C.L. Butaud was founded in 2014 by Houstonites, Randy and Brooke Hester. The winery’s namesake is Randy’s great-grandfather, Clet Louis Butaud, aka “Frenchy.” Prior to forming C.L. Butaud, Randy and Brooke spent more than a decade learning winemaking and winery management in Napa and developing their original brand, Lightning Wines. Upon moving back to Texas, Randy quickly developed a reputation as a highly skilled and innovative winemaker. All of C.L. Butaud’s wines are made with minimal intervention practices from 100% Texas-grown grapes. C.L. Butaud’s wines have been recognized by prestigious publications such as Texas Monthly, Austin Monthly, Decanter, and VinePair. Notable awards include a 91-point score for the 2017 Tempranillo by Decanter and a spot in VinePair’s Top 50 Wines of 2021 for the 2019 Desert Willow Mourvèdre.
The Ambiance
The recent opening of C.L. Butaud’s beautiful new tasting room in a former warehouse in the trendy St. Elmo Arts District in far South Austin marks the beginning of a new era in the evolution of this producer of premium Texas wines. St. Elmo is already home to Austin’s original urban winery, The Austin Winery, as well as other well-known libation creators such as Texas Saké Company, Still Austin Whiskey Co., and St. Elmo Brewing Company.
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This Article was originally published on Texas Wine Lover
