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| Learn about wine from the Ramos Family of San Martiño Winery & Vineyards |
San Martiño Winery & Vineyards
12512 Highway 205 North, Rockwall, Texas 75087 Phone: 972.772.6043
Photo on the Left; from left to right: Maria, Emilio, Chistopher, & Elizabeth Ramos
Story by Marty The Wine Guy
On the Fourth of July 2004, Elizabeth Zink, President of Dallas Chapter of the Wine Society of Texas, and I
drove out to Rockwall, Texas to visit the newest winery in the metroplex. It's only a 40 minute drive from George
Bush and I-75. The winery opened in mid June. As we entered the winery, two ladies from Kentucky raved
about the Orange Muscat as they were walking to their cars with their new found treasure. We walked into this
hacienda style winery and met Emilio, Maria, Elizabeth & Christopher. Maria excused herself and her teenagers
to the production area so they could finish wine labeling.
We sat down at the wine bar in this beautiful tasting room, with a capicity to hold 65 people. If that isn't enough
room for your event or consider the outside patio with an additional 80 people capacity. Emilio showed us the
village photo of San Martiño, Spain. It is the village where Emilio, as a youngster, helped his family make wine.
It is an experience this Rockwall resident is very proud of and happy to share with his community.
We began our tasting with the Mescolato: (70% Viognier & 30% Chardonnay). The Viognier grapes are from
West Texas and the Chardonnay grapes are from Southern California. $12.95 per bottle. This wine had a yum
factor going for it!
The Chardonnay: A wine with extraordinary depth, concentration and complexity.
Rich flavors of butter-scotch, vanilla, melon and pear flavors.
$12.95 per bottle. This was my favorite!!!
Paulina's Dolce: (375 ml) An Orange Muscat, that was described as light and crisp by our fellow tasters Bruce &
Charlotte Alger of Garland, Texas.
We tasted a total of seven wines including a Ruby Cabernet, Cuvee (a Merlot blend), Sangiovese, & a Zinfandel.
However, the first three I mentioned are my favorites.
Maria had made her way back to the tasting area, during our tasting and was filling us in on the operations of the
winery. For instance, she told us she is the "Official Taster" because, Emilio trust her taste. She is also the
Business Manager and explained that one day Emilio called her and said we need to buy a new wine press. She
said, how are we going to pay for it? He replied, I sold the old wine press.
The winery has only been open a few weeks and already they are planning a 4,000 sq foot expansion. They are
growing once acre of blanc du bois, albarino, & grenache grapevines on thier soil. They plan on making 3,200
cases in 2004 and 5,700 cases in 2005.
Maria said it all started with their humble desire to make wine. Both didn't know very much about the process.
But they remedied that problem with studying and practice. They brought albarino & grenache vines from his
grandfather's vineyard in Spain. They planted them and made their first wine. Maria recalls their first homemade
wine in carboys stored in their jacuzzi in the master bath. They would invite their friends over for dinner and wine.
Everyone loved the wine and encouraged them to pursue their wine making dreams.
They have come along way, since those early days of wine making to a winery that can bottle 600 bottles per
hour. So how did they do it? Passion for their family and their wine! When they didn't have the winery they
leased space at other wineries that were already licensed. As for their time, they both have real jobs. Emilio is the
Dean of Technology for the Dallas Community colleges and Maria is the Director of Financial Aid for UT Dallas.
They have two teenagers and now the winery and vineyards. So, I still don't know how they do it. But, the
Rockwall & Collin county communities are happy to have them. As we were leaving, the Wilson and
Wischnewsky families were sitting in the tasting room enjoying their wine and took the time to let us know they
were happy to have the Ramos family in this community.
So, take the time to drive out to Rockwall and buy up the rest of the their Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve futures,
which will be distributed in late September.
I like to personally thank Elizabeth for setting me up with the Ramos family interview. I had a great time and hope
we can do this again soon.
12512 Highway 205 North, Rockwall, Texas 75087 Phone: 972.772.6043
Photo on the Left; from left to right: Maria, Emilio, Chistopher, & Elizabeth Ramos
Story by Marty The Wine Guy
On the Fourth of July 2004, Elizabeth Zink, President of Dallas Chapter of the Wine Society of Texas, and I
drove out to Rockwall, Texas to visit the newest winery in the metroplex. It's only a 40 minute drive from George
Bush and I-75. The winery opened in mid June. As we entered the winery, two ladies from Kentucky raved
about the Orange Muscat as they were walking to their cars with their new found treasure. We walked into this
hacienda style winery and met Emilio, Maria, Elizabeth & Christopher. Maria excused herself and her teenagers
to the production area so they could finish wine labeling.
We sat down at the wine bar in this beautiful tasting room, with a capicity to hold 65 people. If that isn't enough
room for your event or consider the outside patio with an additional 80 people capacity. Emilio showed us the
village photo of San Martiño, Spain. It is the village where Emilio, as a youngster, helped his family make wine.
It is an experience this Rockwall resident is very proud of and happy to share with his community.
We began our tasting with the Mescolato: (70% Viognier & 30% Chardonnay). The Viognier grapes are from
West Texas and the Chardonnay grapes are from Southern California. $12.95 per bottle. This wine had a yum
factor going for it!
The Chardonnay: A wine with extraordinary depth, concentration and complexity.
Rich flavors of butter-scotch, vanilla, melon and pear flavors.
$12.95 per bottle. This was my favorite!!!
Paulina's Dolce: (375 ml) An Orange Muscat, that was described as light and crisp by our fellow tasters Bruce &
Charlotte Alger of Garland, Texas.
We tasted a total of seven wines including a Ruby Cabernet, Cuvee (a Merlot blend), Sangiovese, & a Zinfandel.
However, the first three I mentioned are my favorites.
Maria had made her way back to the tasting area, during our tasting and was filling us in on the operations of the
winery. For instance, she told us she is the "Official Taster" because, Emilio trust her taste. She is also the
Business Manager and explained that one day Emilio called her and said we need to buy a new wine press. She
said, how are we going to pay for it? He replied, I sold the old wine press.
The winery has only been open a few weeks and already they are planning a 4,000 sq foot expansion. They are
growing once acre of blanc du bois, albarino, & grenache grapevines on thier soil. They plan on making 3,200
cases in 2004 and 5,700 cases in 2005.
Maria said it all started with their humble desire to make wine. Both didn't know very much about the process.
But they remedied that problem with studying and practice. They brought albarino & grenache vines from his
grandfather's vineyard in Spain. They planted them and made their first wine. Maria recalls their first homemade
wine in carboys stored in their jacuzzi in the master bath. They would invite their friends over for dinner and wine.
Everyone loved the wine and encouraged them to pursue their wine making dreams.
They have come along way, since those early days of wine making to a winery that can bottle 600 bottles per
hour. So how did they do it? Passion for their family and their wine! When they didn't have the winery they
leased space at other wineries that were already licensed. As for their time, they both have real jobs. Emilio is the
Dean of Technology for the Dallas Community colleges and Maria is the Director of Financial Aid for UT Dallas.
They have two teenagers and now the winery and vineyards. So, I still don't know how they do it. But, the
Rockwall & Collin county communities are happy to have them. As we were leaving, the Wilson and
Wischnewsky families were sitting in the tasting room enjoying their wine and took the time to let us know they
were happy to have the Ramos family in this community.
So, take the time to drive out to Rockwall and buy up the rest of the their Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve futures,
which will be distributed in late September.
I like to personally thank Elizabeth for setting me up with the Ramos family interview. I had a great time and hope
we can do this again soon.
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