Long before we bottled our first vintage, BLACKMON began as a dream. The dream was inspired by a vineyard, planted at BLACKMON Ranch, just nine miles west of where our tasting room sits. The vineyard was inspired by a place – the town of Mason, nestled in the Texas Hill Country AVA.

Bill Blackmon knew the moment he drove through Mason County for the first time in 1996 that he was going to eventually buy acreage in the area to plant the BLACKMON estate vineyard. The rocky, decomposed granite Hickory Sand soils found in the area are ideal for growing rich, dense varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. And in 2015, nineteen years later, those are precisely the grapes that were first planted at BLACKMON Ranch Vineyard.

After nearly four decades of working in the Texas wine industry as a grape farmer, a winemaker, a founder and a winery owner, Bill felt himself arriving at a crossroads – retire and enjoy downtime (for the first time in his life), or, take a leap of faith and pursue his dream of starting and running his very own estate wine label – and here we find ourselves today, honored and proud to share with you our dream. Welcome to BLACKMON.

Bill and his wife Beth, along with Bill’s sister Carol, invite you to enjoy some of the most exquisite wines being produced in Texas right now. Stay a while, experience our passion, and get to know our story and our wines

Bill began working on his family farm at 11 years old. And after graduating from Texas Tech University in 1977 with a degree in Agricultural Economics, he officially began his journey as a cotton farmer. Wanting to diversify the farm’s operation, in 1983, Bill went to his dad and asked permission to plant wine grapes on the family’s land in County Line, Texas. With a little prodding from his mother, his father agreed, and from there Bill’s passion for growing grapes flourished. He was able to find customers for his grapes at established wineries in the area like Llano Estacado Winery and Pheasant Ridge Winery, and eventually he found himself working in the cellar and his interest in the winemaking side of the business led him to become the head winemaker at Pheasant Ridge.

After too many difficult High Plains growing seasons with hard freezes that wiped out entire vineyards, Bill decided to relocate to the Hill Country in the mid-90s to try his hand at grape growing and winemaking here. In 1996 he planted and developed Granite Hill Vineyards, and in 2008 he purchased fruit from Granite Hill to begin making his own wine. Around this time Bill was introduced to Chris Brundrett, a young maverick winemaker fresh out of college. The two became steadfast friends and decided to go into business together, founding William Chris Vineyards, which officially opened its doors in 2010.

But he never lost touch with his deep, soulful connection to Mason and the special soil composition and growing conditions here. To be able to grow grapes and share wine here in Mason County is a dream come true for Bill, Beth, and Carol.