Local wine delivery available

We are missing you. Typically, we see so many of you regularly to exchange hugs and stay up to date on what you’re up to. We are cooking up some ways to stay in touch virtually until we can all squeeze each other tight again. Please continue to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and read our blog, as we are frequently updating.

Members of our tasting room team are available to deliver orders of $100 or more to Comfort, Center Point, Boerne, Fair Oaks, and Kerrville.

Call the tasting room to place an order — 830-995-2948. We will schedule a delivery time, process the order, and add a 20% gratuity that will go to the team members fulfilling and delivering the orders. 

You will recieve a call when one person from our team arrives to let you know we are delivering to your porch. The team member will return to their vehicle and wait to visibly confirm receipt — laws are laws and wine is alcohol. We’ll mark the order as picked up.

No touch is necessary — only a wave to say howdy and virtual hugs for now.

Thank you for supporting Bending Branch Winery during this stressful time.

Sincerely,
Jennifer McInnis Fadel
General Manager

VIDEO: Important April wine club update

Dear Bending Branch Winery Club Members,

For efficiency and safety for all concerned, we will cover the cost of shipping for the entire April wine release to all members. Even if you typically pick up your club, we will ship it. Even if you live in Comfort – we will ship it.

It is absolutely imperative that you log in to your account to make sure we have your correct shipping address. All wine selections, address changes, and credit card updates must be completed by March 26th. If you normally ship to a business address, please make sure we should still ship to that address. We want you to get your wine!

***The deadline to make changes is March 26th.***

UPDATE FROM UPS:

Many people are asking the same question: is it safe to receive and handle a shipment?

The WHO and CDC have stated that the likelihood of catching the COVID-19 virus by touching cardboard or other another shipping container is low. CLICK FOR MORE DETAILS FROM UPS
 

FAQs

When will my credit card be charged?
Credit cards will still be processed on Saturday, March 28th.

When will I get my wine?
Your April wines will be shipped from our fulfillment center on March 31st. As always, an adult must be present to sign for the package.

What else do I need to know?
The April 5th release party has been cancelled, and we have updated our tasting room hours and service. Until further notice, Bending Branch Winery estate tasting room will be closed for tastings. However, we will be open for curbside service from noon to 5 p.m. March 19-22 for call-ahead and online orders.

Email club@bendingbranchwinery.com you have additional questions that are not addressed here or in the email you received.

Please check your email for more details and continue to monitor our Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as the Bending Branch blog on our website for our most current information.

Enjoy the wines in your April release in good health, knowing that we will be together again as soon as we can.

Jennifer McInnis Fadel
General Manager

Updated tasting room hours and services

The health and wellbeing of our family, employees, and customers are paramount. As of this week, these are the updated measures we are taking:

• Both Bending Branch Winery and Ursa at Branch on High tasting rooms are closed to the public.
• Curbside pickup/delivery with limited contact will be available at both locations, noon to 5 p.m., Thursday-Sunday. Watch the videos for more details. 
• There will be minimal staff in the tasting room to maintain a safe social distance.
• Office personnel is working from home and holding daily videoconference meetings.
• Production will continue with additional safety measures.
• Daily staff briefings have been held, and we have expressed that any staff member who is uncomfortable working will not be required to work.
• No one is allowed on the property if they are experiencing symptoms or have come into contact, or even potentially come into contact, with someone who has contracted COVID-19 coronavirus.
• The April Wine Club release for Bending Branch Winery will be 100% shipped with no cost for shipping to the members. An email was sent to members on March 17. There is a forthcoming video and separate blog entry with more details.

We are so thankful to our incredible team, who has been working every day – even on their days off – to ensure we are doing everything we can to help #flattenthecurve and #slowthespread to buy our local medical facilities the time that they need to prepare as best as possible for what’s to come.

Owner and Winemaker Dr. Bob Young’s history of experience in public health medicine and epidemiology during his time a physician is an incredible resource in guiding us. Our management team also consists of our General Manager, Jennifer McInnis Fadel, who has a more than a decade of experience in multimedia and breaking news; and our Direct to Consumer Manager, Jennifer Cernosek, who oversaw the wellbeing of children and staff at a summer sleepaway camp for about seven years. There is a depth of knowledge within the rest of our versatile team. With them and our partnership with Dayna De Hoyos, Stellahaus Film, we plan to continue updating you through our blog, videos, and social media to continue to maintain the incredible sense of community that makes Bending Branch Winery special. Stay tuned for some innovative experiences we are planning.

 

 

Curbside pickup available at both locations

Curbside pickup is available at Bending Branch Winery and Ursa at Branch on High.

UPDATED PROTOCAL: Out of concern for staff and customers, wine will be delivered curbside from a safe distance rather than placing in vehicles. 

Bending Branch Winery

Customers can order online and select "Pickup" as shown below. 

Call-ahead orders can be placed as well at 830-995-2948.

Ursa at Branch on High

We are offering a call-ahead order option. Please call 830-995-3394 to place your order. 

When you arrive

Once you've placed an order, simply call us when you're nearby. Someone from our team will bring the wine out to your vehicle. 

 

Commitment to COVID-19 precautionary measures

Dear friends of Bending Branch Winery, 

Many of you have supported us for years. So, you understand the priorities that Owner and Winemaker Dr. Bob Young places on medicine, health, and community.

As we face the COVID-19 coronavirus national emergency, we have taken precautions to safeguard our team, our customers, and our Comfort-area community. We want to share some of the proactive measures we have put in place this week. 

If you are planning to visit, you will see heightened sanitation measures, social distancing, and service on our open-air patios and deck. Additionally, we are offering call-ahead orders that will be available for curbside pick up. The tasting room number is 830-995-2948.

Bending Branch Winery estate will be open regular business hours this weekend. The Members Lounge will be closed so that our team can concentrate on these measures. 

The Pearl Farmers Market has been canceled through March 22. Bending Branch has also canceled all tours and events in March and April. 

We will reevaluate additional precautions in the coming days and weeks. Please follow our social media and check our blog for updates. 

MORE DETAILS

Visitation

• Bending Branch Winery estate tasting room will be open normal operating hours and the Members Lounge will be closed this weekend, March 12-15, 2020.  
• All service will be outside in the open air at the estate tasting room patio and deck. 
• The tasting room will be open only for order pick up, the restroom, and for food and merchandise. 
• The doors will remain open to provide ventilation.

Service

• Wine tastings will be served as a flight in disposable sample cups on a platter.  A logo glass will be provided for the guest to pour samples into. Logoed wine glasses will be used for service by-the-bottle and by-the-glass.
• We will have a glass return station, and ask guests to return their glasses to the station when they are finished.  We will wear sanitary latex gloves when handling used glassware and dishes.
• When glasses come out of the dishwasher, they will be air-dried.  We are suspending polishing glasses.

Cleaning schedule

• A sanitation routine has been established and a rotating schedule of staff members assigned by the tasting room manager will execute wiping surfaces, doorknobs, cleaning restrooms, washing glasses, etc.

Social distancing

• We will offer call-ahead curbside service to guests who wish to remain in their cars for purchases and wine club pick-ups.
• Guests can also call when they arrive for vehicle delivery at the circle drive.
• Tables will be spread out to maintain distance between parties. 
• We are suspending all tours until further notice, at least through April. 
• We have met with our team to meet their needs and address their concerns for themselves and their families. 

Pearl Farmers Market
Pearl Farmers Market has been canceled through March 22 based on San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s recommendation to limit large gatherings to no more than 500 people, effective Friday. The city also is asking that all events with more than 250 people be canceled. 

Events 
April 5: BBW Wine Club Release will not be a traditional pick up party. We are working on more details and will provide updates. 
April 11: Easter Egg Hunt has been canceled and refunds have been issued.
April 16: The Bordeaux River Cruise has been canceled by Ama Waterways.
April 25: King William Fair has been postponed. As of now, Fiesta has been moved to November 5-15. 

Thanks you for your support and understanding.

Sincerely,
Jennifer McInnis Fadel
General Manager
Bending Branch Winery
 

Need bubbles for Valentine’s Day?

Perfect for a romantic evening with your sweetheart ...

We recently released Bending Branch Brut, and our fans are raving about it. Dry, with brilliant acidity and creamy mousse, this spectacular sparkling wine exhibits flavors of crisp Golden Delicious apple, Meyer lemon zest, and toasted brioche.

What is Méthode Champenoise?

It is a time-honored French method of making sparkling wine in which it undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle. This laborious, artisanal method results in the highest caliber of sparkling wines.

Available now in the estate tasting room, Ursa at Branch on High, and online. $36/bottle

Click here to purchase Bending Branch Brut.

 

Bending Branch Winery wins first-ever Texas sustainable winegrowing competition

Left: Winemaker Greg Stokes; Center: Laura & Drew Tallent, Dr. Bob Young, Kathryn Cook, Tallent Vineyard Manager; Right: Tannat from Tallent Vineyards, Mason TX

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo and Botanical Research Institute of Texas recently announced the winners from the 2020 FWSSR / BRIT™ Texas Sustainable Winegrowing Competition. Top honors were awarded to Bending Branch Winery in Comfort, Texas, in combination with Tallent Vineyards of Mason, Texas. Nice Winery in Houston, Texas won the Grand Reserve Champion award in combination with Alta Mira Vineyards of Anderson, Texas.

The top winning wineries were awarded for their sustainable practices in the vineyard and other areas of operation in addition to the wines they submitted to a blind tasting. - Bending Branch 2018 Tannat Rosé, Texas Hill Country

The inaugural wine competition of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo established a unique approach to a Texas wine competition by recognizing both the winery/winemaker and grape grower. Working with BRIT, wineries entered the competition by submitting written applications highlighting their sustainable practices, alongside their Texas wines for evaluation.

Subscribing to sustainable practices in a Texas vineyard presents many challenges. Nonetheless, Texas wineries embrace the quality results of sustainable practices and continue improving their programs. Applicants outlined their efforts boosting sustainability across five areas: vineyard management, winemaking, employee practices, customer service and social responsibility.

Texas wines submitted by applicants were judged by a panel of experienced wine professionals. The entries represented 12 different grape varieties plus wines blended from multiple grapes. The wide range of grape varieties demonstrates the diversity of Texas vineyards.

“Recognizing the collaborative efforts of grape growers and winemakers spurs innovation,” said Stock Show President and General Manager Brad Barnes. “The sustainability effort benefits our environment and consumers get to enjoy award-winning Texas wines. We’re excited to play a role in the future of this growing industry.”

BRITS’s President and Executive Director Dr. Ed Schneider echoed the excitement. “This is a first for Texas wine competitions and we are most pleased with the results,” said Dr. Schneider. “Texas wine organizations are as passionate about their sustainable practices as they are about making great bottles of Texas wine.”

The 2020 FWSSR / BRIT™ Texas Sustainable Winegrowing Competition winners included:

• Grand Champion – Bending Branch Winery / Tallent Vineyards

• Reserve Grand Champion – Nice Winery / Alta Mira Vineyards

• Gold Medal – Lost Draw Cellars / Moonlight Vineyards, Roussanne 2018

• Gold Medal – Kiepersol Winery/Estate Vineyards, Texas Syrah 2015

• Silver Medal – Bingham Family Vineyards/Estate Vineyards, Dugout 2017

• Bronze Medal – Chateau Wright/Estate Vineyards, Heraldic Red 2017

• Bronze Medal – Bull Lion Ranch & Vineyard/Estate Vineyards, Montepulciano 2015

During BRIT’s Vine to Table awards dinner and fundraising event on January 15, 2020, Bending Branch Winery and Nice winery will be presented their champion awards. Tickets can be purchased to the Dickies Arena event here.

Visitors to the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo can enjoy a selection of Bending Branch wines at Vine-2-Wine’s Sip & Shop event on January 29, 4-8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.

Read more:

Dallas Morning News

Dallas Innovates (D Magazine)

Texas Wine Lover

Fort Worth Business Press

 

Thanksgiving Wine Suggestions

The thing about Thanksgiving …

Thanksgiving is that uniquely American holiday when lots of relatives who may not see each other often (or have much in common) get together for a big meal. Stuffing or dressing? Mashed or sweet? Pumpkin or pecan? And that’s before sports and politics.

Choosing wines for Thanksgiving can also seem challenging. The flavors of the traditional menu are as diverse as the guests. The key is balance.

Balance means a harmonious blend of the basic flavors in wine – tart, fruity, bitter, and alcohol. Tartness comes from acidity in grapes, fruitiness comes from ripe grapes, bitterness comes mostly from tannin in grape skins, and alcohol comes from fermentation. If any of these component flavors overwhelms the others, the wine can seem uneven or simply unpleasant. But if the acidity, tannin, fruit and alcohol are coherent and complementary, the wine is nicely balanced. 

Balanced wines have two great attributes. They are crowd-pleasers, and they taste good with many kinds of food – just the ticket for Thanksgiving. Here are a couple of good suggestions.

Turkey is a fowl, but it is also a game bird with rich, dark flavors and texture. Elegantly balanced 2018 Ursa Tannat Rosé walks the line between white and red wines, a flattering partner for the big bird. Dark meat lovers may prefer an aromatic red like the 2016 Bending Branch Tempranillo. Both these well-balanced wines are also compatible with the many heirloom side dishes on the holiday table.

The cousin who rarely drinks may prefer something a little fruitier like Bending Branch Thinkers Blanc. Also consider having a bottle of Bending Branch 2017 Texas Tannat® around for that uncle whose tastes tend toward whisky and cigars. In wine as in family, balance is the answer.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Bending Branch Family!

It's International Tempranillo Day!

Just outside of the West Texas community of Plains, you’ll find Newsom Vineyards – one of the oldest, most respected vineyards in Texas. In 1986, Neal Newsom and his family planted 5,000 vines on 5 acres. Today, the family has 148 bearing acres that produce nearly 400 tons of grapes annually. Many award-winning wines have been produced from Newsom’s grapes, and they were the first to plant Tempranillo in the state.

Tempranillo is one of the most widely planted grapes in the world, and the variety has emerged as a star in Texas. Bending Branch has produced Tempranillo every year since 2010, with the exception of vintage 2013. Unfortunately, late spring freezes wiped out the 2013 crop. Tempranillo is one of the most highly-awarded wines in the Bending Branch portfolio.

SPECIAL OFFER: In honor of International Tempranillo Day, receive complimentary shipping on three bottles or more of Bending Branch Tempranillo with coupon code TEMPRANILLO Thursday, November 14th through Sunday the 17th. ¡Viva Tempranillo!

 

2010 Tempranillo, Newsom Vineyards

Gold/Texas Reserve Class Champion – 2014 Houston Rodeo Uncorked!

Silver – 2013 Dallas Morning News/TEXSOM International

Silver – 2013 Lone Star International

 

2011 Tempranillo, Newsom Vineyards

Silver – 2014 Houston Rodeo Uncorked!

 

2012 Tempranillo, Newsom Vineyards

Gold – 2016 Houston Rodeo Uncorked!

Gold – 2015 Lone Star International

92 Points – 2016 Beverage Dynamics

85 Points – 2015 Wine Enthusiast

 

2014 Tempranillo, Newsom Vineyards

Double Gold/Best Texas Red – 2018 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo

Silver/Texas Class Champion – 2018 Houston Rodeo Uncorked!

Silver – 2018 San Francisco Chronicle

Silver – 2017 Lone Star International

 

2015 Tempranillo, Newsom Vineyards

Gold – 2019 Houston Rodeo Uncorked!

Gold – 2019 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo

Gold – 2019 Texas International

Silver – 2019 San Francisco Chronicle

 

2016 Tempranillo, Newsom Vineyards

Gold – 2020 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo

Silver – 2019 San Francisco International

 

Cryo-Maceration in Winemaking

Happening now in the winery...

Cryo-Maceration – Cryo or CM for short – is a technique we use to improve the extraction of color, flavor, and tannin from the skins of red grapes. Freshly harvested grapes are destemmed, put in half-ton bins, and then taken to the freezer. As the grapes freeze, large, slow-forming ice crystals weaken the cellular structures containing tannin, pigment, and flavor. Once defrosted, the subsequent fermentation can extract about 50% more of these critical compounds than a conventional fermentation without Cryo-Maceration.

Conventional Fermentation – around 20% to 40% extraction

versus

Cryo-Maceration – around 30% to 60% extraction

The first wine in which Bending Branch employed Cryo-Maceration, the Bending Branch Winery 2011 Estate Tannat CM, was awarded Double Gold, Texas Class Champion, Class Champion, and was named Top Texas Wine at the 2014 Houston Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition.

One useful side effect of Cryo-Maceration is that it allows us to defer the fermentation of a portion of our fruit until later in the season when there is more room in the winery and more time in the winemaking schedule.