Houston Couple Kurt and Michelle Lyn Toast a Year of Success in Historic Washington County with the Launch of their Estate Wine, Blanc du Bois

Staff 

On a ranch originally intended as a weekend escape from nearby Houston – and a retreat from the couple’s fast-paced careers in the legal and medical fields – a new destination for fine wine, food and weekend getaways was hatched. A year since its formal debut as Chapelton Vineyards, attorney Kurt and Dr. Michelle Lyn’s vision for the picturesque, 75-acre property has taken root with 14 acres of thriving estate vines and visitor amenities, including a bustling tasting room and a pair of upscale vacation villas, all in the heart of a historic region known as the birthplace of Texas.

 

Near the Brazos River, a little over an hour northwest of Houston and about two hours from Austin, the Lyns planted a small vineyard of Blanc du Bois and Black Spanish grapes on their newly acquired property in 2014. Four years later, as their hobby began to evolve, an additional parcel was purchased to expand the vineyard, and soon after, they enlisted the support of Texas A&M University to establish sustainable farming practices that have become core to Chapelton Vineyards today.

 

“Wine education – from ground to glass – underscores everything we do at Chapelton Vineyards,” said Kurt Lyn. “Since its inception, we have committed to understanding viticulture, learning the business of running a winery and building a team that shares our commitment to delivering an unparalleled experience for our guests. Chapelton Vineyards is in its infancy, and yet, has accomplished so much in the last year.”

 

The Lyns maintain a hands-on relationship with Chapelton Vineyards, spending most of their weekends on site alongside their team and guests. Sharing their passion for wine and commitment to education are general manager Allie Ferguson, a Southern California native with nearly a decade of experience in the wine industry.

 

A winding road – representing the Lyns’ belief that there’s no straight path to success – leads visitors to a two-story, 7,500-square-foot tasting room overlooking the vineyard. Embracing modern and industrial design, the structure features limestone throughout, paying homage to an iconic natural material found in the area. The ground level seats 80 and is home to the production facility and boutique, where guests can purchase bottles and branded merchandise. The second-floor seats 120 and is home to the open kitchen and features a veranda with additional seating and sweeping views of the vineyards.

 

In the tasting room, guests can learn about and sample Chapelton Vineyards’ portfolio of premium and signature red, white and sparkling varieties. Chapelton Vineyards is currently growing Blanc du Bois, Black Spanish, Merlot and Tempranillo grapes with vines sourced from Washington State, California, Uruguay and Argentina. The vineyard’s inaugural estate wine – Blanc du Bois – is a crisp white with an aroma of pear and citrus.

 

To complement the wines, in-house executive chef Jorge Rivas has curated a menu of small bites, charcuterie, sandwiches and salads. He also oversees culinary offerings for the property’s private events, ranging from client appreciation and corporate retreats to rehearsal dinners.

 

Comprehensive tasting experiences take guests through a tour of the vineyard, production facility and barrel room, and end in the tasting room, where visitors enjoy a sampling of five wines along with a charcuterie board.

 

Steps from the tasting room are two custom-built, 1,500-square-foot villas that can accommodate up to four guests each. Named after their respective view of the vineyard – Villa Blanc du Bois and Villa Tempranillo – the short-term rentals are priced at $600 per night and welcome guests with two complimentary bottles of wine, an extended tasting experience for up to four guests and options for a private dinner or brunch. The Lyns worked closely with interior designers to ensure each two-bedroom, two-bath villa is outfitted with top-tier amenities for an elevated stay. Perfect for guests seeking a relaxing getaway, the villas share a bright and cool color scheme, and each include a chef’s kitchen, indoor fireplace and outdoor terrace with patio seating and grill. They are professionally managed by Chapelton Vineyards’ hospitality and villa director, Margarita Rodriguez.

 

While wine is currently available for purchase online and at the tasting room, plans call for wholesale distribution. Avid oenophiles have the option to join the vineyard’s Chapelton Club, a quarterly offering incorporating exclusive benefits for members, including discounts on bottles, merchandise and villa stays.

 

Chapelton Vineyards is located at 14858 Whitman Road in Washington, Texas. Hours of operation are Wednesday through Saturday from 11 am until 6 pm, Sunday from noon until 6 pm, and Monday from 12-4 with reservations. For more information, please visit www.chapeltonvineyards.com or call (979) 330-7641.