Culture

Kiepersol Estates Combines Winery, Restaurant and B&B

All five bed-and-breakfast rooms feature claw-foot tubs and showers, king-size beds and satellite TV.

When Pierre de Wet immigrated to the United States from South Africa in 1984‚ he dreamed of creating a lasting venture that would sustain his family for generations to come.

The result of his dream – and years of hard work – is Kiepersol Estates‚ a combination restaurant‚ vineyard‚ winery‚ bed-and-breakfast and 1‚000-head cattle operation south of Tyler.

Named after his family’s farm in South Africa‚ Kiepersol is run by de Wet and his two daughters – Marnelle‚ the winemaker‚ and Velmay‚ manager of Kiepersol’s herd of purebred Polled Hereford and Black Angus cattle. It’s a family venture‚ but at Kierpersol‚ management says‚ “everybody somehow feels like family.”

Kiepersol’s vineyard spans 41 acres and grows mostly red varietals‚ along with a couple of whites‚ including Semillon. Semillon is a white grape known to the Bordeaux region of France and rarely found grown in Texas‚ according to Marnell.

“We produce about 3‚000 cases of wine – or 36‚000 bottles – each year‚” she says‚ adding that the most popular varietals are Cabernet Sauvignon‚ Merlot and Syrah.

A glass of Kiepersol wine is perhaps best enjoyed accompanied by a juicy steak at the Estate’s restaurant. The chop-house-style restaurant focuses on ribeye‚ filet mignon and New York strip‚ but also offers seafood and chicken. The lobster bisque is a favorite‚ and the sea bass with a crab crust is also very popular. For dessert‚ you can get flaming bananas Foster‚ prepared tableside‚ or the famous Kiepersol Godiva chocolate cake.

Though elegant‚ the atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and inviting‚ with comfortable leather chairs that encourage after-dinner conversation.

Equally inviting is Kiepersol’s luxurious Victorian-style bed-and-breakfast operation‚ housed in the same building as the restaurant. Three of the five rooms boast private screened porches and hot tubs‚ and all rooms feature private baths with claw-foot tubs and showers‚ king-size beds with plush bedding‚ satellite television and wireless Internet.

For breakfast‚ guests can pick from five different menu items‚ including Eggs Benedict‚ pancakes and French toast‚ often accompanied by tropical fruits like papayas and mangos.

Though only a decade old – Kiepersol officially opened in 1997 – the estate has racked up a hefty number of awards and accolades since its first vintage in 2000. The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon won both a Texas Champion and an International Reserve Champion award at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Wines under the Kiepersol label have also won several medals from the prestigious American Wine Society.

In November 2006‚ de Wet opened a second winery‚ KE Cellars‚ inside the Tyler city limits at the French Quarter on Broadway. Designed to resemble an Old World wine cellar‚ the shop offers Kiepersol labels as well as other Texas wines‚ gifts and private labels.

“People can come in and enjoy a bottle of wine and hors d’oeuvres‚ or they can take a bottle of wine home for cooking or to pair with dinner‚” says winemaker Marnell‚ who also hosts free WineKnow™ wine-appreciation classes at the shop.

Story by Jessica Mozo
Photo by Antony Boshier

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