Visiting a newly opened winery is like a crapshoot. It could be an awesome discovery or a painful experience, and the odds favor the latter. Tara Winery in Athens is a lucky roll. Despite being open for less than half a year, winemaker Patrick Pierce is already producing wines that will get him noticed on the Texas wine scene.
Patrick, another graduate of the Grayson County College Viticulture and Enology program, makes his wines in a Spanish style and focuses on affordability (all wines are between $10 and $20). Wines are aged in American oak barrels except the Chardonnay, which is aged in French oak. The winemaker operates under the philosophy that when you taste a wine, you should be able to taste the subtleties and nuances of the parent grape(s). Hence, the Tara Chardonnay is more like a fruity New Zealand Chardonnay than a buttery California Chardonnay. It’s lightly oaked for a crisp, clean finish, and is one of my favorite Texas Chardonnays thus far.
Like other winemakers in Texas who embrace the frontier attitude, Patrick wants to develop the grapes native to Texas (which are resistant to Pierce’s Disease). He has two versions of the Blanc du Bois, dry and semi-sweet, both of which can hang with the best Blanc du Bois in Texas, the competition favorite from Haak Winery. The winemakers from the two wineries are good friends, so perhaps this is no coincidence. Patrick also makes a medium bodied Cynthiana with grapes native to East Texas.
Patrick confesses that he himself prefers the big, bold reds. Thus, the Tara wine he is most proud of is his Syrah. As much as I enjoyed the well rounded Tara Syrah, my favorite red during this tasting was actually the American Zinfandel with its slightly spicy flavor.
Currently, Tara wines are only available for purchase at the winery. With so many promising products at such a young age, Tara Winery is definitely one to watch. Soon enough, this winery will start garnering those coveted medals at wine competitions and making a well-deserved name for itself.
Tara Vineyard & Winery
8603 CR 3914
Athens, TX 75752
Posted by foodczar on December 18, 2007 at 11:24 am
When my lovely wife the Rock Star and I were young(er)and (more)foolish, we used to love over-oaked chards, but we must confess we prefer the lightly or non-oaked versions these days. Question: Did you find Tara’s Syrah to be more French (subtle spice) or Australian (more forward spice) in nature?
Posted by donnaaries on December 18, 2007 at 1:28 pm
I would say that the Tara Syrah is more like the French Syrahs from the Rhone region of France. I typically prefer the fruitier, riper Shiraz (Australian) which is part of the reason why in the case of Tara, I thought the Zin was the red that stood out.
Posted by Galen Samford on December 30, 2007 at 6:16 pm
I live in Midlothian Texas and would like directions to the winery.
Posted by Mike on December 30, 2007 at 10:05 pm
From Yahoo maps:
http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&lat=32.469305&lon=-96.452225&mag=8&q1=Midlothian%2C%20Tx&q2=8603%20CR%203914%20Athens%2C%20TX%2075752
It looks like you’re in a pickle because there is no direct way to get there from Midlothian. But, if you are heading south on Texas 175, you will pass up County Road 2329, and it will be the second left after that (County Road – 3918). You have to keep your eyes open, there is a small sign indicating that it is approaching on your left.
Once you are on County Road 3918, take the first left (County Road 3914). The winery will be about a mile on the left (there is a sign).
When you turn in the driveway, the driveway will split. One driveway will go to the right to the house, and the other to the left. Take the left driveway, it will lead you to the tasting room.
Hope that helps!
Posted by Will Yoder on May 3, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Love the place. Where I’ll be working this summer. It really is beautiful out there, I advise a visit if you live anywhere around Athens, Texas.
Posted by donnaaries on July 13, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Went back to Tara today for a second visit. The place was busy as they were picking the Blanc du Bois grapes on property. Found a new favorite summer white wine, Tara’s Angel’s Kiss, a 25% Chardonnay/75% Blanc du Bois blend. A hint of sweet from the Blanc du Bois rounded out by the clean finish of the Chardonnay.
Posted by D'Ann Jordan on October 23, 2008 at 11:18 am
I would like to come to the Blues and Jazz event…I cannot locate a phone or contact number to find out the calendar.
D’Ann Jordan
Posted by Jack & Jill Walker on November 7, 2008 at 8:32 am
We visited Tara Wineries last Sunday and it was exquisite. The people laid back but professional, the ambionce wonderful, the scenery awesome……and we own an east tx. ranch……..the wine was fantastic, we took home several bottles…..we are planning to go back tommorrow………
Jack & jill walker
Posted by TARA on April 24, 2009 at 8:08 am
There is a party saturday night with gengerlea and i think that we have a really good sweet wine
Posted by mary windlow on May 7, 2009 at 12:23 pm
We will be in Athens the weekend of May 22-24. Do you have music that weekend? Also, do you serve dinner?
Posted by Sharla on July 20, 2009 at 10:17 pm
this place is way out in the boons! The road is awful (don’t bring your vettes). The music they play is way too loud. And the owners are obnoxious. And the surrounding neighbors are clannish and scary. You don’t want to have a break down or flat out there! When I visited, when the music wasn’t blaring, I heard a lot of gunfire. And I had to leave early to treat my massive headache!
Posted by D. D. Currie on August 29, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Welcome to Texas…..now go home!