Stone House Vineyard

This winery is listed in: Central Texas Wineries

Stone House Vineyard
24350 Haynie Flat Rd.
Spicewood, TX 78669
(512) 264-3639
Website: www.stonehousevineyard.com

A winery located near Austin is Stone House Vineyard. Stone House is located off Highway 71 on Haynie Flat Road, just past Barton Creek Lakeside Country Club. The 6½ acre vineyard is densely planted with 100% Norton. Stone House is owned by Angela and Howard Moench. Angela is in charge of the vineyard, and she is also the winemaker. Her family owns vineyards in the Barossa Valley, but she learned her winemaking in Texas.

Most of the 15 wines produced at Stone House are made from Australian grapes, but Angela makes two wines from Norton grapes grown on the property.

The first wine is called Claros, and it has won lots of awards. Unfortunately, it is sold out at the winery, and the next vintage will not be available until late summer. However, we found a bottle at the Austin Wine Merchant for $21.25 and tried it the next day. The wine has a surprisingly complex nose showing current, spice, plum, and mocha. In the mouth the wine offered cherry, spice, and plum. Good acid and a long clean finish make this wine easy to pair with lamb or veal. Claros is a good bottle of wine, and one that you should try if you can get a hold of it.

The other Stone House wine made from Texas Norton grapes is Scheming Beagle Port ($24.95 for 500 ml). Ripe fruit flavors with spicy notes highlight this simple port.

The other wines offered at Stone House are made from imported grapes. We tasted the Lyre wine series and brought home a 2005 Mersanne from Wrattonbully ($15.95) and a Tempranillo from Barossa ($17.95). The XO 50 Year Tawny Port ($55 for 500 ml) was the best international offering we sampled. A classic tawny with caramel, dried fruit, and orange peel, this excellent dessert and after dinner wine is one that I also think you should try.

Angela Moench is an example of a talented winemaker producing wine in and around Austin that is complex and interesting. As a proponent of Texas wine, I can only hope that she finds more Texas grapes worth her time and talent.