Brennan Vineyards
by
Terry Sullivan
Summary: About an hour’s drive from other nearby wineries, Brennan Vineyards is a must see destination. The tasting room is housed in an 1870’s home, the winery is a beautiful architectural building in which form follows function and the event center can host a variety of events.
We met Pat Brennan, owner and winemaker, who gave us a tour of the tasting room, winery and event center. The tasting room is housed in the McCrary House built in 1879. It is the second oldest home in Comanche County and one of the oldest houses in West Central Texas. The McCrary’s operated a dry goods store and raised nine children in this limestone house. By the late 1940’s the house was abandoned but later purchased and restored. Several people owned the house until Pat bought the house in 1997. This historic landmark makes a wonderful tasting room for Brennan wines. A room opposite the tasting room has several tables and chairs. The red carpet and wood contrast nicely with the limestone walls. The central hallway has the perfect spot to showcase some of the wine awards including cowboy boots and a coveted saddle. The tasting room also has wood that contrasts nicely with the limestone. The counter can comfortably seat several people. Another room off the tasting room is used for retail and has an assortment of food items and giftware.
The limestone color of the walls in the McCrary House complements the white stone used for the winery. The winery is a new building that features a great room with windows looking into the two side rooms. On one side stainless steel tanks are awaiting juice and wine from the 2009 harvest. Wine is quietly aging on the other side of the great room in the barrel room where barrels are stacked four high. There is some space for additional barrels. A wonder to see is the great room, reminiscent of a great room in a castle. The high ceiling, stonewalls, antler chandeliers and warm wood give the feel of a European castle. Large wooden tables in the center of the room provide space for meetings and small events.
A large event facility is in a separate building on the campus. The event room has a fully equipped restaurant kitchen. It can accommodate a variety of events including wine dinners, weddings, receptions, corporate meetings and parties. An outdoor seating area with a fireplace offers a wonderful area to enjoy a glass or bottle of Brennan Vineyards wine.
In 1997 Pat bought the house and 33 acres of land. He planted grapes on five acres and by 2002 sold grapes to other wineries. The original five acres included Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Viognier. These acres were increased to nine acres and an additional 18 acres were planted about nine miles away in Newburg. Some of the grapes include Malbec, Ruby Cabernet, Muscat of Alexandria, Semillon, Mourvedre, Tempranillo, and Nero d'Avola. Current case production is about 4,500 cases.
White Wines
We tasted several wines with Pat. A previous vintage Viognier won a saddle at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition. We tasted a 2008 Viognier. It offered a citrus and peach aroma and taste. It was slightly sweet with a residual sugar of 0.7 percent. The crisp finish was citrusy yielding to peaches. The 2008 Austin St. Three White Chicks was a blend of Semillon, Chardonnay and Viognier. It had a pear and citrus aroma and fruit salad taste. The finish was crisp and fruity. Muscat Blanc 2008 with a residual sugar of 3.5 had a floral and orange aroma. The taste had orange nuances. The finish was smooth, fruity and crisp.
Red Wines
The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon had blackberry nuances on the nose and taste. The finish was crisp and fruity with mild tannins. The Austin Street Red 2005 was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. The aroma had notes of cherries and blackberries while the taste had cherry overtones. The wine finished crisp with tannins. Syrah 2006 offered spice aromas with some pepper. The taste was of blackberries. It was crisp with tannins. Comanche Rose 2007 was a blend of Nero d’ Avola and Muscat of Alexandria. There were peaches and tropical fruit nuances on the nose. The taste was of fruit salad with notes of strawberries, peaches and citrus. The finish was crisp and fruity.
Plan to visit Comanche, Texas and see everything Brennan Vineyards has to offer. From a historic house, to a state of the art winery, you’ll enjoy your visit. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the beautiful landscaped grounds on this wonderful wine campus.
Brennan Vineyards
802 South Austin Street
Comanche, Texas 76442
N31º 53.466’ W98º 36.232’
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