North Texas isn’t the region of the Lone Star State that one is usually talking about when they speak of Texas wine country, but a winery from that region is partnering with a vineyard in the Texas High Plains to make a pair of wines that have long been popular in the southern part of the state.
Lost Oak Winery is in Burleson, Texas — a suburb of Fort Worth — and Diamante Doble Vineyard is headquartered in Tokio, an unincorporated community near Lubbock.
The West Texas vineyard is supplying the grapes for the two newest additions to Lost Oak’s portfolio, a Roussanne and a Trebbiano.
“Wine connoisseurs can expect an incredible, unique harvest thanks to our partnership with Jet Wilmeth,” said Roxanne Myers, president of Lost Oak Winery. “With over 22 years of experience as one of the best growers in Texas, Lost Oak is thrilled to start our harvest season and help wine lovers expand their beliefs on what Texas wine looks like.”
The partnership follows an early 2022 harvest season highlighted by the two niche Southern Hemisphere varieties that will punctuate Lost Oak’s portfolio.
While the regular Texas grape harvest season begins in early August, the Lone Star State enjoys favorable elevation, more sunlight, and good quality fruit yields that support experimentation with varietals such as these, Diamante Doble Vineyard owner Jet Wilmeth said.
“Harvest Season is earlier in Texas because of sunlight, but it is based on varieties. We have to get the grapes off a bit sooner due to the increase in heat; leaving them for too long into the warm season can put stress on the vine,” Wilmeth explained.
Wilmeth began his farming career as a Texas cotton, peanut, watermelon, jalapeño, cucumber and chili farmer but eventually wondered how to get the most out of his most precious resource — water.
After learning grapes have deeper roots that require less water and offer more longevity, Wilmeth embarked on an educational winemaking journey, ending with him planting his first five acres of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in 2000 and founding Diamante Doble Vineyard.
Myers said the Diamante Doble grapes represented Texas flavor well. The complex Roussane grape flourishes in the unique landscape of the Texas Hill Country, she said, and the Trebbiano does well because Texas’s weather feeds it the sunlight it needs to fully ripen.
“Our successful experimentation with the Roussanne and Trebbiano varieties allows wine lovers to expand their palate and step outside of their comfort zone with new flavors. There are so many delicious, unique wines outside of standard grocery store options, and we’re excited that the Lost Oak tasting room will offer the opportunity to try locally grown Texas wine,” added Myers.
Be the first to comment