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.

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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Holiday Gift Guide

Place your orders by:

December 15th for orders outside of Texas

December 20th for shipping within Texas

 

$10 promotional shipping on holiday packages.

Complimentary shipping on orders totaling 12 bottles or more.

Some items only available at the tasting room.

shop the gift guide here.

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Best of Herd Top Picks 4-Pack

A great gift A great gift for the Texas wine lover. These are the Top Picks that earned us Best of Herd at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo wine competition.

Includes 2 bottles each of:

• Top of Class/Gold 2017 Tempranillo, Newsom Vineyards
• Double Gold 2017 Petite Sirah, Newsom Vineyards

$130. Wine club discounts apply. PURCHASE HERE

Available curbside or take advantage of $10 promotional shipping to 30+ states.

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The Holiday Five

Deal extended! Cover all your bases with the Holiday Five mixed bundle:

• 2018 Vermentino, Carneros
• 2019 Branch Texas Frizzante Rosé
• 2019 Tannat Rosé, Tallent Vineyards
• 2016 Malbec, Newsom Vineyards
• 2018 Texas Tannat

$100 special. No additional discounts. PURCHASE HERE

Available curbside or take advantage of $10 promotional shipping to 30+ states.

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Premium Reds Gift Set

Enjoy two premium bottles of red wine packaged in a wooden Bending Branch gift box.

• 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Newsom Vineyards
• Chloe Cuvée

Our world-class Cab was awarded Gold/Best in Class Cabernet Sauvignon at the 2020 Lone Star International Wine Competition.

A Bending Branch favorite, this secret family blend is named after Owner and Winemaker Dr. Bob Young’s granddaughter. Its cork is a unique glass stopper.

$125. Wine club discounts apply. PURCHASE HERE

*ONLY AVAILABLE FOR CURBSIDE PICK-UP AT BENDING BRANCH WINERY.*

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Bending Branch Brut

Stock up on bubbles for the holidays!

Bending Branch Brut is good for every occasion. Dry with brilliant acidity and creamy mousse, our Méthode Champenoise Brut offers flavors of crisp Golden Delicious apple, Meyer lemon zest, and toasted brioche.

$36 PURCHASE HERE

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Virtual gift idea!

Experience a guided wine tasting with one of our wine educators. Our virtual tasting package includes two bottles of each featured wine:

• Estate Picpoul Blanc, Lost Pirogue VIneyard
• Petite Sirah, Newsom Vineyards
• Texas Tannat

The tasting is conducted on Zoom with one of our wine educators and lasts approximately one hour. Click here for details and dates.

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Gift cards

Not sure what to get the wine lover in your life? Gift cards always fit.

$25 - $50 - $75 - $100 PURCHASE HERE

At checkout, please specify in your order notes if you prefer a physical or digital gift card.

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Merch!

A variety of merchandise is available at the tasting room including coffee mugs, Swig tumblers and water bottles, journals, T-shirts, baseball shirts, hoodies, and plush blankets.

Call 830-995-2948 to place a curbside order, or stop by the tasting room. We're open seven days a week from noon to 6 p.m.

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Want to come out for a tasting during the holidays?

Enjoy a self-guided, outdoor tasting of four wines. Souvenir wine glass included with paid tasting. Open for tastings seven days a week. Click here to make a reservation.

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Bending Branch Winery will be CLOSED:

December 16th
December 25th
January 1st

Happy Holidays from Bending Branch Winery!

Attention Wine Club Members: Make your reservation now for the December Drive-Thru Release Party.

~Exclusively for Bending Branch Wine Club Members~

All wine club members are invited to attend the December drive-thru pick-up party on Saturday, December 5th or Sunday, December 6th. We are excited to partner with The Bread Box Bakery & Café, San Antonio for this event. In addition to picking up your December release, members will receive a grab-and-go picnic kit for two. The kit includes crusty baguette for two stuffed with serrano ham and Irish butter; cheeses, fruit selection and fresh Bread Box crisps; roasted potato salad with skinny green beans, crunchy kale and mustard vinaigrette; and an intense Valrhona chocolate fudge brownie.

--> MAKE YOUR TOCK RESERVATION NOW <--

If you haven't done so already, create a Tock account using the primary email address associated with your club membership to access the party reservations.

What you need to know for the party:

• For this event, you will enter the property through our truck entrance instead of the main entrance. There will be staff to guide you.
• Reservation time slots are for 1.5 hours. You may show up at any time during your reserved time slot.
• This is a drive-thru party. Please stay in your car. Everything is to-go only. No onsite consumption.
• There will be an opportunity to purchase specials, barrels, and merchandise along the party route. Please plan to charge your account or use a credit card for additional purchases.
• You will be able to pick up any past releases at the party. You may also place an additional wine order in advance by calling the tasting room at 830-995-2948. We will have it packed and ready for you.
• Members with reservations will receive a picnic kit for two prepared by The Bread Box. Limit one kit per club membership.
• Our staff will be masked and following all safety precautions, and we require that you wear a mask when interacting with Bending Branch staff.
• Due to the nature of this event, it is for MEMBERS ONLY.

Please contact the tasting room at 830-995-2948 for any questions or assistance making reservations. Open noon to 6 p.m. daily.

Follow the event on Facebook.

Black Friday Deals On Sale Now!

Get your holiday shopping started with incredible deals you will want to savor and share this season!

$10 promotional shipping on all holiday packages.

Complimentary shipping on case specials and orders totaling 12 bottles or more.

--> Click here to shop all holiday specials. <--

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$100 Holiday Specials

Tannat Rosé Holiday 6-Pack $100

Six bottles. One great price.

Our 2019 Tannat Rosé harvested from Tallent Vineyards is a great addition to your holiday table. Aromas of dried rose petal and wet slate announce a mouthful of strawberry lemonade, green peach, and juicy gooseberry in this Texas Hill Country Rosé.

Retail $144.

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Decadent the Halls 3-Pack $100

Do you love rich and luscious wines?
Then Decadent the Halls with this mixed bundle!

2019 Single Barrel Picpoul Blanc – We age our Picpoul for a short time in Kentucky’s finest bourbon barrels to create a unique flavor profile for our signature white wine.

2017 Old Vine Petite Sirah – A Bending Branch fan favorite. This wine is like drinking velvet.

2016 Tannat RF|EM – A portion of this wine went through regular fermentation (RF) and was pressed when dry. The remainder of the wine underwent extended maceration (EM) for another month. Counterintuitively, the result is smoother texture and slightly lighter color, as the tannin molecules bond into silky chains and pigment drops out.

Retail $140.

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Holiday Five $100

Feeling festive? It's five o'clock somewhere.

Cover all your bases with the Holiday Five mixed bundle:

2018 Vermentino, Carneros

2019 Branch Texas Frizzante Rosé

2019 Tannat Rosé, Tallent Vineyards

2016 Malbec, Newsom Vineyards

2018 Texas Tannat

Retail $142.

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Ursa Vineyards Case Specials

 

Case special - 2019 Chardonnay, Wilson Vineyard

$200 + free shipping

It's time to stock up on your holiday white wine.

Ursa's 2019 Chardonnay has a lovely balance of acidity and fruit. Bright green apple, pineapple, and honeysuckle lends the palate a refreshing crispness and firm acidity. Savor and share this delicious Chardonnay – or keep it all for yourself!

Retail $288.

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Case special - 2014 Tannat, Lone Meadow Vineyard

$275 + free shipping

Don't miss out on this great deal!

Ursa's rich 2014 Tannat from the Sierra Foothills has notes of cherries with a dusting of cocoa powder, boysenberry, and baking spices. Quantity is limited.

Silver medal winner – 2019 San Francisco International Wine Competition

Retail $408.

 

We are now open for outdoor tastings by appointment!

The Bending Branch team is excited to welcome wine lovers back for tastings by appointment seven days a week on our shaded deck and patio starting this Saturday, October 24th. We will offer a self-guided tasting of four wines for $20. Paid tastings include a souvenir wine glass. 

All tasting experiences are seated and self-guided.
This casual, self-guided tasting is designed to minimize contact and encourage tasting wines at your own pace. You will pick up your wine tasting set from the tasting room, and take it back to the table you selected upon your arrival.
 
The four wines will be served in individual carafes for self-service with a single-use menu that will guide you through the wines. Guests are welcome to purchase additional glasses or bottles after their tasting. Maximum group size is six including children.

We are currently accepting reservations through Tock.
Reservations are for 1 hour and 15 minutes. We're implementing hard-stops between reservations to conduct sanitation protocols.

Safety is our top priority.
We are taking extraordinary precautions to sanitize and maintain physical distance. We have adapted our experience to exceed CDC guidelines.

It is very important to read the Bending Branch Winery COVID-19 Guest Advisory before your visit.

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--> CLICK HERE TO MAKE A RESERVATION THOUGH TOCK. <--

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Attention Wine Club Members:

If you want to enjoy your complimentary tasting or glass at the estate tasting room, you still need to make a reservation for a tasting. Upon arrival, you can choose the tasting flight or opt for a complimentary glass of wine.

If you haven't done so already, create a Tock account using the primary email address associated with your club membership. You must be logged in to Tock when making reservations in order to receive your complimentary benefits and access to experiences at the Wine Club Lounge.

Just a reminder that Wine Club Lounge experiences are only available on Saturdays and Sundays, and you can now enjoy a tasting there as well. Member(s) receive complimentary tastings or glasses of wine and complimentary tastings for up to two guests.

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If you have questions or need help making a reservation, please contact the tasting room at 830-995-2948. We can't wait to see you!

BEST OF HERD TEXAS WINERY

Bending Branch Winery was awarded BEST OF HERD TEXAS WINERY at the 12th Annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Wine Competition held on October 5-7, 2020. The competition featured over 1,000 wines from across the United States and around the world. 

• Best of Herd Texas Winery  Bending Branch Winery
• Double Gold  2017 Petite Sirah, Newsom Vineyards
• Top of Class / Gold  2017 Tempranillo, Newsom Vineyards
• Gold  2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Newsom Vineyards
• Gold  2017 Malbec, Newsom Vineyards
• Gold  2017 Tannat CM, Tallent Vineyards

Best of Herd is awarded to the Texas winery which has the greatest percentage of wines receiving the highest number of awards within their total number of entries.

Wineries selected as Top 14 Champion Wines including Grand Champion, Reserve Champion, Best of Herd, Top All Around Winery, Best of Show, Top of Class and Double Gold will be featured during the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Virtual Super Auction scheduled for November 9-15, 2020. The auction funds support the Show’s goals of benefiting the youth of Texas. To date, over $223 million has been committed to educate the youth of Texas. This year, more than 21,275 Texas students have been educationally impacted. Proceeds from the Wine Events benefit the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Scholarship Fund with a portion for the advancement of viticulture.

The Champion winning wines will also be showcased in the Wine Cellar, sponsored by H-E-B, on the rodeo grounds during the 72nd Annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo to be held February 11-28, 2021. The H-E-B Wine Department is committed to supporting the competition and will feature the Champion wines in their San Antonio stores throughout the month of February 2021. Champion wines will also be recognized in the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo local media publications and website.

Want to purchase the Double Gold 2017 Petite Sirah before it's released? The Best of Herd Top Picks 4-pack includes two bottles each of 2017 Petite Sirah and 2017 Tempranillo. Cheers!

See a full list of winners here.

October is Texas Wine Month!

We are excited to invite our wine club members back to an all-new experience at our Wine Club Lounge this month!
 
We are taking reservations now through Tock for outdoor experiences on Saturdays and Sundays. Service will be hosted at the Wine Club Lounge and offers shaded seating on the patio, under new cabanas, or tables adjacent to the vineyard. Wine Club Members and guests who are 21+ will enjoy wine by the glass or bottle. Tastings are not available at this time. No pets at this time, please.

Reservations are for 1 hour and 15 minutes. We're implementing hard-stops between reservations to conduct rigorous sanitation protocols.

Please note: We are taking extraordinary precautions to sanitize and maintain physical distance. If you have any questions about how we have adapted our experience to exceed CDC health regulations, please read the Bending Branch Winery COVID-19 Guest Advisory here.

RESERVATION INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Go to https://www.exploretock.com/signup.
2. If you haven't done so already, create an account using the primary email address associated with your club membership.
3. At the top of Tock, search for Bending Branch Winery.
4. Select your desired experience. If reservations are full, you may join the waitlist.

Virtual Tasting Offerings

Experience a virtual guided wine tasting with one of our wine educators during this time of social distancing. 

Enjoy a virtual tasting at home

The At-Home package contains six bottles of wine; three to taste during your appointment, and three to savor later. Package includes:

• Estate Picpoul Blanc, Lost Pirogue Vineyards (2 bottles)
• Petite Sirah, Newsom Vineyards (2 bottles)
• Texas Tannat (2 bottles)

To select an appointment online, visit our Virtual Tastings page.

Interested in a customized offering for a larger event? Contact us at info@bendingbranchwinery.com.

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Enjoy a virtual tasting with your team

Looking for a fun team-building event for your organization?

Want to spike engagement in your next virtual meeting?

We have corporate virtual tasting packages ready for your next event, or we can customize an offering to meet your needs.

Signature Tasting Package (2 bottles)

Taste Bending Branch's signature grape varieties in our Picpoul Blanc and Texas Tannat. Experience the value of comparative wine tasting, appreciate body and balance, and get comfortable with wine vocabulary. The tasting culminates in a trivia challenge with prizes.

1840 Premiere Experience (3 bottles)

Enjoy three premium Bending Branch wines, personally guided by Owner and Winemaker Dr. Robert Young, along with members of our team. Understand the winemaker's style and objectives, appreciate the commitment to quality, and discover the vibrant world of food and wine.

Contact us at info@bendingbranchwinery.com for pricing on corporate virtual tastings.

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What people are saying:

"Our virtual wine tasting was a success! When I arrived at the office today, I had many emails stating what a success last night's event was."  –Corporate Tasting Customer

"We had a wonderful time and the wine was excellent. I also shared the remaining wine with a few friends over dinner last night. It was the highlight of my week!"  –Signature Tasting Participant

"We not only loved the Tannat, Petite Sirah, and Picpoul Blanc, in that order, we also appreciate Dr. Bob for his commitment to whatever he does."  –1840 Premiere Experience Participant

Contact us for more information on virtual tastings at info@bendingbranchwinery.com.