Arché is turning out wines that rank with the best in Texas and inspiring others to grow grapes in their part of the world. Howard and Amy have even persuaded one of their sons, Grayson, to join the team as winemaker (their other son, Patrick, also makes wine, but in Paso Robles, California). Recently, I visited the winery and took a walk around the vineyard as well as tasting the wines. The 2011 Ryan's Red Syrah, Montague County, TX comes entirely from the winery's own vineyard. The grapes were the sole varietal survivor of the 2011 heat wave. Harvest, normally something that takes place in September, was moved forward to July, and even then the grapes were shriveled from multiple over-100 degree days and even one that reached 119 degrees. The result, from all of the water evaporation, is wine with an intensity of flavor that is unusual in Texas. I expect this example to win medals when it is released (I had a barrel sample).

Be the first to comment