We’re just beginning to see wines from the 2019 harvest showing up in North Texas. One you won’t want to miss ― and it is going fast ― is the recently launched 2019 Wanderer Series Relief Project Red Blend from the Texas Hill Country’s William Chris Vineyards, made in concert with Austin master sommelier Craig Collins. And 100% of the profits from the sale of the 2019 red blend go to Southern Smoke to aid Texas restaurant industry workers in need.
“This all happened so fast,” Collins says. “We had the wine blended, labeled, bottled and out to the distributors in 3 1/2 weeks, and a week after that, it is on the shelves in stores. We needed to move with a sense of urgency, to get the proceeds into the hands of those who need it badly. William and Chris put it in overdrive and got after it.”
From vineyards in the Texas High Plains, this red is a 100% Texas-grown blend of 95% cinsault and 5% mourvèdre, classic Mediterranean grapes, drawing comparisons to cru Beaujolais and Northern Italian ripasso reds. While young, it displays an exuberant and playful character, marked by flavors of cherry, raspberry, violets and cranberry. It’s a delicious quaff, just in time for the Texas heat and outdoor life, with grilled and smoked meats, roasted chicken or a cherished Tex-Mex combo platter.
William Chris Vineyards co-owners William Blackmon and Chris Brundrett wanted to give back to the Texas restaurant industry, hit so hard by layoffs and closings during these times, and they’d already been talking about a collaboration with Collins. The sommelier reached out to famed Houston chef Chris Shepherd, who in 2015 launched Southern Smoke, a charitable organization that initially offered support to sommelier Antonio Gianola, who had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Then the organization branched out to help people in the food and beverage industry after Hurricane Harvey.
It was a natural segue for William Chris to team up with Collins and Shepherd to benefit Texas hospitality industry workers, who can now apply to Southern Smoke for grants to help with rent, food and the daily necessities of life.
This small-batch wine is available locally at select Whole Foods stores, Central Market, Royal Blue Grocery and North Oak Cliff Beer and Wine, in limited supply for around $20. But you’ve got to act fast. The wine is getting snapped up. Indeed, so fast, the trio is now pondering their next charitable move. This is Texas, after all, where one battle doesn’t win a war.