I’ve enjoyed watching this vineyard grow since the early 2000 on trips to my favorite state park – Lost Maples SNA.  I had noticed the past several times to the park that their gates were open and a sign propped up on the fence said “tasting room open”. However, with my eye on getting to the park I had been passing it on by and of course it was closed by the time I headed back home.

Yesterday however was crying out for a Hill Country cruise so I took my mother along for one of our favorite drives across FM 337 to look at the canyons to see effects of our recent rains.  Along the way my mom asked me about the vineyard and winery, to which I exclaimed yes it is open and we should most definitely stop and boy am I glad we did.

Lost Maples Winery and Polvadeau Vineyards, nestled in a canyon along the crystal clear waters of the Sabinal River in Bandera County, is blessed with abundant natural resources and natural beauty. We believe that if you honor respect the land, it will reward you with its bounty. If you honor and respect the grapes, they will render wine that is to be celebrated as much as it is to be celebrated with. Originally brought to Texas by Spanish missionaries, the hearty and robust Black Spanish/Lenoir grapes were originally used to make communion wine. Today, they form the basis of our deliciously distinctive wines.

“Lost Maples Winery | Vanderpool, TX.” Lost Maples Winery | Vanderpool, TX. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 June 2016.

For a mere $10 a piece, Tom Slaughter and his wife Glenda will give you a sampling of their current selection and walk you through an explanation of each of their creations.  Afterwards, you are welcomed to purchase a glass of your favorite (or a bottle) and introduced to their resident chef Chris Chisum to partake in some truly mouth watering appetizers.

When next you are driving up North of Utopia or staying at the park, I highly recommend a pause on your itinerary and pull in to enjoy this wonderful place.  I know it will become one of our favorite stops from now on.