No self-respecting winery reviewer could take a road trip through south Texas on I-35 and not stop at a place called Three Dudes Winery. Well, at least not if that winery reviewer is me. Any winery called Three Dudes has to have an innate sense of humor and a certain degree of coolness -at least, that's what I figured. And I was correct.
The Place: Following the GPS to the Three Dudes address, you turn off the road and for a moment you think you're in a trailer park! Don't worry -keep driving, and you'll see the (large) Three Dudes sign at the far end of the road. Past the sign, it's like moving into another world. Three Dudes has an idyllic piece of land that backs up to the San Marcos River, with a large pavilion perfect for weddings or parties. It's hard to believe there's a major highway just a stone's throw away.
The winery itself is a small building, with just a small tasting counter, so if you have more than a party of four, consider going when the weather is nice so you can sit outside instead of trying to crowd into the small tasting room. The outdoor area is marvelous for sitting and sipping (I did that). There are bench swings grouped around low tables and a great view. I can't help but re-emphasize the feeling of oasis so close to a highway and city areas!
The People: We were greeted by Michelle, who was staffing the counter on that Sunday. My first observation: you're not a dude! She grinned -I think she gets that a lot -and thanked me for noticing. One of the Dudes, she says, lives on the same property as the winery, but the others are remote, so they do have a staff to help them out. There was another couple ahead of us, but we didn't have to wait long. Michelle seems a happy soul, and I think she realizes she's got one of the good jobs! She knew what she was talking about while being personable and real at the same time.
The Wines: We tasted six wines from the tasting menu; it's $5 for 4, but the two of us are good at trading back and forth, and Michelle was kind enough to point out which wines were sweet and therefore wouldn't be my favorite. What WAS my favorite was the Merlot, which is the winery's signature wine. I think my second favorite was the Chenin Blanc, which was nice and crisp -and the White Zinfandel wasn't nearly as sweet as I expected, which was a pleasant surprise. I bought a bottle of the Merlot to take home and drank it very soon after getting it home, which is an indicative that I really enjoyed it. I was a bit sad that there weren't more wines to taste, but I also think it's a mark of a good winery when they just make a few wines and make them well.
Insider's Tip:&nbpsWe came across one website that said the winery closed at 4:00 on Sundays. It lies! Michelle said she'd heard that before and that they'd never closed at 4:00, it's always been 6:00. So don't be afraid to go visit if it's 4:30. Also, if you look very closely at the wine bottles' labels, you'll see the words and a dog in very fine print below Three Dudes. So really, this wine is made lovingly by Three Dudes and a Dog. The dog apparently is getting up in years and lives with one of the winery Dudes, but wow, what a dog's life this place is!
I'd return to Three Dudes in a heartbeat, and take people with me. Make sure you go on a nice day so you can enjoy the outdoor areas. I am excited to see what these Dudes have in store in the future.
