Discover Siboney Cellars, the new Texas Hill Country winery taking the wine world by storm. Learn about their stunning tasting room, award-winning wines like Petit Sirah and Quatre Rouges, winemaking history, and why you need to visit this charming destination winery as soon as possible.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Winery History and Facility
- Wine Highlights
- Other Wines
- Conclusion
- FAQ
Introduction
Siboney Cellars (pronounced “See-Bo-NAY”) is a new winery in the Texas Hill Country, but it has quickly made a name for itself with its award-winning wines. The winery is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Miguel and Barbara Lecuona and partners Bill and Mary Anne Waldrip, who are passionate about making high-quality Texas wine.
Siboney Cellars is located on a beautiful 52-acre property in Johnson City, Texas. The winery features a state-of-the-art production facility, a tasting room with stunning views of the vineyards, and an event space. You can view the vineyards first-hand by walking down the path from the main building into the vineyards. You might even want to take a glass or bottle of wine with you and sit below the beautiful shade trees for a peaceful and serene experience.
The first thing you will notice about Siboney is the welcoming feeling you will receive from the entire staff. They are all happy (always), greet you with a smile, and are happy to provide you with an experience you will want to come back to repeat. When you enter the tasting room, you truly feel like a guest and not a customer. I appreciate that.
What makes Siboney Cellars Different?
The Cuban influence, as well as the cigar club!
Winery History and Facility
Siboney Cellars was founded in 2017, but its history dates back much further. Although the winery is new, the winemaking expertise and passion for good wine by its owners is not. Barbara is a first-generation winemaker, having completed the Viticulture and Oenology Certificate program at Texas Tech University in Fredericksburg (yeah local!) and continued her studies in Bordeaux. Miguel, on the other hand, completed his Wine MBA in Bordeaux, and after that hightailed it to Texas to be a part of the Texas wine industry.
When the Lecuonas decided to start their own winery, they knew they wanted to do it in the Texas Hill Country. The region has a long history of winemaking, and it is home to some of the best vineyards in the state.
Where does Siboney Cellars get its name? According to Wikipedia, “Siboney”, also known as “Canto Siboney”, is a 1927 song by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona (picking up a connection?). It was part of the 1927 revue La tierra de Venus, which featured singer Rita Montaner. The lyrics were reportedly written by Lecuona (Miguel’s great uncle) while away from Cuba and is about the homesickness he was experiencing. The term “Siboney” refers to one of the indigenous tribes that inhabited Cuba before the arrival of the Spanish colonists and acts as a symbol for the island.
The Siboney Cellars winery is a state-of-the-art facility that is equipped with the latest winemaking technology. The winery also features a tasting room with stunning views of the vineyards. The tasting room is a great place to sample Siboney Cellars wines and learn more about the winemaking process. Siboney has made it easy to feel you are in a winery. There is great covered outdoor space in addition to the indoor space with fans and fire pits to handle weather on both spectrums. Members have access to an additional space upstairs overlooking the barrel room and with views outside, including another members-only covered patio.
One of the nice addons from Siboney is they hold social events to bring members and non-members together for wine and fun. I attended a once-a-month Cuban dominos party and enjoyed wine, conversation, dominos, and a pig roast on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Other events such as special tastings happen on Thursdays, and additional live music events are laid randomly on the calendar.
Wine Highlights
Siboney Cellars produces a variety of wines, including whites, reds, and sparkling wines. Here are three of my most favorite wines:
Hot Shot: This white, Rhône-style Blend from the Texas High Plains, is a beautifully fruity blend that will take the edge of any summer day. With aromas of citrus fruits and white flowers, you will not be disappointed.
Quatre Rouges: This red wine is a blend of four different grapes: Tempranillo, Cabernet, Malbec, Petit Verdot. The Quatre Rouges is a full-bodied wine with flavors of black fruits, spice, and oak. This was my favorite until I got my hands on the Petite Sirah.
Petit Sirah: This members-only wine from the Hoover Valley is magnificent, and in my opinion, one of the best Texas wines I have tasted.
Other Wines
Being a young winery, Siboney does not have a particularly large selection. However, the options they have are all very nice. Additionally, you will find the pricing on the wines to be very competitive with other Texas Hill County wineries, and probably even a bit below even at retail, non-member prices.
In addition to the three wines highlighted above, Siboney Cellars also produces the following wines:
Coral Estrellas: A sparkling Rose.
Sauvignon Blanc: A very crisp and clean Blanc with an enlightening after flavor brought through by the Semillon in the blend.
Syrah: This red wine is a 100% Syrah with a rich flavor of black fruits, spice, and oak. Fans of the Syrah grape will love this.
Merlot: Nicknamed “Storm Breaker” this beautiful wine from the Newsom Vineyards in the Texas High Planes is bold and rings of black cherry, vanilla, and chocolate.
Wine Club
The Siboney Wine Club is very consistent with all other wine clubs where you can sign up for different levels and receive wine every quarter. Some wines are reserved for wine club members, and there are wine pickup parties which you pay to attend as they come with tastings, barrel tastings, and a full lunch. the pickup parties are always upbeat and social. Occasional events for members only are also a benefit. I was able to join a group in a ceremonious release of ladybugs out into the vineyard to help with parasite control.
One additional aspect of the wine club is the cigar club. Miguel organizes and acquires boutique cigars for the cigar club, which you can enjoy as a member on the back deck. The cigar club releases 3 times per year. I have tried one thus far and it was excellent.
Conclusion
Siboney Cellars, although a new winery, has quickly made a name for itself with its award-winning wines. The winery is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Miguel and Barbara Lecuona, who are passionate about making high-quality Texas wine. You will most definitely always see one of them there.
Siboney Cellars produces a variety of wines, including whites, reds, and rose wines. All the wines are made from 100% Texas grapes.
If you are looking for a new winery to visit, I highly recommend Siboney Cellars. The winery has a beautiful facility, and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. The wines are excellent, and there is something for everyone to enjoy. If you live within a comfortable driving distance, their wine club is a definite “must”, and it will bring you into one of the friendliest and inviting winery atmospheres you will get anywhere. Make sure you wear your favorite Cuban hat (or buy one there)!
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FAQ
What are the hours of operation of the Siboney Cellars tasting room? The tasting room is open Mondays 12-5pm, Thursday 12-8pm, and Friday-Sunday 11am-6pm.
Do I need a reservation to visit the Siboney Cellars tasting room? Reservations are not required, and wine tasting consists of 5 wines. You can reserve if you wish.
What is the cost of a wine tasting at Siboney Cellars? The cost of a wine tasting varies depending on the number of wines you taste. A tasting of five wines costs $25 per person.
Does Siboney Cellars offer tours of the winery? Certainly!
Where can I listen to the song “Siboney”? There are a few renditions of the song, with and without lyrics. Here is one I really enjoyed by Nana Mouskouri.
About the Author
A native of Texas, Ken “Texan” Pierce is a renowned alcohol aficionado with over 15 years of experience in the Texas wine, whiskey, and beer industry. With a vast number of alcohol production resources right in his back yard in the Texas Hill Country, Ken has made it his mission to promote and advance the Texas winemaking, distilling, and brewing industry across the country. His uncanny ability to identify tasting notes and pairings makes him a respected authority within alcohol enthusiast circles. When he’s not reviewing the latest craft spirits, you can find Ken playing his guitar, trying to sing, and sipping on a Texas libation.
