“The moment you turn in, the experience begins.”
It is 11:00 a.m. on a beautiful Saturday morning, and Perissos Winery is open for business. Brian and Jorge are longtime members -8 years to be exact- and make the drive from Houston every month to spend time among the vines. “We have a goal of visiting every winery in Texas, but Perissos is the one we keep coming back to.”
Nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, on 25 acres of rich soil and aging granite, is a bustling land of milk and honey- only the milk is wine. Perissos is no ordinary winery, in form or in practice. While their “Farming First” motto holds their high standards to the ground from which they grow, their insistence on relationships is no less emphasized.
“We will be gone for months at a time, and it won’t matter. No matter how quietly we arrive, as soon as the staff sees us at a table, they are running over to say hello, to ask about our families, to sit and talk to us about theirs.”
Afternoons spent among the golden glow of Perissos are as frenetic as they are relaxing. With a small but mighty staff of close family and friends, the early morning quiet quickly becomes a sea of moving glass and liquid grape. Beneath the high cover of scaping Texas oaks is a sprawling spread of picnic tables, perfect for blue skies and celebrations. The mix of comers and goers ranges from loyal regulars enjoying their weekend routine to families and day trippers in search of an outdoor reprieve. Perissos is a true haven for everyone, even the little ones.
“Most of our favorite memories are just simple moments of sitting around the table together, drinking wine and watching the kids play in the vineyard.”
A relatively young winery itself -15 years and counting- the beautiful grounds in Burnet, Texas, found their way to owners Seth and Laura Martin by divine chance. After discovering a new interest and passion for wine, the Martins decided that it was time to plant some vines of their own. After years of experimenting with various soils and locations around Austin, they came to understand that the greatest harvest occurred just outside the city, amid the glowing Texas Hill Country. They weren’t the only ones to fall in love with the area, however. Available land was not easy to come by, so when a family member happened across a For Sale sign, after a years-long search, they knew it was a different kind of sign too. The kind you don’t say no to.
Timing is everything, but with that comes waiting. The art of growing anything requires an incredible amount of care, dedication, and, most of all, patience. The wait is where the magic happens. While many often harvest at the first signs of ripeness, Perissos waits.
“In our 20 years of growing grapes in Texas, we have found that once our grapes reach a level of maturity deemed acceptable for harvest, here in the Texas Hill Country, waiting an additional week makes the difference between an amazing wine, and one that is truly world class.”
Patience is not the only virtue of this business. Perissos is one of the few Texas wines that is comprised of 100% Texas grapes. Oftentimes, what we know to be a “Texas Wine” is in fact made up of fruit not grown in Texas soil. Not so with Perissos. Their unwavering commitment to the Texas vine is what lives at the very heart of every pour.
“Texas has always been unique – in its history, its geography, and its people. The soil is no different.”
With an ever-unique terroir, the special characteristics of Texas’ geography, geology and climate bestow an entire identity upon the grapes grown here. Perissos believes that a “True to Texas” wine should accurately reflect that personality and can only be achieved through making wines entirely from grapes in the Lone Star State.
Brian and Jorge agree.
“There is a signature flavor to Perissos wine that has remained present throughout the years. You can’t find it anywhere else. Every time we open a new bottle, there is an immediate feeling of home. It just feels like home.”
And home it is, to so many. As the sun arches up and over the golden landscape, it not only shines a light on the beautifully tended rows of delicate Texas fruit and flavors, it also shines brightly across the swell of smiling faces, raised glasses, and good old-fashioned southern hospitality. Family looks like this today and every day at Perissos Vineyard.
Whether you are looking for a new weekend refuge or are simply passing through, the gate is open and all are invited. Come experience the beauty of the Texas Hill Country and discover the true meaning of Perissos wine: “Exceeding abundantly, beyond what is expected, imagined or hoped for.”
The winery is open 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday. Walk-ins are welcome and encouraged for wine tastings enjoyed on the grounds. Wine Tours of the facility, vineyard, and winery can be booked at perissosvineyards.com.
