PALESTINE —
Palestine’s own Sweet Dreams Winery was named Texas Winery of the Year in the New York International Wine Competition recently.
Sweet Dreams Winery’s Muscadine Wine also won a silver medal under the “Non Vinifera Blush or Rose” wine category.
There were more than 800 entries from the U.S. and other countries.
“A silver medal awards means that our judges really liked it and will sell it, distribute it and/or import it. If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere,” said Mike Pell, who owns Sweet Dreams Winery with his wife, Sandra.
The competition was held at 3 West Club in midtown Manhattan. This year’s judges included buyers from top retail stores, sommeliers, distributors and importers.
“What sets this competition apart from others is that the judges know the actual retail price of the wine they are judging and judged the wine as if they were buying it for their own company,” a new release said.
All wines were judged in a blind tasting method and sampled for appearance, aroma, taste, mouth feel and finish.
The Pells have had previous calls from a New York distributor and buyer who is building a huge wine store in Dallas and wants to carry their wines.
“We feel pleased to be considered for that, as we have many customers from Dallas, as well as Houston, San Antonio, many other cities in Texas as well as out of state who have come to Palestine to buy our wines,” Pell said. “We use an old-time method of making wines and have expanded our facilities to accommodate a bit more amounts of wine. However, we are a small winery and are sometimes out of special kinds of wine.”
All of Sweet Dream Winery’s wine is made on their premises and bottled by the Pells. Their newest wine available now is Summer T Watermelon wine.
“It’s a light, wonderful tasting, cool summer wine,” Pell said.
Anyone with the following fruits to sell can contact the Pells at 903-549-2027: blackberries, Black Spanish grapes, wild mustang grapes, plums (wild or domestic), strawberries and pears, or any other types of fruit in large amounts. They also buy honey for their honey wines.
“We use hundreds of pounds of honey to make our wines. We buy as much local or regional as possible, Texas grown and Texas proud,” Dell said.
Sweet Dreams Winery is open every Friday from 3 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Live music is played from 5 to 8 p.m. every Saturday.
Sweet Dreams Winery is located at 2549 ACR 441 in Palestine off FM 315. For directions, call 903-549-2027 or visit www.sweetdreamswinery.com.
WHS ‘82 reunion slated
The Westwood High School Class of 1982 will host its 30th class reunion on Saturday, Aug. 11 at Bella Sera Ranch in Palestine.
WHS Classes from 1980-1984 are invited to come and join the reunion at 8 p.m. to dance and reminisce old times. The cost is $10 for singles and $15 for couples.
The WHS Class of ’82 has set up a web site at www.westwoodpanthers1982.myevent.com to help organize the reunion.
If you are a member of the class of ’82, please go online and update your information and let the organizers know whether or not you will be attending the reunion.
Local News
Sweet Dreams Winery receives accolades
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