(Above) Kathy Clay of Water 2 Wine (center) supervises first-time winemakers Jeremy (left) and Tia as they add filtered water to the juice that will become their custom batch of Liebfraumilch. (Below) Kathy encourages them to take a taste. Kathy and Mike Clay make wine using juice from vineyards around the world, and invite customers to ferment, bottle, and label batches of their favorites. Photos by Phil Houseal

Details:
Water 2 Wine is located at 228 West Main Street in Fredericksburg. Hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Open Sunday 1 - 5 p.m., and Monday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Information at 830-997-9400 or www.water2wine.com.

webmaster: phil@fullhouseproductions.net

Water to wine

by Phil Houseal
May 6, 2009

Each time I tried to interview Mike and Kathy Clay about their business - Water 2 Wine Custom Winery - customers interrupted to tell me how wonderful the place was.

“We've had a blast,” said a couple of young ladies who admitted to leaving their husbands at home. “We’ve been to five wineries today, and this has been awesome.”

“We saw you could make your own wine and were very curious about the process,” offered another from McAllen. “We think we will come back and try it.”

When I finally was able to speak with Kathy, she told me all about her product and the process that makes Water 2 Wine different from all other wine shops.

“Everything we sell, we make in our shop in the back room, right on Main Street,” she said. “One of things that make us unique is that customers can buy our wine by the glass, by the bottle, or they can make their own batch.”

The customers create the wine? It’s not that difficult, according to Kathy.

They start by tasting from the many bottles in the wine rack.

When they have decided on their favorite, it’s time to start mixing up their own batch. Donning aprons, the amateur winemakers stir together the juice, water, and yeast. Fermentation takes about six weeks, at which time the wine is bottled, corked, foiled, and labeled with custom labels. Customers can do the work themselves or set up a party and bring friends.

One benefit of crafting your own wine is the use of fewer sulfites.

“That's what gives people headaches,” Kathy explained. “Commercial wines have 350 parts per million; our wines have 30.”

The wines have a shelf life of up to five years, although after tasting these “homemade” wines, don’t expect the bottles to sit on any shelf that long. Prices range from $10 - $24 per bottle.

One surprise is that here in the heart of Texas wine country, Water 2 Wine does not sell any Texas wines. They import the raw juice - or must - from 70 different vineyards in the United States and 13 different countries. This allows guests to choose from more tastes and flavors.

This little shop on Main Street makes a big impression on folks who stop in, even experienced wine drinkers.

“A lot of time people don’t know what we are about,” she said. “At first they are skeptical. Then they taste it, and really like it. They are getting a pure clean taste of a younger, full-bodied wine. We have a very good product.”

This summer Water 2 Wine will even offer live music while your wine ferments. Singer-songwriter Judy Wright makes the wine bar a regular stop on her nationwide tours. Wright performs acoustic Americana originals, and is heard on radio stations across the country.

“We have an intimate, relaxed, ‘not snobby’ atmosphere,” Kathy said. “We greet our customers and make them feel at home. We just really want people who walk in the door to feel relaxed. Wine doesn’t have to be intimidating. It is supposed to be fun and something you enjoy.”

Two young couples from San Angelo seemed to be taking the Clays up on their motto of “try it before you buy it.”

“We tasted everything,” offered Tia, the spokeswoman for the group. “The words that come to my mind are clear, smooth, not harsh. We are getting a batch, making it up tonight, and we are really excited. What a wonderful experience!”

That’s an interruption the Clays like to hear.