Sugar Ridge Winery — Attraction in Texas

Wifey and I hit Ennis for the yearly Bluebonnet thing and decided to finally try this winery. Would have been nice to park for free but $10 for valet isn't the end of the world. Very cool atmosphere for a Texas winery. The view isn't spectacular (a little surprising given the local area). The wine was alright, nothing mind blowing but then we're wine snobs. LOTS of sweets. My personal fav was the Cab/Merlot mix which was their best wine IMO. The pourers are mixed- one dude with a sharp button-up Shirt was very friendly and liberal with his pours. One lady poured like the wine came out of her personal winery. Yeah I get it's a one-ounce pour but really? Guess who had far more people at their station? Didn't matter as we each got the full $30 tasting and left pours on our tickets. We paid that forward to the couple who inherited our table.

Excellent day though and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit! The build-your-own charcuterie box was reasonable and filling. Staff very welcoming. My only true complaint was the port-a-potties. Seriously guys? I personally could go in the bushes but I was horrified to see my wife forced to use them. Word of advice-take the valet $$$ and build some indoor plumbing bathrooms. I know we had out-of-staters there today for the eclipse and what a picture of Texas they are taking home lol.

I know this isn't Napa but it's well worth the trip even if not Bluebonnet season. Would give 5 stars if not for the loo.

Edited- I have since learned the reasoning behind the Porto Potties and the fact a surge in customer traffic could swamp the septic system (no pun intended) makes sense. Unfortunate, but understandable. The valet charge wasn't that big of a deal. Lots of sweet wine, but hence the...

Having visited this winery for several years, some changes made were either improvements (such as a real restroom only available 11 mos of the year) or just out of the necessity to handle bluebonnet traffic (mandatory $10 parking fee in April only). My friend and I wanted to stop in yesterday only to be waved off by some man pointing at the second of two driveways. As we pulled in, he's flapping his arms like a chicken and yelling that the winery was closed. Why not post a sign stating it's closed? When we asked when they'd open, he said 20 minutes if people leave. What people (we couldn't even see any parked cars)? Then he kept rambling inaudibly. A quick check of their website showed no additional information about daily closures.

So, what was once an annual tradition has ended on a bad note. We paid the ridiculous parking fee last year, but now with this clueless employee who obviously doesn't know how to communicate and the absence of a simple sign saying "CLOSED," we won't be coming back. Better wine and atmosphere can be found in Grapevine.

Update: The response to my review is just a cover for the lack of communication and lack of providing pertinent info on their website. In all the combined visits made to this location during April and outside of April, the winery never once closed down. The person at the gate could have walked closer to communicate any concerns clearly and professionally. Texas has many great wineries; just steer clear of this one during the month of April, so you don’t have a...

It’s the only vineyard around and it shows. You are greeted by a $10 mandatory valet parking and told absolutely no beverages are allowed out of your car. I asked about water given I had a reusable bottle for myself as well as for filling my dog’s water bowl. They said I have to leave it and when I asked if we would be provided water inside, I was told yes. Get in and told you must BUY bottled water and told the same for my dogs bowl. Um okay…. The $30 wine tasting was so underwhelming - sugar water at best and grassy plastic flavors at its worst. If you are anything of a “dry wine” fan, just don’t. They had “real” bathrooms but instead you are told you are only allowed to use port-a potties. Given the high prices and set up, an actual bathroom with running water is the least we could ask for. We left after four of the ten tastings. I don’t know, as someone who has been to countless vineyards and wineries around the world, this one is in a league of its own for being an underwhelming experience. Save you $40 for...