Just say the name “Kiepersol” to those who are “in the know” and you’ll quickly be inundated with accolades and stories of their visit. The name itself conjures up a certain mystique and affection that few businesses can ever hope to achieve.
So, if I live only two hours away, why did it take me so long to visit?
The motivation came one evening in late June during a Texas Wine Friends (TWF) meetup at Edge of the Lake Vineyard in Valley View. A group of friends including Laurinda Thomas, Pam and Ron Martin, my wife, and I were enjoying an evening of great wines and conversation when the topic turned to our favorite Texas wineries. As ambassadors for Kiepersol, the Martins naturally mentioned it as a personal favorite. “You mean, you’ve never been there?” Ron asked. No, I admitted sheepishly. And with that, the wheels were set in motion for a visit.
We agreed to meet up at Kiepersol in late October. As the date got closer, we reached out to a few other TWF friends including Will Donohue of the We Know Texas Vino podcast who saw a great opportunity to podcast the event. Ron agreed to schedule our itinerary with Kiepersol, and we began counting down the days.
Much has been written about the history of Kiepersol and its amazing founder, Pierre de Wet, which I won’t repeat here. Suffice it to say Kiepersol is now co-owned by Pierre’s daughters, Marnelle Durrett and Velmay Power. Their motto is “Experience Excellence”, and this sentiment shows in everything they do. According to Marnelle, “We’re trying to not be the second generation that screws it up but [rather] to set it up for the third generation.”
Finally, the day of our trip arrived. My wife and I made the two-hour drive from DFW on a beautiful Saturday morning. Dropping our bags off at our Airbnb, we pulled into the Kiepersol parking lot shortly after noon. The day promised to be warm for late October, but a gorgeous blue sky and cotton candy clouds provided the perfect backdrop for our adventure. Ron had been watching for our arrival and ushered us into the Grand Room for our first introduction to the Kiepersol Experience.
Grand Room
Experience #1
The Grand Room is Kiepersol’s premier tasting room with a large indoor space and adjacent patio overlooking breathtaking views of the vineyard. A long tasting bar extends nearly the length of the room from which guests can enjoy guided tastings. Tables are available in the middle of the room where one can relax and enjoy a glass or bottle of their favorite wine. Small plates are available from the Bistro, a small kitchen kiosk situated in a corner of the Grand Room serving charcuterie boards, gourmet sandwiches, and seasonal specials. The same can also be enjoyed from the patio where one can look out over row after row of Cabernet Sauvignon vines.
The day we visited happened to coincide with the kickoff of Kiepersol’s 25th anniversary, so naturally the Grand Room was in full swing. As we entered the room, we were greeted by co-owner Marnelle and marketing director, Kelly Doherty. I couldn’t help but notice that Marnelle, Kelly, and all the staff go to great lengths to make every guest feel welcome. It’s obvious their passion for service is a priority.
Kevin Kato
Marnelle directed us to our reserved place at the tasting bar and introduced us to our guide, Kevin Kato. Kevin is a local legend at Kiepersol and well-loved by regulars owing to his engaging personality and extensive product knowledge. Kevin guided us through a tasting that covered a wide range of styles. All of the wines served at Kiepersol are sourced from the estate, and all are excellent. My personal favorites were the Edelvit (a blend of Caminante Blanc and Chardonnay), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and POWER (a blend of Merlot and Syrah).
Experience #2
Having completed a tasting, we were ready for the next step in our adventure – a private tour of the facilities directed by Ron Martin. As we walked through the distillery Ron gave us a detailed background of the family-run estate. The distillery was created in 2014 and produces small-batch bourbon, rum, vodka, gin, and agave spirits under the direction of distiller, Dylan Latham. All of Kiepersol’s spirits are available in the Grand Room and restaurant.
Kiepersol’s distillery and Ron Martin
We then made our way to the winery, an impressive state-of-the-art facility where all of the estate’s wine production occurs. Most impressive is the barrel room, a cavernous two-story structure housing over 600 barrels.
As Ron explained, Kiepersol’s winemaking philosophy is to allow the fruit to showcase the estate’s unique terroir. The sixty-three acres of estate vineyards are situated atop the Bullard Salt Domes, a geological formation from the Jurassic Age, which is said to moderate local weather through its natural electrical charge and lend a unique mineral characteristic to the fruit.
A tour of the Kiepersol property is fascinating and should definitely be on every visitor’s itinerary.
Experience #3
After completing our tour, we retired to the veranda of the wine club member’s clubhouse where we spent the next several hours watching the sun sink slowly over the vineyard as we shared several bottles of wine and recorded a podcast of our day’s experience. Will Donohue of the We Know Texas Vino podcast had arrived earlier in the day and chose this spot for the podcast. It provided the perfect backdrop for lively conversation. Podcast participants included Will, his stepfather and co-host Robert Hutchinson, Ron Martin, Laurinda Thomas, and me. We were even joined by several random guests who were willing to contribute their thoughts and experiences.
Recording “We Know Texas Vino” podcast. L-R: Neal Addy, Ron Martin, Will Donahue, Laurinda Thomas
And as we were recording, who should stop by but Marnelle herself, who shared several wonderful stories about her father Pierre, and a fun story about the history of one of her favorite wines, the renowned Barrell 33. Be sure and listen to episode #81 of the podcast to hear her story.
Marnelle Durrett
Experience #4
And finally, after a brief respite to freshen up and dress, we met our group at the restaurant for a relaxing conclusion to this amazing day.
Wine is meant to be shared with good friends and good food and our final experience brought it all together. Kiepersol’s restaurant is legendary and for good reason. Its combination of elegant ambiance, outstanding service, and perfectly prepared cuisine creates a world-class dining experience.
The restaurant is housed in a separate building apart from others on the property. It consists of a full bar, a large dining room, and two smaller rooms for private parties. Open Tuesday through Saturday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, each menu offers guests an eclectic and wide-ranging choice of cuisine.
As I glanced through the menus, I fantasized about the number of trips it was going to take to sample all of those delights! That evening my wife and I chose a perfectly prepared filet mignon dinner paired with a bottle of Kiepersol Merlot, followed by a Bananas Foster flambéed tableside. A perfect ending to a perfect day.
Ending the evening at Kiepersol’s restaurant
Conclusion
Kiepersol offers guests much more than your traditional tasting room experience and is a must-see if you find yourself in the Tyler vicinity. Guests can even make it a multi-day experience by staying in the B&B or one of several cottages that are available. Whether you are into fine wine, great spirits, amazing food, or just a pleasant day in beautiful surroundings, there’s something for everyone. It is a place where one can indeed “experience excellence.”
4120 FM 344 E, Tyler, TX 75703