Texas country highways in the springtime are idyllic, all blankets of wildflowers and baby cows. The April rains have made the grass tall and green. The smell of hickory and mesquite smoke hovers faintly in the air. And if you tire of the ever-thickening traffic as you pass through growing cities like Temple and Waco, the Hill Country is dotted with small, hospitable wineries.
One such place is Salado Winery Co., about an hour north of Austin. The town of Salado (pronounced “suh-LAY-doh,” a local guy helpfully told me) is a town of around 2,500. It lies conveniently just off Interstate 35, but blessedly away from the glitzy crowds that descend on historic wine destinations like Fredericksburg. It’s open seven days a week for tastings between noon and 6 PM.
We pulled into the long limestone-gravel driveway and parked the car. We approached the large barn-like building at the center of the meadow. There we met the guardian at the threshold and the keeper of the kingdom, Winery Cat.
Winery Cat is the mascot and superstar of Salado Winery. Not content merely to be Instagram-famous, Winery Cat makes regular appearances for selfies and autographs with her adoring visitors. (Well, she doesn’t actually sign autographs…but I bet she would if she had opposable thumbs.) In the bar/shop, there is a large photo canvas of her white-mittened Highness, and various Winery Cat merchandise available for sale.
Winery Cat likes ear scritchies, but Wine Fairy likes wine. So after some obligatory kitty cuddles, we moved on into the winery building for our first pour of the day.
As soon as the door to the tasting room opened, we were walloped with the sweet, yeasty aroma of the fermentation vats just one room over. Salado Winery makes several types of wine right on the premises and had recently started a new tank of cider. If they’re not too busy, you can ask for a short tour of the production room and see the batches in progress. (Our group of three stopped in on the Friday before Easter and for a little while we had the place to ourselves.)
Winemaker (and bar attendant) Eric walked us through the tasting options. Most days, there are around 10 or 12 products to choose from. It’s $10 for 5 tastings, or single tastes for $2 each. You can also order wines by the glass or bottle. Enjoy your wine on the porch or front yard, or sit and sip in the sunny parlor/classroom on the other side of the bar.
Salado Winery boasts the “Texiest” wines in the state, with an emphasis on locally grown grapes. Several wines are made from Salado Winery’s own vineyards in Bell County. (They were first planted in 2005-2006 and have produced Chardonnay, Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.) For other wines, Salado Winery uses grapes from neighbors and collaborators including Denison’s Homestead Winery and 3 Texans Winery in nearby Temple.
The wines on the tasting menu are made on-site from 100% Texas grapes. The tasting room’s shop is stocked exclusively with wines from Salado Winery and other small wineries–all Texas-grown, with the sole exception of their sparkling wine.
The wines are broadly divided into three categories: Dry, Sweet, and Dessert. There’s some novel pours, including a red vermouth. (Eric recommended taking home a bottle to use as a cocktail mixer. Mmmmm…Texas Manhattans, anyone?) Regardless of your palate and preferences, there’s something here you’re gonna want to try.
I had two tasting buddies with me, and I am more afraid of missing out on good wine than I am of germs. So we passed the glasses between us and I was able to try all of the wines on offer. (I wasn’t driving that day.) I also got a sip of that new cider and two off-menu wines: A dry and tannic Petit Sirah and a sherry-style barrel-aged white.
Patrick–mostly a cocktail drinker–favored the ‘Dillo Dally, a red-fruited tipple he described as “just the right amount of sweet.” Sarah, who prefers bold reds, settled on the richly textured, plummy 2020 Loyal Blue Tempranillo. My favorite wine of the day was the 2020 Big Bully, a medium-bodied red (100% Mourvedre from Lorena, Texas) with flavors of baked cherry, toast and savory herbs.
The highlight of my day was a peek at the solera (continuous aging system) that Salado Winery uses to make their two fortified wines. It was my first time seeing a working solera in Texas and it was really cool!
The 12-barrel solera system is stacked three levels high and divided into double columns (red- and white-wine aging systems of six oak barrels each). New wine goes in the top, ready-to-drink wine comes out of the bottom barrels.
I was lucky enough to try both of the solera-aged wines, the William’s Select Solera Tinto and the William’s Select Solera Blanco. Salado’s Solera Tinto is a velvety Port-style fortified dessert wine, rich in similar black plum flavor to their Tempranillo and not too sweet. The Solera Blanco was a unique and decadent treat. (This was my actual favorite pour…but it’s not on the tasting menu so it doesn’t count.) It’s closest in style to a medium Amontillado sherry with oxidative aromas of dried fig and walnut, a slightly bready palate, and a long citrusy finish.
While we were finishing our glasses (and watching a half-melted Winery Cat peel herself from the toasted patio), owner June stopped in. I got a tour of the other side room, the retail store Salado Wine Seller. There, an admirable selection of international wines is available by the bottle or mixed case. Salado Winery Co. also offers events and classes, which alternate between fun outings for wine beginners and educational sessions on special topics. (Next month is Wines of Portugal–check their schedule for upcoming events.)
Salado Winery is a lovely place to stop for a splash of wine, a moment of sunshine, and some Southern hospitality. As we continued down the center of Texas to meet with friends for the weekend, we were grateful for this wine oasis right smack in the middle of our drive. The winery is beautiful and their commitment to supporting Texas wines is undeniable. I couldn’t leave without a bottle of the Loyal Blue Tempranillo–and of course, a black Winery Cat-shaped corkscrew.
Other things to know: Salado Winery has some limited food options available for purchase (cheese and crackers). Leashed dogs, well-behaved kids, and picnics are welcome. No party busses or limos. Reservations are recommended on good-weather weekends and for parties of eight or more.
Where: Salado Winery Co., 841 N Main St, Salado, TX 76571 (off of Interstate 35, about halfway between Waco and Austin)
How much: Tastings are $2 each or 5 pours for $10. Most wine and cider by the glass is $8. Texas bottles are $20 up to $65 (solera-aged wines).
Review disclosure: I was not compensated or provided any free products for this review. Opinions expressed on The Wine Fairy blog are entirely my own.
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