Because wine shouldn’t come
with a side of intimidation.
If you’ve ever sipped a glass of wine and thought, “This is delicious, but how on earth did it get here?” you’re not alone. At Cellar Rat Wine Tours, we love connecting our guests with the real stories and craft behind the bottles they enjoy. And in Texas, that story is especially rich, because the wineries we highlight here use 100% Texas-grown grapes, meaning every sip is rooted in our own soil and sunshine.
So, let’s strip away the jargon and walk you through the winemaking process, step-by-step, from grape to glass. And for you visual learners, click on the infographic and see how the genius minds at Wine Folly break it down.
🎲 Step 1: Harvest – The Perfect Moment
Harvest isn’t just “picking grapes.” It’s a science-meets-art moment when winemakers decide the fruit is at its peak. Sugar levels, acidity, tannins, and flavor are all considered before the shears come out.
In the Texas Hill Country and High Plains, winemakers like those at William Chris Vineyards, Ab Astris Winery and Calais Winery have this timing down to a fine art. Their harvests often happen in the cooler early mornings to preserve delicate flavors. Determining the right time to pick the fruit is part skill and part luck that the weather cooperates.
Fun fact: Once a grape is picked, it stops ripening. This is why timing is everything.
🍇 Step 2: Sorting, Crushing & Destemming – The Prep Work
After harvest, grapes are rushed to the winery where they’re sorted (good grapes in, bad grapes out), destemmed, and gently crushed.
- For white wines: Juice is pressed away from the skins immediately for a lighter, fresh style.
- For reds: Skins stay in the mix during fermentation, giving wine its deep color and bold tannins.
At Lewis Wines, manual punch-downs keep the process gentle and the wine expressive.
🧪 Step 3: Fermentation – Grapes Become Wine
Here’s where the magic (and science) really happens: yeast consumes grape sugar and transforms it into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Some wineries use wild, naturally occurring yeasts from the vineyard; others add cultured yeasts for precision. Fermentation can happen in stainless steel tanks, oak barrels, or even concrete vessels – each shaping texture and flavor differently.
At Lost Draw Cellars, fermentation choices are tailored to each varietal, keeping the character of Texas-grown fruit front and center.
⏰ Step 4: Aging – Letting Time Work Its Charm
Once fermentation is complete, wines often need time to soften, integrate, and develop complexity.
- Oak barrels can add notes of vanilla, spice, and toast.
- Concrete tanks maintain freshness and texture.
- Stainless steel preserves bright, clean fruit flavors.
Adega Vinho Winery is known for carefully balancing oak influence with varietal purity – a hallmark of their award-winning Tempranillo and Viognier.
🍷 Step 5: Bottling – Ready for You
Before it’s bottled, wine is clarified (by filtration, fining, or natural settling) and given a final taste check. This ensures what ends up in your glass is clear, balanced, and true to the winemaker’s vision. Labels go on, corks or screwcaps are secured, and then… it’s yours to enjoy.
Fun fact: Once the wine goes through a bottling line it is often rested to settle for a while to overcome what’s known as bottle shock.
Texas Wineries Worth Raising a Glass To
All of these wineries are 100% Texas-grown – no imported juice, no shortcuts:
- William Chris Vineyards – Pioneers of Texas terroir with a passion for quality.
- Lost Draw Cellars – Crafting small-lot wines from High Plains and Hill Country vineyards.
- French Connection Wines – Discerning palates with a focus on producing the best Rhône Valley varietals Texas can make.
- All of the other wineries we visit! We stand behind those that produce 100% Texas wines with 100% Texas grown fruit.
Why This Matters
When you drink 100% Texas wine, you’re tasting our state’s unique climate, soil, and craftsmanship all in one glass. And the best way to experience it? See it for yourself. On a Cellar Rat Wine Tour, you’ll visit these wineries, meet the people behind the bottles, and taste wines that could only be made here.
🎯