Scott sits down with founder Steve Harper and current owner Torrance Shepherd to learn how a birthday wine kit evolved into a one-of-a-kind Texas fruit winery housed in a 100-plus-year-old historic railroad depot.
In this episode, they discuss:
🍷 Starting in a Dry County: How Steve built the winery in 2004 and navigated dry county regulations to make 100% Texas fruit wines.
🍷 No Grapes Allowed: Why Maydelle Country Wines specializes in peaches, pears, berries, citrus, and zero grapes.
🍷 The Blind Winemaker: Steve’s inspiring journey after a 2016 stroke, winemaking by feel, and offering free Braille labeling on bottles.
🍷 Bold Flavor Experiments: The history of their award-winning Ghost Pepper wine and the Carolina Reaper "Mortis" blend.
🍷 Porch, Fire Pit & Poolside Wines: Why fruit wines are meant to be enjoyed young, fresh, and unpretentious.
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Texas Wine Lover App & Sponsor Spot
02:50 Teaser Clip: Balancing Heat and Sweet
03:25 Welcome to Episode 86: Maydelle Country Wines
04:41 Announcement: Vino Vinyasa Yoga at Fall Creek Vineyards
05:18 Introduction to Steve Harper & Torrance Shepherd
06:06 The History of the 100-Year-Old Railroad Depot Building
06:32 Specialized Fruit Winemaking & Dry County Regulations
07:41 Steve’s Journey as a Blind Winemaker & Braille Labeling
08:26 Why Fruit Wines Are Meant to Be Drunk Young
09:12 Visiting Rusk, Texas & The Early Days
10:01 The Birthday Wine Kit That Started It All
11:02 Torrance Takes Over: The "Woodstock" Trial by Fire
15:33 Being the 3rd Oldest Winery in East Texas
17:53 Why Steve Chose Fruit Wines Over Grapes
19:17 How "Maydelle Country Wines" Got Its Name
20:33 Sourcing 100% Local Texas Fruit
22:53 The Fruit Fermentation Process vs. Grape Winemaking
25:26 Dry Fruit Wines & The Truth About Lemon Sugar Content
27:49 Overcoming Water & Legal Hurdles in a Dry County
31:12 Hand Bottling & The Unique Dynamics of Team Winemaking
32:06 Aging Fruit Wines: Why Freshness Matters
33:55 Managing Sulfur Intolerances in Wine
35:48 Flagship Wines: The Banned GrapeFest Lemon Wine Story
37:15 The Screaming Buddha & Ghost Pepper Wine Origin
42:20 Exploring the Lineup: Huckleberry, Honey Apple & Mortis
47:40 What to Expect During a Tasting Room Visit
50:42 Family, Pet, and Kid-Friendly Atmosphere
52:53 Operating Hours & Meeting Customers at Farmers Markets
56:49 How to Order Online & Direct-to-Consumer Delivery
59:35 Future Growth, Contract Work & Porch/Fire Pit Philosophy
01:01:50 Braille Bottle Labels for Visually Impaired Wine Lovers
01:02:57 Standing Out: One of Only Three Pure Fruit Wineries in Texas
01:04:57 Wine Wanderer Bottle Reveal: Maydelle Lime Wine
01:05:45 Episode Wrap-Up, YouTube Prompt & Patreon Support