It was clear from the first sip that Hilmy Cellars focuses on creating wine that stands out from the crowd, but without sacrificing the quality and integrity of each grape they work with.
Nestled in Fredericksburg, Texas, Hilmy’s vineyard, cellars and tasting room rightfully bring a sense of awe, and nerdy wine science, and simple elegance that everyone can take part in and enjoy. Accolades for their wines are a no-brainer and it’s clear they care about the entire experience, from soil to stemware.
Their story began with Erik Hilmy and his continuously growing curiosity. After some at-home experimenting and hosting his first grape-crushing party, he decided to grow grapes and make wine in the heavy clay soil of central Texas’ wine region.
That eventually turned into the vineyard, tasting room and cellars, where several varietals are grown, fermented, matured in barrels, bottled and served to eager customers.
I saw a similar fire in Winemakers Taylor Szymanski and Sarah Yockey as they shared openly about their work, the nuances of winemaking, and how they continue to learn each season.
Our whole ProFILE group connected with their passion and their love for nerdy wine science — especially when we got to enjoy the fruits of their labor!
One thing that struck me was how Taylor and Sarah both spoke about the grapes and the wine: “We try to capture the pure essence of the grape to make memorable wine” — not only for it to be a standalone experience, but also to compliment a fine meal or special moment.
Cora Okkema is a member of the Mecosta County Farm Bureau.
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Rebecca Gulliver
