Winemaker Paula Williamson (right) takes on the persona of an old west saloon girl to have a little fun with visitors to the Chisholm Trail Winery. This Saturday the winery will offer live country music from 2 to 5 p.m., along with samples of its 11 estate-bottled wines. Photos by Phil Houseal
Details:
The Chisholm Trail Winery is located at 2367 Usener Road, off Hwy 290 between Fredericksburg and Harper. Open daily from noon to 6:00 p.m., except Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On July 7, the winery will offer live country music from 2 to 5 p.m., with no cover charge. Wine sampling available. More information is at www.chisholmtrailwinery.com, 830-990-2675, or chisholmtrail@beecreek.net.
| Do you have a musical artist, event, or topic you would like featured in this column? I love to hear from readers. Send comments to: phil@ fullhouseproductions.net. To be included in the free listing of live music events, send details to: Articles published weekly in the Permission granted to reproduce articles and photos with credit to: |
Along the New Chisholm Trail
by Phil Houseal
July 4, 2007
I thought it was going to be a typical Saturday afternoon as I headed off to play at a place called the Chisholm Trail Winery. Idly I speculated on what type of crowd I would find, confident it would be a subdued gathering of wine aficionados, demurely discussing vintages while we provided tasteful background music.
It was my first trip out there, but I had no trouble finding Usener Road off of Hwy 290 just before El Gallo restaurant. I followed the signs and pulled into the parking lot.
And found myself smack dab in the middle of a gun battle.
Cowboy gunfighters were slinging lead from behind rocks, wagons, and trees. Saloon girls were hanging out of doors, hurling bawdy words of encouragement and derision.
Welcome to the Chisholm Trail Winery.
Owner Paula K. Williamson made it clear that mock shootouts are not an everyday occurrence along this Chisholm Trail, but they sure illustrate the irreverent approach Williamson nurtures at this hill country hideaway.
Williamson - who was dressed as "head saloon gal" on this day - is owner and winemaker for the Chisholm Trail Winery. She gave up a lucrative career in law and real estate to follow her dream of making wine in the Texas hills.
"I decided I didn't want to do something the rest of my life that I didn't enjoy," she said. Figuring out what she enjoyed was easy. "I loved wine."
So in 1992, she bought the property, which she began to develop.
Williamson opened the winery to the public in 2001 and has since added a tasting room. They now produce 11 estate-bottled wines, which are popular at the winery and at wine festivals across the state.
But it has always been her goal to create something different from the typical wine experience.
"I always wanted to have a Texas country winery with a Luckenbach feel," she said. "I find that people like our laid back atmosphere. People want to come out and relax."
With that comes her mission of bringing the joys of wine to a wider audience.
"We avoid that 'wine snob' thing. I believe that no question is stupid," she said. "A lot of people are intimidated by wine, but really it's just finding what you like. There is not a right or wrong wine: it's just what you enjoy."
Williamson is good at getting people to enjoy the Chisholm Trail Winery. The winery is open year round, and she tries to plan a special musical event once a month. It starts with Jazz in January, Black Tie Dinner in February, Wine and Wildflower Trail in April, and the Birthday Party in June. This weekend is the Fourth of July Party. Visitors can listen to live country music in the afternoon, while sampling wine served up by the crew of saloon girls.
Williamson will be right in the middle of it all.
"This is more than I expected," she said, describing the public's embrace of the Chisholm Trail Winery. "The Texas wine industry has just exploded in the last two years. I feel I'm finally in the right place at the right time. It is just awesome!"
XXX