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.
 

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.

Harvest 2020 Update

Harvest update from Jennifer McInnis Fadel, Bending Branch Winery General Manager:

We are getting more fruit this year than in the past from the Texas Hill Country, with harvest getting underway July 27th with Tannat from our estate vineyard, Lost Pirogue Vineyard. All of our Picpoul Blanc this year will come from the estate vineyard.

We also had a great Malbec harvest from Cherokee Rose Vineyard in Comfort at the end of July. We are about to release the first Malbec Reserve from that vineyard.

I am very excited about the quality of our fruit this year – its intensity and concentration is really exceptional. We will get some fruit from the Texas High Plains; overall, the fruit will come from smaller lots from multiple vineyards.

Given harvest will be made up of smaller lots, we will not use the flash détente technology as much this year, and instead will focus on small-batch, whole-berry fermentation and Cryo-maceration. We will use this opportunity to make more reserve and special selection wines.

Regarding COVID-19, we will maintain our health and safety protocols as we shift more of our activities to the winery. We will continue practicing social distancing, mandating face coverings, and using UV-C wands on surfaces and UV-C lamps in the restrooms. Additionally, the ozone machine is run weekly in the production facility, and we have installed smaller units in the tasting rooms.

Tannat harvest at Lost Pirogue Vineyard, 7/27/20. Thank you to Stella Haus Films for the beautiful images!

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
 

Small Package. Big Impact.

We are excited to announce that the 2011 Bending Branch Winery Estate Tannat will be auctioned for the second time to benefit youth scholarships.

In 2014, the 2011 Estate Tannat from Bending Branch Winery received the Top Texas Wine award at the Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition. The award was presented by the George H. W. Bush Library Foundation. A magnum bottle of that wine was auctioned at the Champion Wine Auction, for $100,000 – which, at that time was the second highest bid for a Texas wine.

The Youngs were honorary co-chairs at the 2014 Vintner Dinner and Wine Auction at the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation. A few weeks later, they received a bottle of that wine signed by George H. W. and Barbara Bush. The Youngs have coveted and cellared that wine with care for five years. As a way to honor President Bush and his wife, Barbara, and their legacy of philanthropy, the Youngs have offered the autographed bottle to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Auction to raise money for scholarships. Part of the agreement is that 50 percent of the money raised will benefit local youths through scholarships administered by the Comfort Area Foundation. Comfort, Texas, is the home of the Youngs and Bending Branch Winery.

You can view this item via the auction link. The auction will be held on Sunday, February 24, in Houston.

Bending Branch Winery will celebrate Open That Bottle Day on Saturday, February 23, by uncorking the celebrated 2011 Estate Tannat in the Bending Branch Winery Estate tasting room and Wine Club Lounge. For a $5 donation, you can taste the wine, and those proceeds will benefit Comfort Area Foundation scholarships.