Tara Vineyard & Winery

Athens, Texas is quickly becoming a spot to be admired by wine lovers everywhere.  During a recent girls' weekend getaway, we took a couple of our good friends out to Tara Vineyard & Winery for a rainy-day tasting on the porch overlooking the vines and the Inn.  We took in the unusually cool June day and had a look at the food menu that included some excellent choices like fresh sourdough bread with balsamic reduction - basic but perfect.  Tastings include five, one-ounce pours and you get to keep your stemless glass when you leave! They brought out some poker chips with our first choices, and I suppose you could say it was a bit of a gamble picking from so many choices!

We began our tasting with some lighter options, a few of which stood out. The 2018 Blanc du Bois Dry was full and heavy pear, tart, with a nice finish.  I tried the Angel's Kiss next, which was much sweeter than I anticipated, and if you are a moscato drinker, this wine is for you!  We were excited to try the Black Spanish Rose', and found that it had a full-bodied nose, much like stepping into the barrel room, with a tawny taste and a quick finish.  The one that had us, though, was the Texas Twang, an earthy, musty Estate wine offered as a Sweet Red, but delivered a deep plum and a slightly dry, not overly sweet finish.  It was a nice surprise.

I might take a second here to talk a little about Bebe the dog, a sweet chocolate lab rescue that spent a good amount of time on the patio just hanging out at the table with us.  She was summoned back inside on more than one occasion, only to make her way back outside again.  A little later on, her owner and one of the Estate workers, came out and visited with us before taking a precious couple on a tour of the grounds - perhaps they were looking to book a wedding there; it would be a lovely venue for nuptials.  

Tara has about a dozen red wines on the menu, and we found a couple stand-outs for sure.  The Decada Estate is a rusty-colored blend of ten wines that is aged for ten years.  It started with a little bitterness, but that gently morphed into a full-mouthed dark cherry that finished smoothly and quickly.  The 2015 Montepulciano was next and my favorite of the day.  A rich, ruby purple that extended to the edges of a turned glass and smelled a little leathery, this dry red boasted cherry, dark chocolate, and blackberry flavors.  It had a long, dry finish at the front of the mouth, and deserves multiple tastes to pull all its hidden flavor.  

We also tried a couple of their award-winning wines, first of which was the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon.  This wine played with our senses a little.  In the nose, it had a full, dark berry, but tapered off toward the edges some, and in the end, it smelled a little like dirt. In the mouth, though, it was slightly sweet, an easy-drinking Cab with some subtle complexities.  Finally, we tried the Carriage House, which, along with the 2017 Cab, was a TEXSOM 2020 Medal Winner.  This red was the oakiest of the wines in the nose, and its earthy smell lingered into the first sip.  A little more air opened it up and allowed the dark berries to shine, and toward the end, we picked up some slightly herbaceous notes, maybe even a little celery or pepper.  Definitely one to take home and have with a nice, rich dinner.  Or on a Tuesday with some cheese and fruit.  

Another great thing about Tara is that there is certainly something for everyone to enjoy. Our friends had some delicious sangria while we swirled and tasted, and they even found some alpacas in the field out behind the building.  There were some other sweet touches as well, such as the Tara Inn up the hill and a huge wooden picture frame hanging from a tree - what an exceptional background for a a sweet photo opp! Other than not getting to meet the owner for a quick visit (we didn't make an appointment), we have no complaints! Would happily go back another time and maybe stay at the Inn, have a birthday celebration, or just a grown-up getaway.  Next time you're headed East, stop by and have a sip of Texas. 

Cheers, y'all!