In my thirteen years of visiting wineries, I’ve been blessed to enjoy some truly incredible moments with winemakers. One recent experience stands out, as a winemaker’s gesture left an unforgettable mark on me. Following my recent storytelling about my adventures with Uruguay Tannat, I was completely surprised to receive a personalized bottle of Bending Branch Tannat during my visit there. It was an extraordinary and heartfelt gift that deeply resonated with me.
The fact that it was from Dr. Robert “Bob” Young, one of Texas’ most awarded wine pioneers, and a winery that brands itself for being “the Tannat House of Texas” made it even more special. Dr. Bob’s love for Tannat began when he was studying wine making in the U.C. Davis program and has continued through his winemaking career.
During my trip to Fredericksburg, I was able to visit Bending Branch Winery and catch up with Dr. Bob and General Manager Jennifer Cernosek about what’s happening.
Last year, Bending Branch Winery announced that they also had become a distillery offering premium bourbon in Texas. The Young family grew up in Kentucky and they source bourbon from top distilleries in the state and further age the barrels in Texas. His daughter, Allison, a master blender is responsible for the program.
As I wrote last week as I recapped the trip, Bending Branch Winery is known for its innovative approach to winemaking and its commitment to organic wines and farming sustainably. Founded in 2009 by Dr. Robert W. Young, a retired family and preventive medicine physician, his wife Brenda, and their daughter Alison, Bending Branch Winery has a unique backstory rooted in Dr. Young combining modern science with Old World best practices.
We drove around the grounds where we were greeted by chickens who were helping with the vineyard’s pest management. In 2023, the winery had its largest harvest to date, bringing in more than 30 grape varieties. We also talked about how the winery has one of the longest ongoing custom crush programs, where they meet the demand for 20 smaller wineries.
Bending Branch Winery has a unique backstory rooted in Dr. Young’s scientific background and passion for wine. Inspired by the potential health benefits of procyanidins found in high concentrations in Tannat-based wines, Dr. Young sought to create wines that tasted exceptional and potentially promoted wellness. Bending Branch Winery became a pioneer in Texas in utilizing cutting-edge winemaking techniques such as flash détente and cryo-maceration to make “next world wines” by extracting maximum flavor polyphonols and healthful compounds from the grapes. These processes also help to combat the harmful effects of climate change on Texas grapes.
Dr. Bob uses a combination of whole-berry, or partial carbonic maceration to extract the best qualities from grapes to make bold and balanced red wines. Bending Branch is best known for Tannat and with good reason. Dr. Bob told me “My biggest learning is that it’s easier to make wine than grow grapes. It’s a true partnership with the vineyard growers and we strive to amplify the grapes’ voices.”
We had a chance to try two Tannats and a Petit Verdot. Then we moved to the bourbons, We then tried two bourbons — ChickenDuck Four Grain High Rye Bourbon, named after two of the original chickens and ducks that roamed the vineyard and is made sustainably, and the Bending Branch 1840 Culinaria Private Barrel Bourbon Blend. Both were delicious. The Bending Branch 1840 Culinaria Private Barrel Bourbon Blend just won a Double Platinum medal in the ASCOT Awards
And I had to talk about the special blend of Tannat. This version was a smooth, full-bodied, robust red wine with a big mouthfeel and complex flavors. I tasted notes of blackberry, black cherry, herbs, black currant, Asian spice, leather, and mocha. It was delicious and definitely a bottle to remember. Dr. Bob told me about the experimentation that led to a blend of Tannat and Petit Manseng and why it works so well.
Looking back on my journey through Fredericksburg, Texas, the gracious hospitality, and thoughtful gesture of Bending Branch Winery, was so special. The personalized gift of their lovely Tannat, presented by Dr. Robert “Bob” Young, epitomizes the passion poured into every bottle. From their commitment to sustainability to their innovative approach to winemaking, Bending Branch stands as a beacon of excellence in the Texas wine and bourbon scene. It’s more than just a destination; it’s a testament to the enduring spirit of the Texas Hill Country—a place where tradition, innovation, and a love for the land create great experiences.
