Vineyard, the combination of soils, weather, and terrain, the appropriateness of the grape variety for the particular site, and the dedication of skilled growers come together to produce fruit of great character. The results merit the vineyard name on the label.

We are delighted with this exceptional new release. Only 48 cases of 2017 Estate Souzão were produced, so get yours before it is gone! All Bending Branch wine club members may add one bottle to their February 2021 club release, if desired. 1840 Case Club members may add up to 6 bottles.

Price is $85 per bottle. Club members can call the tasting room at 830-995-2948 to purchase. Cheers!

Souzão on the vine on harvest day - August 9, 2017

Thank you

2020 was a year like no other. It was complicated and demanding, and it forced us to be innovative throughout the year – sometimes from one hour to the next. It was exhausting and rewarding all at once, and we are stronger because of it.

We could not have done it without you. The support from our wine club members and extended Bending Branch family and fans sustained us through the last year. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.

Thank you for stocking up on Bending Branch and Ursa wines. Thank you for sending wine to your friends and families. Thank you for referring friends. Thank you for hosting corporate team-building virtual tastings. Thank you for attending our Friday happy hours on Zoom. Thank you for picking up curbside or at Pearl Farmers Market. Thank you for participating in drive-thru pickup parties. Thank you for visiting and supporting our new reservation experiences. Thank you for supporting local businesses. Thank you for making this journey with us.

It is a new year, and we are most proud that we survived the challenges of last year with our team intact. And what an amazing team we have.

We are optimistic, excited even, about 2021. There is light at the end of the tunnel as vaccines begin to roll out. We are eager to introduce new vintages and new wines, like our 2018 Estate Souzão, and we are hopeful to see many of you in person as the year progresses.

We look forward to raising a glass with you soon. Stay safe and healthy!

Jennifer McInnis Fadel, General Manager

Bob, Brenda, and Alison Young

And the entire team at Bending Branch Winery

 

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.