Many
people knew about Hye Meadow
Winery
long before it opened. Owners Mike and Denise Batek shared their journey on Facebook, posting
updates on the development of the property. Visits by bloggers Jeff Cope and Dave Potter also chronicled
the winery’s progress. And before the winery was open, Texas wine fans could
try out the wines; I had my first taste at Hye Market, the winery’s next door neighbor,
back in June (check out my blog post here). And just
before the official opening, the winery welcomed guests to the production room floor
to taste wines, providing a growing sample of the Hye Meadow portfolio.
Figure 1:
Hye Meadow Production Floor as Tasting Room
Opening Day
After a long
wait, August 3rd rolled around, and Hye Meadow opened the tasting
room doors and invited us all in. To mark the occasion, visitors left a bit of
themselves on the chalkboard posts that are found throughout the tasting room. The
wine tasting included seven wines (a sparkling, three whites, a blush, two
reds), but the highlight was the newly released sparkling cuvee. This
non-vintage white blend became the base for two different adult slushies: the sparkling
with Chambord or the sparkling, Chambord, and Orange Muscat.
Figure 2:
Chalkboard "Graffiti"
Good company,
great music, tasty food, and a comfortable atmosphere could be found at the
grand opening. The staff at the winery, including the owners and winemaker, made
sure to make each person feel welcome and comfortable. To aid in this endeavor,
the Peached Tortilla came from Austin to provide unique tacos and other light
bites. The highlight was the performance by Joe Dalton. Joe, a friend of owners
Mike and Denise, sang a mix of well-known songs and original material. His most
recent song, “Hye Meadow,” expressed his
joy in visiting the winery; inspired by a visit to the scenic grounds and the
dreams and hopes of his friends, Joe crafted a heartfelt song that embodies the
Texas wine spirit. And as a special gift, visitors received a copy of the
single.
Crafting a Texas Wine Experience
Now that the
fanfare is quieting down, the winery can focus on its mission. Hye Meadow is
still coming together; the back rooms and offices are still being worked out,
the new equipment has arrived from Italy and is being prepped for the upcoming
harvest, and little pieces are still being tweaked on the grounds. During the quiet
times, work is furious and excited behind the scenes. All of this is in hopes
of creating a memorable Texas wine experience.
Figure 3:
Tasting Room View of Back Porch
One of the goals
is to create a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Both Mike and winemaker Jeff Ivy
shared what they consider this best sort of experience: one where the guest gets
the chance to talk with owners and winemakers. At the grand opening, Mike and
Jeff worked to make that a reality, one that will continue. In addition to a
warm welcome, comfort is also important. Hye Meadow is set up so guests can wind
down: the back porch situated off the tasting room is well shaded, and the open
property before it allows for a great breeze. Another aspect Mike is
particularly proud of is all the work to make the winery open to everyone; the
back porch bar provides access to guests in wheelchairs.
Figure 4:
Back View from Front to Back: Outside Bar, Porch, Dance Floor, Events Center
The winery also
hopes to host numerous events. The outdoor events center provides a covered
getaway for parties and weddings. The ample space offers plenty of room for a
large group to dine and relax. It also has an extended porch; guests will feel
among the trees as they look out from this elevated space. It also has the best
view of the dance floor, nestled among nearby shade trees. And to help with any
sort of event, there is a full kitchen for caterers, as well as an extra room
right off the women’s restroom. And when the area isn’t reserved, the rest of
us can enjoy the shade and view.
Figure 5:
Hye Meadow Events Center
As for a wine
club, that is still being ironed out. Chris Black informed me that they are
still working out the numbers. However, Friends
in Hye Places will be available shortly. Mike even has ideas for wine club
events; he hopes to bring something unique to his members and is already
looking into different ideas.
Producing Great Wine
For winemaker
Jeff Ivy, his primary goal is to make high quality wines. To do this, Jeff and
Mike look for the best grapes. Jeff admitted that if that means occasionally
going outside of Texas (poor quality, limited supply, etc.), he will. As many
know, quality and quantity is an issue here in Texas. There are lots of
winemakers scrambling for limited grapes, which can make getting good ones
difficult. Add in the unpredictable weather, and the market can become rather
problematic. This is what the winery faced in its earliest days.
When Hye Meadow
was getting started, they struggled to find grapes. Most grapes were promised
to others, so Mike and Jeff looked outside the state and turned to Washington
state’s Columbia Valley (which is clearly labeled on the wine). These grapes
are found in the new sparkling cuvee, the Edelzwicker (Riesling-Gewürztrminer),
Shade Tree Blush (Riesling-Cab), and Sangiovese. If the future plans hold,
Sangiovese will be sourced from Texas and will remain a part of the portfolio,
as well as the sparkling. They would also like to make a Texas version of their
Edelzwicker; the grapes in the current blend aren’t particularly Texas
friendly, so more Texas friendly grapes are being sought out for future vintages.
The future of
the winery is Texas. Hye Meadow plans on making wines that are Texas food,
clientele, and climate friendly. Right now, three wines are all Texas sourced:
the Viognier, the Junkyard Red (Mourvdre-Merlot-Tempranillo), and the Orange
Muscat. Early next year, a single varietal Tempranillo will be released
(currently, the wine’s nose is lush with oak and pepper that is matched by a
subtle progression of flavors). And further down the line will be other warm
weather varietals, especially Italian ones. For whites, Jeff wants to work with
Trebbiano, Roussane, and Malvasia Bianca. Reds will include Dolcetto, Aglianico,
and Montepulciano. The Trebbiano and Dolcetto are the grapes Jeff hopes to make
into flagship wines. To help with all of this, Jeff and Mike have been working
with a number of Texas growers, including Andy and Dusty Timmons, and will be
growing on the Hye Meadow property next to the events center.
Today
Figure 6:
From Left to Right: Mike Batek, Chris Blakc, Jeff Ivy
Though each
member of the Hye Meadow team looks toward tomorrow, they are clearly aware of
how they got to this moment. Mike will happily share the process of building
the winery, including how many screws were needed to build the back porch. Jeff
tells stories of the lucky breaks in getting grapes, as well as the diverted
grape disasters. Chris Black has moved beyond the place holder website to one
with a more personal touch. Now all that the winery needs is smiling faces
ready to enjoy what they have created.
