Edgewood Could Have Winery By End Of Year

EDGEWOOD — A local businessman plans to open what would become Van Zandt County’s second winery as early as November.

Alan Roush, who owns the Blue Rooster and Blue Rooster Too home furnishing and specialty food stores in Edgewood, presented his plan before the Edgewood Economic Development Corporation at its meeting Monday.

Roush said the new winery would be located next to the Blue Rooster Too at 606 W. Pine St. (U.S. Hwy. 80) at the very western edge of the city limits.

He said wine by the bottle and glass would be sold there, but he told the EDC board of directors his emphasis would be on tastings, whereby patrons can purchase two-ounce samples of several wines to help discover one they like.

"Our goal is to get people to really start tasting what they are consuming," Roush said.

The winery will also offer what Roush described as a "lighter fare" food menu.

"We plan to add the food by the fall or early winter, at the latest in January. It will be things like various cheeses, sausages and sandwiches," he said.

The presentation did not meet any contention from the EDC board, which approved a motion to recommend Roush’s plan to the Edgewood City Council.

Council approval in October would be little more than a formality. The proposed winery would fall under Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission regulations. However, it can exist in an otherwise dry county or municipality under a 2003 state constitutional amendment.

Savannah Winery and Bistro, located just east of the Canton city limits on Highway 64, opened in late December 2006 under the same provision.

"The wineries have carte blanche because they are under the Texas Department of Agriculture, but if everything is in order with the state, they (winery owners) get to put it in," Edgewood Mayor Charlie Prater, who was in attendance at Monday’s meeting, explained to the EDC board.

Ed Pickett, who along with wife Flo Pickett owns and operates Savannah Winery and Bistro, said Wednesday he welcomed the news of another winery opening soon.

"We will be happy to help him (Roush) in any way we can. I think he can be very successful with it," Pickett said.

The restrictions such wineries must follow include selling only Texas wines with at least a 75 percent content level of Texas-produced grapes. They also must produce their own wine, again using Texas-produced fruit.

Roush said his plans include production of peach, pear, mustang grape and muscadine wines.

"We also want those who do not drink alcoholic beverages to feel comfortable, so we will also carry some sparkling non-alcoholic wines," he said.

Roush said he is convinced the winery will attract tourists along Highway 80 and give a boost to Edgewood’s annual sales tax revenue.

He plans to offer a patio area for patrons and possibly another outdoor seating area, citing its popularity during the fall and spring.

Roush also said Mamie Shuman would continue to be manager of the Blue Rooster Too’s home furnishings and specialty foods store.