Calais Winery: Crafting Exceptional Texas Wines with French Inspiration

Owned and operated by Benjamin Calais, this boutique winery specializes in Bordeaux-style wines that reflect the diverse terroir of Texas. Despite its modest size, Calais Winery has made an impact in the Texas wine scene through its meticulous craftsmanship and dedication to showcasing the best qualities of Texas grapes.

An Intimate Tasting Experience

At Calais Winery, the tasting room is literaly buried into the side of a small mound and is intimate (read small) and personal, catering to those who appreciate a casual exploration of their wine. The tasting room is Guests are required to make a reservation, ensuring an uncrowded, relaxed environment where wine enthusiasts can engage in a deep dive into the flavors and history of each bottle. With indoor seating, visitors are shielded from the Texas heat while they immerse themselves in wine education, led by knowledgeable presenters like Jeff, our guide for the day, you are provided with insights into the winemaking process and the story behind each wine.

The winery exudes a rustic charm that emphasizes its artisanal approach. While it doesn’t offer expansive scenic views, it creates a cozy ambiance that focuses squarely on the wines, allowing visitors to connect directly with the craftsmanship in their glass.

Exploring the Calais Wine Portfolio

Calais Winery has carved a niche for itself by specializing in Bordeaux varietals and blends, sourced from some of Texas’s premier grape-growing regions like the Texas High Plains. Here’s an exploration of their current offerings, each highlighting a different facet of Texas viticulture through a French lens.

2022 TX Blanc: A White Bordeaux Blend  

The 2022 TX Blanc ($43) represents Calais Winery’s take on a classic Bordeaux Blanc blend, 54% Sémillon with 46% Sauvignon Blanc. We rated this wine an impressive 92 points. The Blanc presents inviting citrus aromas, reminiscent of freshly squeezed lemons and lime zest. The palate follows with bright acidity, offering a crispness that pairs well with seafood or light summer salads. The Sémillon adds richness, while the Sauvignon Blanc contributes zesty acidity, resulting in a wine that is both complex and approachable.

2020 Cuvée du Ruisseau: A Texas High Plains Merlot  

Calais Winery’s 2020 Cuvée du Ruisseau ($59.12) stands out as an example of how the Merlot grape thrives in the Texas High Plains. With a high rating of 93 points, this wine delivers an extraordinary sensory experience. Aromatically complex, it opens with notes of orange peel, dried hibiscus, and toasted cashews. As it evolves on the palate, flavors of wet gravel, lavender, and layered tannins emerge, culminating in a rich black cherry finish. The Cuvée du Ruisseau’s balance of fruit, spice, and earthiness reflects the winery’s careful selection of fruit from premier vineyards. This wine also finished very well in our blind tasting with Rex Pickett of Sideways fame. The video of this tasting will drop shortly on our YouTube Channel.

2020 Cuvée de L’Exposition: A Powerful Cabernet Sauvignon  

A crowning jewel in the winery’s lineup is the 2020 Cuvée de L’Exposition ($140), a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Blue Mountain Trail Vineyard. Awarded an impressive 96 points, this wine is a testament to the heights that Texas-grown Cabernet Sauvignon can reach. Rich and complex, it offers flavors of cherry, plum, tobacco, lavender, leather, and pepper, underpinned by notes of coffee. Its power and elegance put it on par with some of Napa’s finest Cabernets, showcasing the potential of Texas vineyards when nurtured with care.

The Calais Winery Experience: Wine Club and More

For those who wish to explore Calais Winery’s offerings more deeply, the winery provides a wine club membership rated 4 out of 5, offering exclusive access to limited releases and member-only events. Joining the wine club allows enthusiasts to experience the winery’s range throughout the year while connecting with a community of like-minded wine lovers.

Conclusion: A Taste of France in the Heart of Texas

Calais Winery is more than just a stop on the Texas Wine Trail; it’s a destination for those who appreciate French-inspired, terroir-driven wines. With a portfolio spanning from crisp, citrus-driven whites to robust, tannin-rich reds, the winery showcases the versatility of Texas grapes through an old-world winemaking lens. The requirement of reservations, indoor seating, and a focus on the wines themselves set Calais apart as a winery for serious oenophiles. While not every wine in its lineup has received top marks, Calais Winery’s dedication to quality and the expression of Texas terroir makes it a noteworthy stop for any wine enthusiast visiting the region.