Southold Farm + Cellar

The Venue

With only 60 minutes to get to a destination that is 70 minutes away, Michael sets his cruise control 3 miles above the speed limit, and we begin winding along the back roads that will take us to Southold Farm + Cellar. Missing the entrance on Minor Threat Lane—there must be a story there—Michael makes a U-turn and heads up the hill. I notice a sign that says, Appointments Only. We have 2 pm reservations—they are prepaid. I hope that counts.

It is a glorious day in Texas. Warm. Sunny. A slight breeze blows through the shaded patio as we sit and wait—not sure exactly what to expect. We know there will be a wine tasting with an assortment of mezze/tapas-like food offerings, not necessarily prepared to match the wines. Since Southold’s website reminded us that wine is best with food and that food and wine are best shared with others, we are here with friends. Even if we had no wine and no food, the day and the view beyond, with the world literally at our feet, would be enough. The sun and the hills and the sky are a golden elixir.

Wine Tasting

The four of us sit at a narrow picnic-style table for six, waiting. I peruse the names of the wines we will taste: GRAND GESTURES, THE LOVERS & THE DREAMERS, ALL THINGS GO, and HIGH SPEED, LOW DRAG. Curiouser and curiouser. But perhaps this explains their unique address, 330 Minor Threat Lane.

Whites

Soon our lovely server, Julia, arrives toting a bottle of unfiltered 2020 Viognier—GRAND GESTURES, from vines grown in the Robert Clay Vineyards in Mason County – but that is another story for another time. Julia lets us know all about the wine. In addition to the terroir from which it came, the one thing I will never forget is that it was fermented and aged in a concrete egg. I can’t even conjure the image. I make a note to Google for information once I am home.

The first tasting of Viognier I ever had was in California; it cost $10 for an ounce and tasted like a bouquet of spring flowers. I hated it. But GRAND GESTURES is different; slightly cloudy because it is unfiltered, light, barely sweet, and soft—not harsh and acidic. Not floral, not even a tiny bit.

The Charcuterie Tray

Before our next wine tasting arrives, we are presented with the charcuterie tray of the day, and just looking at it, I decide that Southold wins the prize of the best charcuterie tray of all the wineries we have visited lately. Almost all of the other charcuterie trays from various wineries are straight out of the refrigerator and are not necessarily great. This one is amazing—it looks like a sampling of flavors from around the world on one platter.

There are tiny French cornichons, slices of Spanish style chorizo, and room-temperature Manchego cheese. A generous jar of Green Goddess dipping sauce (initially created in San Francisco) accompanies thinly sliced raw red and yellow beets—and sliced watermelon radishes; the beets originating along the eastern Mediterranean and the radishes originally brought to us from China. There are also two generous slices of pork belly and a lovely light carrot slaw, as well as new age seed crackers. The crackers look healthy and dense, and tough. But in actuality, they are healthy, light, delicate, and crisp. I’m hooked. On top of this, everything set before us is locally sourced. Every bite is delicious! Fresh. Perfect.

Reds

THE LOVERS AND THE DREAMERS is poured—a blend of red and white wine—Touriga Nacional, a heavy, full-bodied red grape originating from Portugal, and the lighter white Viognier. Both grapes are also from the Robert Clay Vineyards in Mason. The wine is light, food-friendly, and very drinkable. 

Our next tasting is ALL THINGS GO, a blend of red grapes from the Robert Clay Vineyards. Perhaps it is because I am drawn to the music of the combination of words, but I love the description that Southold uses to explain the mélange of Merlot, Cabernet, and Tempranillo. “…It wasn’t until tasting through barrels that we started to see the potential chorus of voices come together. Imagine cruising, windows down, a wet dirt road just after a brief intense shower in an old leaky pickup truck full of super ripe tomatoes.”  I am a fan of red blends, and this one is no different. 

Our last tasting is HIGH SPEED, LOW DRAG, a blend of Barbera and Merlot, again from Robert Clay Vineyards. It is a lovely red wine that makes me wish for a perfectly cooked medium rare porcini-crusted filet mignon.

All the Right Moves

With our charcuterie tray totally demolished and our wine tasting at an end, we are not ready to leave this beautiful place. To extend our stay, we choose a bottle of red to share, ALL THE WRONG MOVES, which turns out to be a very right move. Listed as a Mataro—also known as Mourvèdre—and it is wonderful. We each take our glass of wine to the porch swings that face the vast valley before us, delighting in the day, our friendship, and the wine. We make plans to return very soon; Southold Farm has a restaurant, and its siren’s song wafts toward us on the gentle breeze, tickling our nose.

Southold Farm + Cellar

Created by Regan and Carey Meador, Southold Farm + Cellar is a winery and vineyard that began its life on the North Fork of Long Island. Circumstances dictated that they sell the original property and build a new winery on the high hills of Gillespie County.

They are a winery with a mission. Their sole purpose is to make wines that speak of place and time, that thrill and delight all who try them. Their winemaking decisions are dictated by what has happened during that season. They are not believers in manipulating the grape; instead they believe in farming first and non-interventionist cellar methods.

Each year their wines are a taste adventure of Texas. The weather. The land. And the gifts each of these components bring to the grape they harvest.

Southold Farm + Cellar Details

The first words that spilled from my mouth when our wine server, Julia, arrived at our table were, “How long has this winery been here?”

When Julia’s answer was, “Since 2016,” you could have knocked me over with a feather. I had never heard of Southhold until a few weeks before. Apparently, I am not part of the IN CROWD. But now I know, and I will be back.  

Their wine tastings have always been by appointment, which is actually very nice. You do not have to fight the crowds or wonder on your way toward their mountain home if there will be room at the inn. BUT without a reservation, you may be turned away. 

Reservations are easy to make online; just click on the following link https://www.exploretock.com/southoldfarmandcellar/

HOURS: Thursday – Monday: 11:00pm – 5:00pm (by reservation only)

LOCATION: 330 Minor Threat Lane, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

EMAIL: hello@southoldfarmandcellar.com