By Theresa Parker
Originally appeared in November 2014 issue of Texas Polka News.
Patrick and Sue Gibson
The land around Weimar, where I spent many a summer vacation on my grandpa’s farm, has always been known for the three Cs – cotton, corn and cattle. Imagine my surprise when I learned the land is also good for growing grapes. It kind of took Patrick and Sue Gibson by surprise, too.
“Sometimes life gives you a direction to follow that is not a part of your plans. When we purchased the land, we certainly did not expect to be establishing a vineyard and tasting room! One thing led to another, ideas were tossed about, and when mixed with a passion for working the land and great wine, this turned into our happy accident.”
The Gibsons planted vines in 2009, and now have a little over four acres of Blanc du Bois and Lenoir (Black Spanish) - roughly 3,000 vines- and boast 13 labels and counting at The Weimary on Sedan Road!
Originally from El Paso, Patrick and Sue had lived in Austin for 39 years until he came to live in the farmhouse at the vineyard full time a while back to tend to the farm. They now have a house in Weimar, and while Sue still occasionally commutes to Austin for work, they are loving small town life!
You know the wine is going to be good because Patrick tends to the vines and grapes with the lively sounds of polka music floating through the vineyard. “We even play polka during our volunteer harvest to keep it fun. Lindsi (Graham), our Operations Manager, grew up watching polka with her father every Saturday morning, so she gets a kick out of it as well,” Sue said. The Ennis Czech Boys will be providing some live polka music at the Weimary’s Wonderfest on Saturday, Dec. 6.
The Gibsons found a unique way to tie in family to the labor of love in producing the wines. All the labels on the wine bottles feature vintage photos of family members or those who have direct ties to the land itself. “Not only are the pictures gorgeous, but they each tell a story and are a great way to keep their legacies alive,” Sue said. “It is such fun to explain the labels during our tastings and see our guests’ faces light up as they share in our stories.”
So which wines would they recommend for a polka party to go with sausage and sauerkraut? “For a fabulous polka pairing, you can go red or white,” Sue said. “This food combination has beautiful, bold tastes that go well with medium to full-bodied wines with plenty of flavor. “For the whites, our Fred and Frieda, a Blanc du Bois done in a Riesling style, would be lovely with the sauerkraut. Our Silk Stocking, a semi-sweet Blanc du Bois reminiscent of a Pinot Grigio, would pair with the sauerkraut or spicy sausage. “If you are a red fan, our Texas Merlot, The Competition (which is lighter), or Strong Arm Jack (our full-bodied Petite Sirah) would both perfectly accompany a good sausage.”
