Wichita Falls Vineyards & Winery February 2011 Dockline Issue

        Hey y'all! It's good to be back for another edition of Texas Uncorked. Before we get started with the month's featured winery, we would like to thank all of our monthly readers. We were pleasantly surprised to see how many of you come into the shop and let us know that you found us through the Dock Line Magazine. Thank you! I would also like to remind you that the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail is the first three weekends in April and kicks off with the Wine and Chocolate Trail the first two weekends in February. Call or come by for more details. Now on to out friends at Wichita Falls Vineyards & Winery.
        Nestled between the rustling water of the Wichita River and Buffalo Creek, Wichita Falls Vineyards produce wines which capture the unique spirit and history of the region from the Wia Chitoh Indians to today's international mix of culture and lifestyles. Wichita Falls Vineyards & Winery is family owned and is the culmination of a dream for Alton and Lana Gates. Together, with their daughter Rachel, they work to produce and make some of the finest Texas wines. Alton and Lana Gates moved to Wichita Falls in 1986 with Alton's job promotion ad District Manager form Greensville, Texas and was promoted to Regional Manager after the merger of TU and Enserch Corporations in 1997. Alton in now a retired Regional Manager or TXU Gas after 34 years in April 2003, and is the President and Winemaker of Wichita Falls Vineyards & Winery. Lana, now a recently retired teacher after 28 years, is co-founder and Vice President of Wichita Falls Vineyards & Winery. Alton has a B.S. Degree from

Southeastern Oklahoma State University with a Major in Aviation and a Minor in Business Administration. He also has a MBA from Texas A&M in Commerce where his wife, Lana, also received her B.S. Degree in Education. Alton holds a Commercial Pilots' License, Flight Instructor and Flight Instructor Instruments License.
        After vacationing in California wine country in 1995, and having a keen appreciation for good wine, Alton became interested in having a small vineyard and winery for a hobby. He and Lana had just bought a 77-acre pecan farm on the Wichita River, which had not produced a profitable income due to drought conditions, so they planted three acres in wine grapes. With drip irrigation, lots of intense care and work, the vines flourished and a small personal hobby has now become the Wichita Falls Vineyards & Winery. They are now producing over 22,000 cases a year using their grapes and grapes purchased and offer a variety of whites, reds, blushes, roses, a dessert wine and a reserve ruby port. Since opening the winery for business in November 2003, their wines have won numerous awards and have been recognized as one of the best new wineries in Texas by the Texas Best Wine Competition in Houston. Their flagship wine Wichita Red, a semi-sweet red blend, has won over 11 major awards, including a gold medal, It has been featured in the Wall Street Journal ad the best wine for Tex-Mex and bar-b-que and also won the People's Choice Award at the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival last summer. Over the past eight years, Alton has taken Viticulture and Enology courses at

Grayson County College to improve his knowledge in the grape and wine industry.
        As the Texas Wine Industry continues to expand, so does the Wichita Falls Vineyards & Winery. The winery has just introduced their second label, the Gates' winemaker/family label which will feature only exceptional grapes which are brought in from states outside of Texas to make special wines such as their new Gates' Reserve Port and Lake Harvest Dessert Wine. The Wichita Falls label will continue to be wines made exclusively from Texas grown grapes.
        You can find Wichita Falls Vineyards Wine at Rancher's Daughter, where we represent over 50 Texas wineries and over 100 varietals. Come in and taste Alton's wines or one of the many others that we have on daily tastings. We hope that you enjoy this column and as always, if you have any suggestions, we welcome them. Y'all come see us at The Rancher's Daughter, "Texas' Only Texas-Only Wine Shop". Harry and Rendy Kerr, native Texans and Montgomery residents, can be reached at 202B McCown Street, Montgomery, Texas 77356 (936)449-4100