Whenever I travel for a shoot—whether it’s a World FITASC or chasing driven birds in Spain—I inevitably find myself exploring the local vineyards. Drawn into some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth, I’ve learned that walking the vines is the ultimate way to truly understand a region’s food, people, and culture. These pursuits have allowed me to experience the great, robust reds of Umbria and Tuscany, the legendary sweet whites of Hungary's Tokaj and Balaton Lake region, and the dramatic, high-altitude varietals grown in the northern mountains of Cyprus.
Spain, in particular, holds a special place in these travels. While shooting partridge across the rugged countryside is an unforgettable thrill, I equally enjoyed exploring the incredible wines of Rioja. Walking through historic cellars lined with decades of aging oak, you quickly realize that Rioja’s deep, structured Tempranillos and beautifully aged Reservas are a masterclass in tradition and terroir. It is a region where the wine is inextricably bound to the history of the land and its people.
If I’m being completely honest, perhaps this habit is a therapeutic response to the inconsistent nature of my shooting. I simply like having something spectacular to look forward to after the guns are cased and the podium eludes me once again. So, bear with me as I recount how a rough weekend on the clay courses brought us to Fredericksburg, Texas, to discover some truly extraordinary American wine.
The Grinder in San Antonio
This past April, the 2026 World English Sporting Clays Championship came to the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio. Held for over twenty years and alternating host countries between the US and the United Kingdom, this is an international competition of the highest caliber. We were fortunate that the Texas spring weather cooperated and held off the worst of the flooding, allowing over 1,200 competitors from 20 different countries to test their skills against a collection of incredibly challenging targets. The Main Event itself was a 200-target course spread over three days, culminating in a dramatic Super Final win by the USA’s own Braxton Oliver.
They say you cannot win an event like this on the first day, but you can certainly lose it. That is exactly the strategy I chose to deploy! Not that I was ever realistically in the running, but as competitors, we always hope the best version of ourselves shows up on day one. For me, that guy went entirely missing, and I posted a thoroughly terrible opening score.
Thankfully, I managed to improve slightly each day, putting up an almost respectable score on the Orange course on the last day. The true highlight of the week, however, was shooting the Super Sporting event with my friend Jim Bellows. We paired off with Don Brunt and Nigel Dowdall from Ireland, and the immediate camaraderie of the group completely elevated my game. I can still hear the laughter, the jokes, and the self-deprecating cusses echoing across the stations. Fueled by that great company, I proudly posted an 82—my best event of the tournament. Jim also posted an 82, though his expectations are high enough that he wasn't particularly thrilled about it. He was putting on a masterclass effortlessly running station after station, but he had a couple rough spots in the end. I think he was just being nice to me. Don and Nigel were neck in neck with us, but ultimately, it wasn't about the leaderboard; it was about the phenomenal company.
The Force Pulling Us to Fredericksburg
Like most shooters, I am always chasing consistency. But I’ve also been told that to survive this sport, you need a short memory and cannot dwell on a rough outing. Taking that advice quite seriously, I often seek out local wineries as a heartfelt embrace of liquid amnesia.
Beyond that, I had been reading quite a bit about the wines being made by Texas winemakers, and I was deeply curious to see if the rumors of high-end wine making were true. Let's just say there were strong forces both pushing and pulling my fiancée, Nancy, & I toward Fredericksburg. I am sure she was ready for this diversion even more than I was as she and my partner, Butch, were nice enough to run our Sporting LTD vendor spot while I was off shooting. That is always a lot of fun, but a lot of work. I owe them both dearly!
We stayed for three nights at the Albert Hotel, a beautiful boutique property located just off Main Street. It offered a perfect, relaxed change of pace from the energy of San Antonio, putting us within striking distance of the region's top estates. And here is a quick plug for our Tournament Vault: I feel better about traveling with my shotgun when I can carry it discreetly and can lock it down in my hotel room while I am off doing other things! (Sporting LTD - Tournament Vault - Elm). It simply dampens the separation anxiety we feel when leaving our prized shotgun behind. What followed was a great journey that yielded very distinct experiences, showcasing the spectacular depth of Texas-grown grapes alongside vastly different tasting room cultures. I was really impressed with the quality of these wines and the accolades they received.
The Standouts
This was a phenomenal experience. Operating under a strict, low intervention “grown, not made” philosophy, this estate delivers a luxurious yet deeply authentic Texas hospitality experience. It is easy to see why they were named No. 31 on the World’s 50 Best Vineyards list—the only Texas winery to make the cut.
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The Wines & Accolades: Their 2023 Texas High Plains Cabernet Sauvignon just brought home a prestigious Platinum Medal at the 2026 TEXSOM Awards, while their hallmark 2023 Texas High Plains Mourvèdre captured Gold. Furthermore, their high-end Uplift Vineyard label dominated the competition, securing a rare Judge’s Selection for its Sangiovese.
An absolute must-visit for anyone drawn to Old World structure met with distinct Texas terroir. Their focus on Spanish and Rhône-style varieties shines brilliantly in a relaxed, scenic setting.
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The Wines & Accolades: They consistently dominate major competitions. The 2021 GSM Mélange took home Best of Class at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and they recently earned Double Gold medals at the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition for both their stellar 2022 Mourvèdre and their exceptional 2022 Tempranillo.
This was our favorite overall tasting experience. A historic staple of Fredericksburg with over 30 years of winemaking heritage, this peaceful estate offers a brilliant cross-section of award-winning reds. Our guide and Wine Club Administrator, Gaylon, lured us through an incredible tour of the winery by thoughtfully placing tasting stations along the path.
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The Wines & Accolades: Boasting over 300 gold medals internationally, their standouts include the powerhouse Ranger Hays red blend and their robust Tempranillo Reserve—both of which I will be buying for a long time. Their highly decorated Barbera and Mourvèdre also continue to secure top billing in major regional events, proving that veteran experience pays off.
The Outlier
I hate to end on a negative note, but this was not a great experience. While the wines themselves have a loyal following, the guest experience stood in stark contrast to the welcoming, education-forward hospitality of the other three estates. The atmosphere here leaned heavily commercial, resulting in an environment that felt much more like a timeshare presentation than a relaxed wine tasting. We came for the Texas wine experience, but they kept pushing their California Cabs. While those were perfectly nice wines, at that high price point, there is a very long line of true California greats ahead of them.
The Verdict
If Texas wine was once an afterthought on the national stage, those days are long gone. The serious players in the Hill Country are producing world-class, terroir-driven reds that can begin to hold their own against Europe's historic regions. And it’s an easy drive from San Antonio. While my scorecard from The World English won't be framed on the wall anytime soon, the liquid amnesia I found in Fredericksburg made the trip an unqualified success. At least I think it was!