Origin: High Plains, TX, USA
ABV: 12.5%
USNW Classification: Natural
Varietal & Type: 38% Roussanne, 36% Grüner Veltliner, 26% Trebbiano
Vintage: 2021

I think if you are interested in Texas wine, it is safe to start here with this beautiful white blend by Southold Farm + Cellar. We truly believe that if this is your first, it will definitely not be your last. The most interesting varietal in this blend is Gruner Veltliner, which despite its Bavarian birthplace, grows extremely well in the High Plain desert and is more forgiving during the winter freezes. 

It is pretty clear the team at Southold has made a lot of sacrifices with the pricing of this wine to make it accessible to the rest of the country. A tough reality is that Texas grapes cost 2X+ what grapes would cost in say Oregon, at a similar quality(subjective), which is why a lot of Texas wines on here seem priced high. This is a result of Texas being a newer wine region, which means landowners are still paying mortgages and do not have the long history of government subsidies and grants that other wine regions have. What Texas does have and in the right circumstance is worth paying a premium for is a unique terroir. Some may say it is the soil, like the sandy loam in the high plains, but we at USNW have seen first hand that it is actually grit and innovation. Texas isn't making a bunch of ripe Cab and Chardonnay in new oak... They're making acid bombs out of Sangiovese and Gruner and aging them in neutral oak/steel and amphora. And they're F**cking Delicious. 

Winemaking

The 3 varietal components of this blend were picked and fermented separately then blended prior to bottling. The Trebbiano and Roussanne were both fermented in stainless steel while the Grüner was fermented in concrete. All components went through full malolactic fermentation. This wine was fermented by native yeast bacteria and bottled unfiltered.

Tasting Notes

This wine is a full on melon patch that is cleaned up with a nice salinity. Raised in concrete, it's juicy, straightforward and honest. Chill it, just don't get it Coors Light cold. Melon, green apple and honeysuckle on the nose. But don't overthink this wine, it is meant to be thoroughly enjoyed outside with a huge picnic spread. Drink it chilled on a hot day or pair it with...anything.

About the Winemaker & Farm

Southold Farm + Cellar is a winery and vineyard that started on the North Fork of Long Island by Regan and Carey Meador, sold, moved and that now exists in Gillespie County, Texas.

The winery's sole mission is to make wines that speak of place and time, that thrill and delight our friends, family and ourselves. In order to do so, their winemaking decisions are dictated by what has happened during that season, not stylistic emulation of other regions or forced consistency.

Southold believes in farming first and non-interventionist cellar methods.

All of this means you should expect their wines to vary year to year, like individual children with their personalities, they hope their work tells the story of Texas and that vintage through each variety in each parcel.

Shipping Details

 US Natural Wine ships once a week, every Wednesday. All orders should be placed by Tuesday at 10am in order to be picked up from our distributors and out on Wednesday's delivery truck.

Shipping cost is 18 bucks a box (up to 12 bottles) so we highly encourage picking up more than 1 bottle for the best value!

At $18, we have some of the most competitive shipping rates compared to other low-intervention wine e-commerce, which can range from $20-$25 a box. Ultimately, we eat the cost of shipping more often than not because wine can be damn heavy. As a small business, we are simply unable to offer free shipping. We can't thank you enough for your understanding!