Hye, Texas: A Wine Lover’s Paradise Located under an hour from downtown Austin, Hye is a small town with a big heart when it comes to wine. This charming Hill Country town is home to some of the most exquisite vineyards and wineries in the state, making it a must-visit destination for wine enthusiasts. To help you plan your ultimate wine trip to Hye, Texas, we’ve put together a guide to the best vineyards and wineries that use 100% Texas grapes as well as some local attractions. Best Wineries in Hye, Texas William Chris Vineyards William Chris Vineyards is one of the premier vineyards in Te ..read more

It’s a furnace outside, so we’ve added a flight of white and rosé wines to the tasting menu. It has been extremely popular, especially our newest rosé, the 2021 Blanc Du Franc. It’s crisp and clean – just what is needed to refresh the palate! So, the Blanc Du Franc, made from Cabernet Franc grapes, is my inspiration for the July food pairing. Cabernet Franc History Cabernet Franc is one of the oldest cultivated grape varieties in the world. It’s believed to have originated in Southwest France along the Spanish border. In the 17th century, Cardinal Richelieu took cuttings of the vine to th ..read more

With the summer temperatures reaching 100°F plus, wine enthusiasts are looking for a crisp, citrusy white wine with more acidity to quench the thirst and refresh the palate. And we have it…the 2022 Chenin Blanc. Since introducing the Chenin in early spring, it has been the most popular white wine on the menu. When choosing the food pairing for our Chenin, I considered several factors. The food had to be light, so as not to overpower the wine. It had to be easy and quick. Most importantly, the food couldn’t heat up the kitchen. And I have the answer! But first, here’s some information about C ..read more

I didn’t get an April recipe to you. I apologize! The days fly by… The years fly by, too. Mother’s Day marked the 12th anniversary of Westcave Cellars opening the tasting room! So, I thought you might take a step back in time with me to revisit our history. It Started with Cabernet The Westcave story starts with Cabernet Sauvignon. It was the first variety Allan and I planted at our former location on Hamilton Pool Road. In fact, the vines were planted in April 1999 – 24 years ago. Originally, we just wanted to be farmers and sell grapes to other wineries. And we did: McReynolds (Does an ..read more

It’s the end of the month, and I still haven’t shared the March wine and recipe — AGAIN! I actually chose the wine and food pairing in February. I even tried it out on the club members and guests who attended the spring pick-up party. It’s just been a very busy month. So, let’s not waste any more time. Here is the March wine of the month: the 2017 Sangio Rosé! Sangiovese Grapes I usually provide details and flavor profiles about the featured grape. I focused on Sangiovese in the January blog. So, take a peak if you need a refresher. However, it should be noted that the Sangiovese in the San ..read more

It’s already mid-February! I had the best intention to get this blog out last week. However, it wasn’t a case of procrastination, a characteristic I’m often guilty of. I had a writing deadline, and we are gearing up for the quarterly spring club shipment. BUT, I have continued to work on the February food pairing. So, which direction did I want to go this month? Most people think about chocolate and wine pairings in February. (We are actually offering one in the tasting room all month long.) TRITE! BORING! UNORIGINAL! So, I looked for an interesting option. And here it is: Flourless Chocolat ..read more

Like many of you, I made a list of self-improvement goals, as well as personal goals for Westcave Cellars for 2023. Professionally, I can’t give up alcohol, even for a month — it’s my job. However, I did commit to drinking less. I am happy to report that I have been successful, so far. But here it is late January, and I have yet to start on my personal goals for Westcave Cellars Winery & Brewery. Well, today is THE day! But first, a little background behind my most important Westcave resolution…. I LOVE food and wine pairing! It is one of my passions. When I find that perfect sip and bit ..read more

Hosting a wine tasting at home is a convenient and interactive way of learning more about wine at a comfortable and leisurely pace. Wine tasting groups are definitely not a new concept, and even though we are still open for wine tastings here at Westcave Cellars, the pandemic has indeed taught us the importance of staying home when practical and that much can be accomplished in small groups. If hosting a wine tasting event for you and your fellow wine lovers is something you have been thinking about, our guide will help you successfully host your very own experience. Everything discussed be ..read more

FINALLY—the new tasting room renovation is complete! WHEW! It’s been quite a roller coaster ride for the past 8 months. We not only remodeled the ranch house into a spacious and modern setting, but the original metal barn is now a combination lab, brewery, permanent bottling line, and case good storage unit. Currently, the construction crew is completing another HUGE building that will house the winery production and barrel storage. Why the Move? Thinking back to the small building which Allan and I shared for all of the Westcave operations, I wonder how we managed (and stayed married). It w ..read more

Allan and I are thrilled to announce that we sold the vineyard property on Hamilton Pool Road in December! We will be moving the winery, brewery, and tasting room to a new location along the 290 Wine Road in Hye, Texas, halfway between Johnson City and Fredericksburg. Developing Westcave Cellars has been a wonderful, but challenging adventure that spanned two decades. It was truly a labor of love that started with raw land which we purchased in 1998 and ultimately shaped into 9 acres of vineyard with 9 varieties of grapes, a tasting room, a winery, a brewery, and a herd of nine cows (includi ..read more