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Houston winery tour kicks off with Bernhardt Winery
  
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By Ron Saikowski
Houston Wine Walk
This week begins our tour of the wineries in the Greater Houston area in alphabetical order.
Our first winery on this tour is Bernhardt Winery, with Circle S Winery next week, followed by Colony Cellars, Haak Winery, Messina Hof, Pleasant Hill Winery, Purple Possum Winery, Wimberly Hill Winery, Windy Hill Winery, and Yepez Winery.
Bernhardt Winery is a dream of two school teachers come true. Jerry Bernhardt had taught for many years as a vocational education instructor at several high schools and then became the director of the vocational education department in the Texas Department of Corrections for 10 years where he established the first accredited program for vocational education in a prison system in the nation.
His wife, Jerri, taught fifth grade for many years in Conroe. Their dream started with Mr. “J” interning at Woodrose Winery in the Texas Hill Country. He worked closely with winemaker Bryan Wilgus on the weekends and during the summer months. The winery started to become a reality when they purchased a 12-acre tract in the gently rolling hills between Plantersville and Dobbin.
They planted two test vineyards of grapes with friends in the early spring of 2004, utilizing a variety of grapes to determine which grape variety would grow best in their area. They began constructing their initial phase of their winery facilities on weekends and after school hours. In addition, the Bernhardts were working closely with their mentor at Woodrose Winery to produce wine for their pending opening.
The initial winery facilities contained a tasting room, a single bedroom on the second floor, winery/bedroom kitchen on the fist floor, fermentation room, and a temperature-controlled wine storage room. The north end of the building has a large porch which is ideal for musicians to play to wine lovers sitting on the north lawn.
They opened their facility on July 31, 2005 with much apprehension, not knowing how they would be received. Jerry Bernhardt had officially retired from his education career in May 2005 so the winery had to provide some support to augment the difference between his teaching income and retirement income. It turns out their biggest problem was they did not have enough wine made since they sold out within several months. The Bernhardts purchased as much of the available Texas grapes and augmented their needs from California vineyards, marking their first official wine production in their new facilities.
When Mrs. “J” retired from school teaching last May, the Bernhardts officially moved into the bedroom loft. During the last six months, the Bernhardts have tripled the size of their facilities with a large fermentation room, two large cold storage rooms for their wines, laboratory, and a large hospitality room where the original fermentation room and cold storage room were. The Bernhardts are replacing their cramped bedroom loft with a comfortable apartment above the new winery addition with plans to renovate/expand the bedroom loft into a “Bed & Breakfast” facility.
Over the last three years, the Bernhardts have established their winery as a weekend destination for many in the North Houston area. They have established Sunday evening concerts, generating gatherings of wine lovers on the north lawn of the winery in the hundreds on every Sunday evening from April until the middle of November.
A tradition of toasting the setting sun is observed at the Sunday evening concerts and the other six days of the week by the Bernhardts. They stop each evening to recognize the important things, the little things, the things they appreciate, and most especially their friends. The Bernhardts appreciate each person they meet and make you feel comfortable with their outward, home-style hospitality. Their success in their winery is based on this genuine friendliness, their great wines, and the comfortable surroundings.
The Bernhardt Winery produces a variety of wines to suit most palates. They produce classic wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, PORT (made with a 20-year-old Brandy), and Meritage-style blend named SARAH (after the early 19th century actress, Sarah Bernhardt). Their releases also include a rounded red wine called CRIMSON, a sweet white wine BLANCO DOLCE, and a blend of red and white wines called AGGIE BLUSH. The BERNHARDT sweet German-style Riesling wine, SCHROCK, is named in honor of Mrs. Bernhardt’s maiden name. Mr. “J” makes this sweet wine for his sweet lady and for you to enjoy with your sweet lady.
Houston has an abundance of wine events. Below is a sampling of several of those events which I believe will be outstanding:
Nov. 20 – The French-American Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 25th Annual Beaujolais Festival at the Hyatt Regency Imperial Ballroom to celebrate the annual rite of their wine releases. Advance tickets are $50 per adult. Call (713) 960-0575.
Nov. 21 – Messina Hof Winery in Bryan will be hosting its Turkey Time Tour beginning at 7 p.m. with four food and wine stations around the winery. Cost is $25 per person. For more information, go to www.messinahof.com
Nov. 23 and Nov. 30 – Yepez Winery will be hosting musician Bob Curry from 2 to 5 p.m. in their winery courtyard. For more information, go to www.yepezwinery.com.
RON’S PICKS -- this week is a red wine which will be somewhat hard to find since the wine is available at the winery and at certain restaurants. DAVE & HELEN STACY of CIRCLE S WINERY in Sugar Land released their VINTER’S 06 CABERNET SAUVIGNON this Spring. This is a BIG, hearty red wine that is full bodied with a presence of tannins to know you are drinking the “king of wines.” This wine has cherry flavors and would pair well with a big, thick, juicy Texas char broiled steak. A wine this big has a small price of $28 per bottle.
Our first winery on this tour is Bernhardt Winery, with Circle S Winery next week, followed by Colony Cellars, Haak Winery, Messina Hof, Pleasant Hill Winery, Purple Possum Winery, Wimberly Hill Winery, Windy Hill Winery, and Yepez Winery.
Bernhardt Winery is a dream of two school teachers come true. Jerry Bernhardt had taught for many years as a vocational education instructor at several high schools and then became the director of the vocational education department in the Texas Department of Corrections for 10 years where he established the first accredited program for vocational education in a prison system in the nation.
His wife, Jerri, taught fifth grade for many years in Conroe. Their dream started with Mr. “J” interning at Woodrose Winery in the Texas Hill Country. He worked closely with winemaker Bryan Wilgus on the weekends and during the summer months. The winery started to become a reality when they purchased a 12-acre tract in the gently rolling hills between Plantersville and Dobbin.
They planted two test vineyards of grapes with friends in the early spring of 2004, utilizing a variety of grapes to determine which grape variety would grow best in their area. They began constructing their initial phase of their winery facilities on weekends and after school hours. In addition, the Bernhardts were working closely with their mentor at Woodrose Winery to produce wine for their pending opening.
The initial winery facilities contained a tasting room, a single bedroom on the second floor, winery/bedroom kitchen on the fist floor, fermentation room, and a temperature-controlled wine storage room. The north end of the building has a large porch which is ideal for musicians to play to wine lovers sitting on the north lawn.
They opened their facility on July 31, 2005 with much apprehension, not knowing how they would be received. Jerry Bernhardt had officially retired from his education career in May 2005 so the winery had to provide some support to augment the difference between his teaching income and retirement income. It turns out their biggest problem was they did not have enough wine made since they sold out within several months. The Bernhardts purchased as much of the available Texas grapes and augmented their needs from California vineyards, marking their first official wine production in their new facilities.
When Mrs. “J” retired from school teaching last May, the Bernhardts officially moved into the bedroom loft. During the last six months, the Bernhardts have tripled the size of their facilities with a large fermentation room, two large cold storage rooms for their wines, laboratory, and a large hospitality room where the original fermentation room and cold storage room were. The Bernhardts are replacing their cramped bedroom loft with a comfortable apartment above the new winery addition with plans to renovate/expand the bedroom loft into a “Bed & Breakfast” facility.
Over the last three years, the Bernhardts have established their winery as a weekend destination for many in the North Houston area. They have established Sunday evening concerts, generating gatherings of wine lovers on the north lawn of the winery in the hundreds on every Sunday evening from April until the middle of November.
A tradition of toasting the setting sun is observed at the Sunday evening concerts and the other six days of the week by the Bernhardts. They stop each evening to recognize the important things, the little things, the things they appreciate, and most especially their friends. The Bernhardts appreciate each person they meet and make you feel comfortable with their outward, home-style hospitality. Their success in their winery is based on this genuine friendliness, their great wines, and the comfortable surroundings.
The Bernhardt Winery produces a variety of wines to suit most palates. They produce classic wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, PORT (made with a 20-year-old Brandy), and Meritage-style blend named SARAH (after the early 19th century actress, Sarah Bernhardt). Their releases also include a rounded red wine called CRIMSON, a sweet white wine BLANCO DOLCE, and a blend of red and white wines called AGGIE BLUSH. The BERNHARDT sweet German-style Riesling wine, SCHROCK, is named in honor of Mrs. Bernhardt’s maiden name. Mr. “J” makes this sweet wine for his sweet lady and for you to enjoy with your sweet lady.
Houston has an abundance of wine events. Below is a sampling of several of those events which I believe will be outstanding:
Nov. 20 – The French-American Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its 25th Annual Beaujolais Festival at the Hyatt Regency Imperial Ballroom to celebrate the annual rite of their wine releases. Advance tickets are $50 per adult. Call (713) 960-0575.
Nov. 21 – Messina Hof Winery in Bryan will be hosting its Turkey Time Tour beginning at 7 p.m. with four food and wine stations around the winery. Cost is $25 per person. For more information, go to www.messinahof.com
Nov. 23 and Nov. 30 – Yepez Winery will be hosting musician Bob Curry from 2 to 5 p.m. in their winery courtyard. For more information, go to www.yepezwinery.com.
RON’S PICKS -- this week is a red wine which will be somewhat hard to find since the wine is available at the winery and at certain restaurants. DAVE & HELEN STACY of CIRCLE S WINERY in Sugar Land released their VINTER’S 06 CABERNET SAUVIGNON this Spring. This is a BIG, hearty red wine that is full bodied with a presence of tannins to know you are drinking the “king of wines.” This wine has cherry flavors and would pair well with a big, thick, juicy Texas char broiled steak. A wine this big has a small price of $28 per bottle.
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