Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Richardson.
Hi Claire, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As a student at Texas A&M, I earned my degree in Food Science and Technology. Very early on in my studies, fermentation sparked my interest, leading me to explore wine as a possible career. After completing a Food and Wine study abroad program in Italy, I returned to College Station to pursue wine as a career. Before my last semester in school, I started in the Texas wine industry as an intern at William Chris Vineyards. Post graduation, I joined the team at William Chris as a full-time member of the cellar crew. Very soon after, I traveled to New Zealand for three months to pursue a Cellar Internship position at Marisco Vineyards in the Marlborough region. I returned to William Chris in time for the 2019 harvest. Having needed more of New Zealand, I left again in December 2019 to travel and gain more work experience abroad. My second time around, I held a vineyard job at Mudbrick Vineyards on Waiheke Island. Yet again, I traveled down south back to Marisco Vineyards as the laboratory intern. In June 2020, I returned to William Chris as the Assistant Winemaker. Unbeknownst to me, a few tons of Marsanne that we processed in 2020 would lead me to the many opportunities I now have as the Winemaker for Uplift Vineyard. In 2020 William Chris was introduced to Uplift Vineyard, which was then called Hoover Valley Vineyard. Fast forward to 2021, and William Chris Wine Company now owns the former Hoover Valley Vineyard. Looking to expand our brand portfolio, business partners Chris Brundrett and Andrew Sides decided to launch the Uplift brand as a 100% estate wine brand focused on small batches, high quality, and low intervention winemaking. Shortly after this announcement and after several discussions and interviews, I accepted the Winemaker position for Uplift Vineyard.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It definitely could have been a smoother road! I have made many mistakes along the way, but hey, that’s part of it. As for most of the world, Covid changed a lot for me. Having planned for a year or two more of travel, I decided to change directions, come home, and find my groove again at William Chris. I am very fortunate to have a team of leaders above me who support me and encourage my personal and professional growth and success. It is from them, and a lot of trial and error, that I have learned what it takes to be successful in my role. With that, I still have so much more to learn. Winemaking as a career has always been attractive to me because I will always have something new to learn. In terms of being on a smooth road, the winemaking process is rarely a smooth road. Mother nature, coupled with the many unexpected challenges and long hours of a harvest season, makes for many bumps, twists, and turns. I love the challenge, though. These challenges and unexpected changes keep my job exciting and make sharing a finished product with someone much more rewarding.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Uplift Vineyard is a 76-acre property on the Llano Uplift in Burnet, TX. We have 55 acres under vine and grow 13 varieties of grapes on 4 different soil types. The varieties that we have are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Sangiovese, Aglianico, Montepulciano, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier. Soils consists of crushed granite, clay, sand, and sandy loam. Each grape variety has been planted purposefully on the soil type that is best suited for it. With such a wide variety of grapes, I can be creative in blending and showcasing the best of what the vineyard offers. All the wines are made in small batches with minimal intervention in winemaking techniques. My goal is to highlight the vineyard and produce complex and layered wines. Uplift is unique in that it is situated close to three bodies of water which help regulate the vineyard’s temperature. Additionally, it is surrounded by mountains that help to protect it from harsh weather conditions. These mediating factors are essential to growing high-quality fruit in the Texas weather.
At the vineyard, we offer a one-of-a-kind boutique winery tasting experience. With the tasting room in the vineyard, you get a true feel for what grape growing at this site offers; beginning in the tasting room, your tasting experience will lead you through the vineyard and the barrel room. All of our guests get to finish their tasting on the upper viewing deck. Here, you will get a bird’s eye view of the vineyard and the surrounding landscape. All of our tastings have focused on education about the wine, the land, and the area’s history. Our wine club is currently open to new members. Members receive two shipments per year of either six or twelve bottles. Wine club releases and release parties take place every March and October.
Please visit our website or give us a call for more information. We would love for you to join the Uplift Viticultural Society. Tastings are available by appointment Thursday-Sunday. Bookings can be made through our website, upliftvineyard.com.
Uplift wines that I am loving right now: 2022 Lou Adah (Marsanne and Roussanne blend), 2020 Aglianico (Just received 91 points from Decanter Magazine!), 2021 Montepulciano, and 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (October release wine, so stay tuned),
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I am not in control. Also, people love to drink wine during pandemics. Cheers to everyone who kept me employed through Covid!
Pricing:
- White and rose wines $45
- Single variety wines $75
- Blends $125
- 6 bottle membership is about $1000/year
- 12-bottle membership about $2000/year
Contact Info:
- Website: upliftvineyard.com
- Instagram: @upliftvineyard
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upliftvineyard
Image Credits
Dave Capote, Graham Norwood
