8 Best Wineries near Dallas

“We had a glass of their Estate Pinot Noir at a restaurant and loved it so we came to the winery. In additional to the beautiful location, looking over the hills and vineyard and soaring hawks, the wines were universally great. Julie was terrific explaining the different wines and choices. Good enough to join the club and ship the wines back to the East Coast.“

“Found a real gem. Namastè may be off the beaten track, but well worth it. Casi was friendly and welcoming, dog friendly too! Traveling from Boise to the Beach Namastè was a perfect stop. We settled on 2 wines to enjoy on the Coast. Harmony & Heritage. What a wonderful experience. Hope to make it back again.“

“Patricia was a great server! I've been wanting to stop on our way to Lincoln City forever, and I'm so glad we did! I had the white wine flight... delish! Love the Chardonnay amd Gewurtraminer. Plus the balsamic vinegar was a plus. Thank you!“

“Lovely staff, love the pond and cozy atmosphere. Nice place to bring family and friends.“

“Always a fabulous experience“

“I was traying to find the place but the GPS trow us at the Enola Hills Winery.... Are you guys open to de public? Where is your actual location?
UPDATE: The owner contacted me next day to explain that they sell his product at the tasting room in Eola Hills Winery. Also he sells his products thruout Oregon and other tap houses. I am looking forward to taste one of your ciders soon. Thanks.“

“My family had a great experience with booking a party at Left Coast Estate. Jacquelyn and I worked together to plan a great birthday experience for my daughter. Everything from the food to the setting and of course the wine was fabulous. She communicated well with me (from out of state) and made everything happen seamlessly. Thank you so much!“

“Let’s me start off by saying two things. First, this is the one and only winery in the valley to which I hold a wine membership. Second, having Renee back is a sign of good things to come.

Ever since I have been coming here (and I am speaking exclusively about the Rickreall property), I have found that, when I take guests, they absolutely love the wine. They also like the tasting room. And the side yard, with the koi pond, and the back yard, with the lawn and seating, remain somewhat underutilized, but wonderful, parts of the property.

The staff? For the most part, great. But, as a person who gets out here infrequently, you notice the turnover. The wine club? Erratic. Sometimes you get updates. Sometimes you don’t. Sometimes wines ship on time. Sometimes they don’t. At times, email communication is direct, spirited, and often. Other times, it is infrequent or confusing at best.

I think the major problem for this property is making it a destination, rather than a place on the way to other destinations. Rickreall is, to be fair, an access point to other areas. Sure, the bright red paint and signage help. But only to a point. A full food program would help (and I get it . . . staffing). Making better use of the outdoor space (which is starting to happen). Better communication with members who bring others who can become members who can then . . . you get my point.

Circling back, on a visit a month ago, I took a long time, out of town, friend (he’s been here nearly a dozen times). The guys behind the counter seemed a bit too casual and didn’t exactly act like they knew what was going on. We both enjoyed a glass outside and had a chat with a couple from Bandon, then moved on. It was fine. Not great. Just fine. Then, on my last visit last week, I brought my cousin with me. He is from out of town and knows a lot about wine (having made wine and worked at wineries in Napa). When he visits, we always stop here. Renee was working. It was like magic! Not only did she recognize my name from my email correspondence, she took an active interest in what we had to say about the winery. Not a feigned interest. A real interest. And, if some of the things we discussed are actually going to happen, it could be a real breath of fresh air for this place.

Wineries are hurting right now, here and elsewhere. This place needs a person—especially in a forward-facing position like managing the wine club and the tasting room—who understands that, responds to fans like me, and works to draw in new customers. I really think Renee can do that.

I want this place to show up on lists that you see in local and national media. I’d love to hear people saying, “I enjoy the wineries near McMinnville and Carlton, but I love that place in Rickreall!” And I will continue to support them. I can’t tell you how many times I have had people over for dinner and, when they take that first sip of a wine from here, they are amazed. Then I tell them about Eola. I spread the word.

So, this is a long way of saying something fairly simple: Renee, thanks for making me feel optimistic again about this place. I am rooting for you! I hope you hire and retain people who love this place as much as you (and I) do.

Those reading this? My comments aren't critical. They are constructive (on Google, no less!). And this place, when it is running smoothly, deserves more than five stars.“