Texas may summon more images of longhorn cattle and cacti than it does grape vines, but the Lone Star State is actually the fifth largest wine producer in America, yielding as much as four million gallons of wine each year.

Perhaps even more surprising is that Texas was one of the first states to plant Vitis vinifera, the grape species used for fine winemaking (i.e. varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay). Spanish missionaries in western Texas staked out their first plots in the 1660s, more than 100 years before anyone in California cultivated wine grapes.

Prohibition would later halt production, and the industry wouldn’t rev back up until the second half of the 20th century. Only recently have things begun gaining momentum and one producer that’s leading the modern-day charge is Landon Winery.

Established by Bob Landon in 2005, the operation has grown from a one-man show in McKinney to be one of the most prominent producers statewide. While most of their vinification takes place in Greenville, there are now several locations across north Texas, a whole team of winemakers working behind the scenes and a first-class staff of wine educators guiding visitors in each tasting room.

Along the way, Landon Winery has earned hundreds of medals, high scores and other awards for its bottlings. Most impressively, its 2019 Reserve was the top-ranked Tempranillo at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, beating out pricier traditional expressions from Spain’s Rioja region, Tempranillo’s iconic homeland.

Made with Tempranillo grapes grown at high elevations around northwest Texas, Legacy is a bold, spicy red wine. It has pronounced red fruit aromas and flavors accented by baking spice and tobacco tones. Bold tannins knit everything together and create an integrated, rounded mouthfeel.

Hurry for your chance to taste this triumphant Texan Tempranillo.