The Texas Hill Country has long held mythical status for travelers. The region’s landscape and geology, comprised of limestone and granite, conjures images of southern France. The similarities don’t stop with caves and climate. More than 100 wineries are found in “Texas Wine Country” today.
And wine experts are noticing. The Adega Vinho 2022 Chardonnay was recently awarded a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The Stonewall, Texas winery took home 14 medals at the juried competition. Located about one mile south off Highway 290, Adega Vinho visits reveal an award-worthy experience to match their buzzworthy vintages.
Guests here experience Texas-style hospitality, a “come in and stay a spell” vibe rarely seen in today’s “fill your punch card” tasting room spree. Scheduled and drop-in tastings are set in a relaxed mid-century modern tasting room. Visitors are encouraged to select an LP to play on the retro stereo console before choosing one of several “living room settings” to enjoy their wine.
Adega Vinho Winery
Takes Double Gold at SF Chron Wine Comp
The region's landscape and geology, comprised of limestone and granite, conjures images of southern France.
“We schedule our wine tastings for two hours, so folks have plenty of time to unwind and get to know us,” says co-founder Andy Bilger. “We also encourage our guests to pick up a bottle and hang out on the terrace with either food they pick up from our food truck or their own picnic.”
Determined to create a community in addition to great wine, Andy, his wife Elena, and brother and winemaker Michal like it when people stick around. Adega Vinho has already become a social staple in the local community. Texas artists display their work on the walls, and events like Sunday Stonewall Happy Hour have quickly become a tradition.
“It's easy to hang out with a large group of friends,” says East Bay transplant Henry Rohlfs. “That's sort of how the Sunday Stonewall Happy Hour groups started. A few local friends and I decided to meet each Sunday at 5 pm for a glass, and the tradition caught on. Our group is a crazy mix of professionals, local ranchers, and retirees.”
Like many of us, the Bilger boys became smitten with the winery lifestyle while spending their summers in California. Unlike most of us, they committed endless hours of toil to create an exceptional winery and tasting experience from scratch.
SHOP WINES
2022
Chardonnay
2019 Parr
Touriga
2022 Viognier
Reserve
2020 Estate
Mourvedre
2020 Cuvee Carmesim
“I’ve wanted to do this since I was fifteen,” says Andrew, who officially opened Adega Vinho in 2020. "I grew up spending the summers near Fresno, where my family would often drive among the grapevines. I thought the history of winemaking was really cool, too. Michael would always hear me talking about wine, though he definitely came to it on his own and put in his hard work to become an accomplished winemaker."
Michael’s early success is notable. In addition to the Double Gold 2022 & 2020 Chardonnay, the 2020 Red Blend, the 2020 Mourvedre, and the 2019 Touriga Nacional each received Gold Medals at the SF Chronicle Wine Comp. Most grapes originate on the Stonewall estate, and all grapes are 100% Texas grown, an impressive feat for a young winery.
“We take a lot of pride in growing our grapes right here at the winery in Texas,” says Andy. “We also practice ‘low intervention’ farming, having stopped tilling several years ago. We also use cover crops to replace nitrogen and avoid herbicide use. As the farmers in the fields doing the work, it's a pretty easy decision for us to avoid chemical use.”
“I discovered Adega Vinho at their soft opening in 2019,” adds Henry Rolfs, who relocated to Stonewall in 2018. “Their take is Portuguese-style wines, big, bold reds and sophisticated whites. One of our favorites is Pordosol ("Sunset" in Portuguese.), a blend of Tempranillo and Mourvedre, which grow well in the hot Texas summers. It's a very easy drinking wine to have with friends at the end of the day.”
I’ve wanted to do this since I was fifteen. I grew up spending the summers near Fresno, where my family would often drive among the grapevines. I thought the history of winemaking was really cool.
— Andrew,
Co-founder of Adega Vinho
The Bay Area native is also effusive about the award-winning Chardonnay. “Unlike the buttery, oaked Chards you’ll find all over California, this has a very clean taste with a smooth feeling as you sip.”
As showcased in their impressive medal haul, Andy, Elena, and Michael are eager to show the world great Texas wines and, as importantly, invite visitors from other well-known wine regions to experience wine tasting, Texas style.
“Wineries have moved here to open tasting rooms where they offer non-Texas wines simply because wine touring in the Texas Hill Country has exploded in recent years," Andy says. "We want people to see and taste Texas. That’s why we’ve created somewhere where people, including (non-venomous) pets and kids, can enjoy.”
The Bilgers’ approach to selling wine mirrors their hospitality. Guests won’t encounter a hard pitch to join the wine club, which is capped at 450 members. Their tasting room wine ambassadors aren’t pressured to sell memberships, bottles, or cases, which typically sell out within months of becoming available.
With prestigious Double Gold and Gold Medals, an extraordinary tasting room experience, and dedicated owners, it's clear Adega Vinho is on the right path, not just in Texas but anywhere wine is enjoyed. Visit the Adega Vinho website to learn more and have a bit of Texas shipped to your door. As Andy says often, “Drink more Texas wine ya’ll!"
PLAN YOUR VISITTO Our Tasting Room
The Adega Vinho Tasting Room serves as a focal point for guests' experiences, combining elements of mid-century modern, industrial, and post-modern styles, while also functioning as a showcase for local artists.
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The Texas Hill Country has long held mythical status for travelers. The region’s landscape and geology, comprised of limestone and granite, conjures images of southern France. The similarities don’t stop with caves and climate. More than 100 wineries are found in “Texas Wine Country” today.
And wine experts are noticing. The Adega Vinho 2022 Chardonnay was recently awarded a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The Stonewall, Texas winery took home 14 medals at the juried competition. Located about one mile south off Highway 290, Adega Vinho visits reveal an award-worthy experience to match their buzzworthy vintages.
Guests here experience Texas-style hospitality, a “come in and stay a spell” vibe rarely seen in today’s “fill your punch card” tasting room spree. Scheduled and drop-in tastings are set in a relaxed mid-century modern tasting room. Visitors are encouraged to select an LP to play on the retro stereo console before choosing one of several “living room settings” to enjoy their wine.
“We schedule our wine tastings for two hours, so folks have plenty of time to unwind and get to know us,” says co-founder Andy Bilger. “We also encourage our guests to pick up a bottle and hang out on the terrace with either food they pick up from our food truck or their own picnic.”
Determined to create a community in addition to great wine, Andy, his wife Elena, and brother and winemaker Michal like it when people stick around. Adega Vinho has already become a social staple in the local community. Texas artists display their work on the walls, and events like Sunday Stonewall Happy Hour have quickly become a tradition.
“It's easy to hang out with a large group of friends,” says East Bay transplant Henry Rohlfs. “That's sort of how the Sunday Stonewall Happy Hour groups started. A few local friends and I decided to meet each Sunday at 5 pm for a glass, and the tradition caught on. Our group is a crazy mix of professionals, local ranchers, and retirees.”
Like many of us, the Bilger boys became smitten with the winery lifestyle while spending their summers in California. Unlike most of us, they committed endless hours of toil to create an exceptional winery and tasting experience from scratch.
“I’ve wanted to do this since I was fifteen,” says Andrew, who officially opened Adega Vinho in 2020. "I grew up spending the summers near Fresno, where my family would often drive among the grapevines. I thought the history of winemaking was really cool, too. Michael would always hear me talking about wine, though he definitely came to it on his own and put in his hard work to become an accomplished winemaker."
Michael’s early success is notable. In addition to the Double Gold 2022 & 2020 Chardonnay, the 2020 Red Blend, the 2020 Mourvedre, and the 2019 Touriga Nacional each received Gold Medals at the SF Chronicle Wine Comp. Most grapes originate on the Stonewall estate, and all grapes are 100% Texas grown, an impressive feat for a young winery.
“We take a lot of pride in growing our grapes right here at the winery in Texas,” says Andy. “We also practice ‘low intervention’ farming, having stopped tilling several years ago. We also use cover crops to replace nitrogen and avoid herbicide use. As the farmers in the fields doing the work, it's a pretty easy decision for us to avoid chemical use.”
“I discovered Adega Vinho at their soft opening in 2019,” adds Henry Rolfs, who relocated to Stonewall in 2018. “Their take is Portuguese-style wines, big, bold reds and sophisticated whites. One of our favorites is Pordosol ("Sunset" in Portuguese.), a blend of Tempranillo and Mourvedre, which grow well in the hot Texas summers. It's a very easy drinking wine to have with friends at the end of the day.”
The Bay Area native is also effusive about the award-winning Chardonnay. “Unlike the buttery, oaked Chards you’ll find all over California, this has a very clean taste with a smooth feeling as you sip.”
As showcased in their impressive medal haul, Andy, Elena, and Michael are eager to show the world great Texas wines and, as importantly, invite visitors from other well-known wine regions to experience wine tasting, Texas style.
“Wineries have moved here to open tasting rooms where they offer non-Texas wines simply because wine touring in the Texas Hill Country has exploded in recent years," Andy says. "We want people to see and taste Texas. That’s why we’ve created somewhere where people, including (non-venomous) pets and kids, can enjoy.”
The Bilgers’ approach to selling wine mirrors their hospitality. Guests won’t encounter a hard pitch to join the wine club, which is capped at 450 members. Their tasting room wine ambassadors aren’t pressured to sell memberships, bottles, or cases, which typically sell out within months of becoming available.
With prestigious Double Gold and Gold Medals, an extraordinary tasting room experience, and dedicated owners, it's clear Adega Vinho is on the right path, not just in Texas but anywhere wine is enjoyed. Visit the Adega Vinho website to learn more and have a bit of Texas shipped to your door. As Andy says often, “Drink more Texas wine ya’ll!"
2022
Chardonnay
2020 Estate
Mourvedre
2019 Parr
Touriga
2022 Viognier
Reserve
2020 Cuvee Carmesim