Wine maker Ben Cala focuses on Rhone Valley varietals—like Picpoul Blanc, Counoise, and Syrah—while maintaining a strict commitment to 100% Texas-grown fruit. We sit down with Victoria and Sheri to discuss their unique journeys from farming and finance into the wine industry, their hands-on approach to renovating their rustic property, and why their "Two-Step Tasting" is a must-try experience.
Whether you're looking for elegant wines, a French butter board, or a peaceful stay in one of their on-site "masons," French Connection Wines offers a top-tier Texas wine experience.
Visit *French Connection Wines (https://www.frenchconnectionhye.com/)*
00:00:11 Texas Wine Lover App & Website Overview
00:03:06 Introduction to Texas Under Vine
00:04:01 Meet the Founders of French Connection Wines
00:06:21 Rhone Style vs. Bordeaux Style: The Sister Winery Connection
00:07:03 French Release Parties and the Famous Butter Board
00:07:49 Staying On-Site: The Masons at French Connection
00:09:18 Interview Begins with Victoria Calais and Sheri Patillo
00:10:37 Sheri’s Journey: From International Finance to Wine Diploma
00:13:19 Victoria’s Journey: Organic Farming to Wine Production
00:16:04 Renovating the Property: Sweat Equity and French Aesthetics
00:19:11 Signature Varietals: Picpoul Blanc and Counoise
00:24:01 Sourcing Fruit: High Plains and Davis Mountains
00:27:11 The Story Behind the Name
00:32:44 Winemaking Philosophy: French Oak and Minimal Intervention
00:34:36 Special Events: Crepes and the Two-Step Tasting
00:40:41 Hospitality and the Reserve Tasting Experience
00:44:38 Operating Hours and Reservations
00:47:40 Join the Wine Club: Exclusive Small Batch Releases
01:00:39 Wine Library Selection: 2022 Viognier Tasting Notes
Become a Patreon of Texas Under Vine and get access to bonus content, like photo galleries from the episode, video walkthroughs of the location, and sneak peek videos of where I'm headed next for future episodes! (https://www.patreon.com/texasundervine)
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*Locations mentioned in this episode:*
WSET (https://www.wsetglobal.com/)
The Court of Master Sommeliers (https://www.mastersommeliers.org/)
International Sommelier Guild (https://internationalsommelier.com/)
Society of Wine Educators (https://societyofwineeducators.org/)
Calais Winery (https://calaiswinery.com/)
Rhone Rangers (https://rhonerangers.org/) Also check out TUV Bonus Episode 6 (https://texasundervine.com/video/rhone-rangers)
Newsom Vineyards (https://newsomvineyards.com/)
Garrison Brothers Distillery (https://www.garrisonbros.com/)
William Chris Vineyards (https://williamchriswines.com/) Also check out TUV Episode 29 (https://texasundervine.com/video/episode-029-hc-william-chris-vineyards)
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*Texas Regions Guide (see the Texas Under Vine website for map):*
(https://texasundervine.com/episode-region-map)
*CT* - Central Texas
*ET* - East Texas
*GC* - Gulf Coast
*HC* - Texas Hill Country
*HP* - Texas High Plains
*NT* - North Texas
*ST* - South Texas
*WT* - West Texas
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Be sure to check out https://www.TxWineLover.com!
Merchandise Store (https://texasundervine.company.site)
Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/texasundervine)
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