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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always

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Home Care In Stonewall, TX

Home Care Stonewall, TX

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Stonewall Saloon gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Stonewall, TX is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Stonewall, TX

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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TESTIMONIALS

“My experience with these amazing home care professionals is as close to perfect as it gets! I have a dear friend that is in hospice and needed a little extra home care. Ken, the owner, was fast to respond to my call and started home care right away. I can't say enough good things about my experience with Always Best Care Senior Services' staff and owner.”

Edward C.
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TESTIMONIALS

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Tsholofelo M.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I work for this team and it's a wonderful team , great communication and support for our clients, their family members and our caring team of staff .”

Antoinette G.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a past client of this provider Ken and Bonnie were wonderful to work with. They were able to provide my mother with care and a very short notice. Their staff was some of the most caring people that I've ever met. Not only were they wonderful to my mother but also to my family. I would highly recommend using them.”

Mark A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Ken and Bonnie are wonderful people to help care for your loved ones. their staff was so caring to my mother and so nice to my family I highly recommend them to take care of your loved ones. I think there ought to be more than just five stars to give them”

Mark A.
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TESTIMONIALS

“For those who are searching for qualified caregivers for their loved ones, contact Ken Thomas at Always Best Care Senior Services. Mr. Thomas provides an authentic and professional guiding hand when discussing available services for your precious senior family members. When it is time for a beloved senior to receive assistance, Mr. Thomas understands the importance of providing trustworthy and quality support.”

Melissa C.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Ken leads his Always Best Care Senior Services Agency with compassion for his clients and their families. He is a local senior care expert and leader in his community. If you are need of assistance in navigating your local senior care options, then do not hesitate to give Ken a call!”

Kelly B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Kenneth is kind, patient, experienced and knowledgeable. We are thankful to him for all his efforts and for going above and beyond.”

Chae S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Very professional and welcoming people so I would definitely recommend my friends and family to Always Best Care in Boerne.”

Laurie K.
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TESTIMONIALS

“The owner is so understanding and supportive of how I want my loved ones cared for. He and his staff actually listen to what I would like done for my parents. Very thoughtful, very professional and very caring. It’s such a relief to have help in caring for my loved ones”

Kristen B.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Kenneth is knowledgeable and trustworthy. I can’t recommend him enough. You’re in good hands with Kenneth.”

Chae S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“ALWAYS BEST CARE is certainly a warm & caring business owned & operated by Ken Thomas. I certainly would recommend them for you or your loved ones excellent care.”

Shirley S.
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TESTIMONIALS

“I will be forever grateful for the love you showered upon us and my grandmother”

Jill &.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Stonewall, TX?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Stonewall, TX

Types of Elderly Care in Stonewall, TX

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Stonewall, TX
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Stonewall, TX
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Stonewall, TX
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Hye Thai or visit Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Stonewall, TX

Benefits of Home Care in Stonewall, TX

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Stonewall, TX, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Stonewall, TX

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your TX's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Stonewall, TX

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Stonewall, TX understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Stonewall, TX

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Stonewall, TX

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Stonewall Retirement Center Apartment Homes
  • The Gables at Spring Lake Assisted Living
  • Azalea Estates of Shreveport
  • The Jones Family Home
  • Inner Quality Services,LLC
  • Savannah At the Oaks
Home Care Stonewall, TX

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Stonewall, TX

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Stonewall, TX 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Stonewall, TX

Latest News in Stonewall, TX

With hard work and luck, Texas Hill Country emerges as a wine region

Around 5:30 in the afternoon of June 21, a storm swept through the small town of Stonewall in the Texas Hill Country west of Austin. Straight-line 80 mph winds blew out of the northwest and flattened eight acres of Adega Vinho winery’s 14-acre vineyard, snapping the steel posts supporting the vines and bending the vine trunks at a 90-degree angle just above the ground.When co-owners Andrew Bilger and his brother, Mike, the vineyard manager and winemaker, surveyed the damage, they realized the ripening grape clusters were largely...

Around 5:30 in the afternoon of June 21, a storm swept through the small town of Stonewall in the Texas Hill Country west of Austin. Straight-line 80 mph winds blew out of the northwest and flattened eight acres of Adega Vinho winery’s 14-acre vineyard, snapping the steel posts supporting the vines and bending the vine trunks at a 90-degree angle just above the ground.

When co-owners Andrew Bilger and his brother, Mike, the vineyard manager and winemaker, surveyed the damage, they realized the ripening grape clusters were largely intact, cushioned by heavy netting installed a few weeks earlier to protect them from birds and hail.

The cavalry arrived the next day. Neighboring wineries sent vineyard workers to help. Club members showed up to volunteer. It took two days to bend the vines upright and install new trellising.

“We had two miracles,” Andy Bilger said later. The spring had been cool and unusually rainy up until early June, rejuvenating the vines after a drought in 2022. “The vines were refreshed and supple so they didn’t snap in the wind. The second miracle was the community really came together and helped.”

Three months later, those grapes — mostly sangiovese and several Portuguese varieties — were harvested in good shape. Andy Bilger realizes any damage to his vines may not show until next year, but he’s optimistic because they were able to bring this year’s crop to the finish line.

That storm hit Stonewall in the early days of a heat dome over Texas that sent temperatures into the triple digits for more than 40 days in the Texas Hill Country, an American Viticultural Area that takes in Austin, San Antonio and Fredericksburg. Similar conditions prevailed in the Texas High Plains AVA, the panhandle farm region around Lubbock, where about 80 percent of the state’s grapes are grown. Several vineyards in both areas also suffered hail damage, a yearly danger. Excessive heat also hit the Texas Davis Mountains AVA, with elevations as high as 8,300 feet, and the Mesilla Valley AVA, a remote mountainous area north and west of El Paso that produces highly prized grapes.

I spent a week in Texas Hill Country in early October, just as the heat was waning. In visits to 11 wineries — there are more than 50 in the Hill Country AVA — I got a sense of a young, confident wine region eager to tell the rest of the world its story. Invariably the story began with this wacky vintage of 2023 and included harbingers such as the “Halloween Massacre” freeze in 2019 that severely limited the next year’s crop and Texas’ own “Snowpocalypse” of February 2021, when a statewide deep freeze shattered the electricity grid and drove Ted Cruz to Cancún.

The Hill Country is the tourism center for Texas wine, given its proximity to Austin and San Antonio. Wineries here often foster a sense of community, enlisting club members to help at events. My San Antonio friends, Miriam and Doug Juckett, discovered this community three years ago as refugees from covid lockdown fatigue and introduced me to several wineries where they are now regulars. I also visited four older wineries that have organized as Texas Fine Wine to raise the Lone Star State’s wine profile nationally.

My introduction came at Siboney Cellars, where Miguel and Barbara Lecuona hosted a rollicking Sunday afternoon party celebrating new wine releases. Events there often have a Cuban theme, with Panama hats, cigars and music to celebrate Miguel’s heritage. (Siboney — pronounced see-bo-NAY — is named for a popular Cuban love ballad written a century ago by Ernesto Lecuona, Miguel’s great-uncle.)

Befitting a young wine region, there’s innovation and experimentation. At Bending Branch winery in Comfort, Bob Young employs modern technology such as flash détente and cryo-extraction to squeeze as much essence from his tannat grapes as possible. More modestly, Lydia and Rob Nida at Pebble Rock Cellars follow a minimalist path to make more natural-style wines.

When I visited, the Hill Country had finished its harvest, but several tons of tempranillo and mourvedre, two of the Spanish and Mediterranean varieties Texas emphasizes, were still hanging in the High Plains, their ripening slowed after the vines shut down from the heat. The winemakers I met showed the weariness of making several 12-hour round-trip commutes to check on the vineyards.

“The High Plains is a mecca of grape growing, with 3,000-foot elevation and cool nights,” explains Dave Reilly, winemaker at Duchman Family Winery in Driftwood. “The Hill Country has tourism. You can grow great grapes here, but the land is expensive.”

Is all this wacky weather a sign of climate change? It may be too early to tell, since the Texas wine industry is relatively young and lacks historical data.

“It’s just Texas,” says Ron Yates, owner and winemaker at Spicewood Vineyards in Spicewood and his namesake winery near Johnson City. “Hot, cold; we deal with it every year.”

“The one thing you can’t control is what Mother Nature will give you,” says Ben Calais, a French-born computer engineer turned winemaker and co-owner with his wife, Victoria, of French Connection Wines and Calais Wines. “What is the natural noise of Texas and what is climate change?”

Here are some of my favorite wines I tasted in Texas Hill Country, listed alphabetically by winery. In general, expect lush, full-bodied whites from Rhône varieties such as viognier and roussanne, with some good sauvignon blanc and chenin blanc as well. Reds tend to be bold and mouth-filling. They give a sense of warmth from the climate, without being hot in terms of alcohol. Most of these are sold directly from the wineries.

Conserving Another Piece of Hill Country, Texas with Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

STONEWALL, Texas, USA – The National Park Service and the International Dark-Sky Association are pleased to announce the certification of LBJ Ranch Unit of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park as an International Dark Sky Park. This certification recognizes the exceptional quality of the park’s night skies and provides added opportunities to enhance visitor experien...

STONEWALL, Texas, USA – The National Park Service and the International Dark-Sky Association are pleased to announce the certification of LBJ Ranch Unit of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park as an International Dark Sky Park. This certification recognizes the exceptional quality of the park’s night skies and provides added opportunities to enhance visitor experiences through astronomy-based interpretive programming.

“Although the Park remains in a relatively rural setting, the explosive growth of cities to its east means that the night sky over the ranch is not quite dark as it was in President Johnson’s time,” explained Ruskin Hartley, Executive Director of IDA. “Still, the Park leadership has recognized that nighttime darkness is a characteristic of the surrounding Hill Country landscape in which the Park is situated, and it has made admirable efforts toward preserving those conditions locally and encouraging similar efforts abroad.”

“Certification as an International Dark Sky Park reflects the hard work of a dedicated park team and an outstanding network of local partners,” said park superintendent, Justin Bates. “We look forward to sharing our Hill Country night skies with visitors and continuing to preserve this important park resource for future generations.”

The Park was supported through the certification process by many partners including the Hill Country Alliance (HCA), a non-profit created to build awareness and community support for the natural resources and heritage of the Central Texas Hill Country. “The Hill Country Alliance is thrilled about this certification, and we send an enthusiastic congratulations to the park staff, leadership, and other community members that contributed to this achievement,” said Night Sky Program Coordinator, Dawn Davies. “Communities in our region care deeply about night sky preservation and it is so encouraging that the LBJ National Historical Park has jumped into the regional effort with both feet, joining nine other International Dark Sky Places in the Hill Country. HCA has participated in several night sky events within the park, and we look forward to continuing to support their night sky preservation work and outreach.”

About the International Dark-Sky Association: The International Dark Sky Places Program was founded in 2001 as a non-regulatory and voluntary program to encourage communities, parks, and protected areas around the world to preserve and protect dark sites through effective lighting policies, environmentally responsible outdoor lighting, and public education. When used indiscriminately, artificial light can disrupt ecosystems, impact human health, waste money and energy, contribute to climate change, and block our view and connection to the universe. Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park now joins more than 180 Places that have demonstrated robust community support for dark sky advocacy and strive to protect the night from light pollution. Learn more by visiting darksky.org/conservation/idsp.

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

Bénédicte Rhyne Knows the Best Is Yet to Come for Central Texas Vintners

To understand the evolution of the Texas Hill Country wine region over the past two decades, there may be no better place to start than a chat with Bénédicte Rhyne, winemaker at Kuhlman Cellars in Stonewall. The Provence native has worked everywhere from Bordeaux to Marlborough, New Zealand, so...

To understand the evolution of the Texas Hill Country wine region over the past two decades, there may be no better place to start than a chat with Bénédicte Rhyne, winemaker at Kuhlman Cellars in Stonewall. The Provence native has worked everywhere from Bordeaux to Marlborough, New Zealand, so perhaps it’s best to call her an outsider’s insider. Her perspective is global and pragmatic, but her belief in the potential of the Hill Country region is quintessentially Texan.

She moved to Texas in 2002 and, nearly 20 years later, Rhyne can assess the current Texas wine scene as few others can. During that time, she established her successful Wine Country Consulting business, worked as the winemaker at Ste Genevieve Winery, and joined Kuhlman Cellars as winemaker and partner alongside farm and vineyard managers Chris and Jennifer Cobb in 2012.

Rhyne’s journey to Texas was lengthy. After earning her master’s in enology at the Université de Bourgogne in 1987, Rhyne worked harvests in Bordeaux and New Zealand, pivoted to wine sales in the United Kingdom, and then spent a decade in winery production and management in Sonoma. Rhyne’s move from the U.K. to California proved a critical one: She joined high-profile Sonoma winery Ravenswood in 1991, where she helped the business expand from a 50,000-case winery to 500,000 cases in 10 years.

When the winery sold to beverage corporation Constellation in 2001, she found herself at a career crossroads. As one of the few fortunate employees with some stock options, she knew the new owners would drastically change the winery’s direction. A young mother of two at the time, Rhyne and her husband both worked demanding management positions. After some discussion, the pair decided their next phase would include more family and parenting time, necessitating some big changes.

In deciding what to do next, an unlikely destination emerged: Central Texas. “We had this sense that we needed to move out of California,” she says. Her husband thought of Texas as the “big state where people were drinking a lot of wine” — as owner of a wine-logistics warehouse in Napa, he sent trucks to the state every week. A friend in the Bandera area mentioned that some grapes were planted in the Hill Country and invited them to visit. The family ended up driving around Texas in a minivan. They were surprised by what they found in Fredericksburg: “It reminded me a bit of my native Provence,” Rhyne says. “Certainly the terroir, the climate. Wow, surely they can grow grapes here. They needed more professional help, though, and I knew I could do it.”

In 2002, the Hill Country winemaking scene was both small and sleepy, with few wineries and largely inexperienced workers. Rhyne resigned from her position at Ravenswood after her stock cash-out, which gave her the courage to make the unconventional move. “I started sending letters to Texas wineries asking if they needed a consultant,” she says. “I believe when you’re supposed to go in a direction, everything falls into place, and that’s exactly what happened.” The couple sold their California home, her husband sold his warehouse business, and they used the proceeds to buy property in Fredericksburg, where they still reside today. After a little outreach to Texas wineries, Rhyne began working with Mesa Vineyards and Ste Genevieve Winery, where she made wine for over 15 years.

Rhyne now sees a Texas industry bursting with both growth and a greatly evolved professionalism. “Growers planted a wide variety of grapes, learned how to manage crops and yields, and are getting better at managing the climate here in Texas, which can be pretty rough,” she says.

She also notes that more young winemakers and grape growers are choosing to work in Texas, and she’s seeing more and more examples of Texas wines with true terroir, meaning they show the character of the state’s soil, climate, and topography. She confesses that her early hunch has proven true. “Everybody thought the real place to grow grapes was the High Plains,” she says, as conventional wisdom in Texas wine circles dictated this due to better diurnal shift (temperature variation) and fewer frost issues. “But now we’re discovering, which I’ve always kind of known in my heart, that the Hill Country has some very particular gems of terroir as well.”

At Kuhlman, her team has been cautious and specific about researching and planting the correct grape varietals appropriate to the soil and climate in her estate vineyard. “We’re now reaping the benefits of having done that research properly,” she says.

When asked if she now has favorite Texas grapes, Rhyne demurs: “Actually, I don’t. Texas is such a huge state. I’ve had fantastic tempranillo, and fantastic sauvignon blanc, and sangiovese, and roussanne from different terroirs in Texas. But we’re still in pioneer mode, even though it sounds like we’re not. We’re learning what varietals are going to be best for particular terroir.” Rhyne also believes Hill Country vineyards still have some tricks up their sleeves. “I know some want to make the flagship tempranillo or mourvedre or maybe viognier, but I disagree. There’s gonna be more surprises, and more varieties we haven’t even tried yet that will do fantastic here,” she says.

The resistance to picking a signature grape on which to hang her metaphorical hat is evident in Rhyne’s winemaking. Kuhlman’s wines are mostly blended from multiple grape varietals, and not always in traditional combinations. “It’s my style,” she notes, pointing to her southern French roots, whereas in Texas, “We’re a young region, and my philosophy is to make the best wine. In a perfect world when all the stars align, you may find a [single-varietal] gem that can stand on its own, and that does happen. It’s getting more common with our roussanne and mourvedre.” She adds that, in most cases, blending provides a greater balance of fruits, acids, and tannins, and that pragmatism guides her decisions. “I don’t want to be restricted by ideology,” Rhyne says. “We respect and nurture the grapes, but we want to use the art of blending to make the best wine we can with the tools we have.” Successfully balancing alcohol, fruit, acidity, and tannins is the goal of the process, and a familiar challenge to winemakers.

One major and overdue development for the Texas wine industry was a new law requiring greater accuracy in wine labeling in 2021: All wines with a county, American Viticultural Area, or vineyard designation will now be required to contain 100 percent Texas grapes, a major change from past practices. Rhyne feels this development is welcome: “We should always be transparent on our sources. Sometimes I might add something, but we’re going to put that on the label.”

Wines that use the generic Texas term on their packaging can continue to use 25 percent grapes grown outside the state, something that makes sense to Rhyne because of both commercial concerns and grape scarcity. “I wouldn’t use it,” she says, “but there are some businesses here in Texas that are doing very well that need it.”

In July, Rhyne was preparing for the realities of a small harvest in 2021 after a year filled with extreme weather. There were multiple factors: “We lost a lot of grapes in the High Plains. There was a massive April hailstorm that decimated a bunch of vineyards,” she explains. “It’s probably at least a 60 percent loss.” Rhyne predicts the shortage will prove challenging for all Texas wineries. “We are all kind of searching and hoping. I know we’re not the only ones in the same boat,” she says.

This shortage follows a lean harvest in 2020 due to High Plains freezes, which Rhyne describes as “kind of a blessing.” With tasting rooms and restaurants closed due to COVID-19, the smaller crop made storage and inventory issues less of a challenge: “Obviously, sales were in decline. So it all kind of worked out in the end.”

As Kuhlman Cellars and Rhyne look toward the future, the winery and winemaker see many things to look forward to. The brand’s Block One mourvedre (planted on the estate) will finally be released as a standalone wine. (It was previously used in blends only while the vines matured.) Rhyne is enthusiastic about this development. “We were finally able to ferment it by itself,” she says. “It’s planted on limestone, which I would be excited to see more vineyards do.” She also thinks the industry will see greatly increased plantings in the Hill Country: “That’s what I’m really excited to watch in the next couple of years. We’ll definitely keep growing, and hopefully [we’ll] make a little mark of quality for our wine industry here in the Hill Country.”

Kuhlman Cellars

18421 E US 290, Stonewall, Texas 78671 Visit Website

State designates San Benito’s Stonewall Jackson Hotel as historical landmark

SAN BENITO — Decades after standing as the city’s most cherished architectural treasure, the former Stonewall Jackson Hotel has been christened a Texas historical landmark.After the San Benito Housing and Development Corporation applied for the recognition earlier this month, the Texas Historical Commission designated the 96-year-old building a “recorded Texas historic landmark,” leading the agency to award an official Texas Historical Marker.“The Tex...

SAN BENITO — Decades after standing as the city’s most cherished architectural treasure, the former Stonewall Jackson Hotel has been christened a Texas historical landmark.

After the San Benito Housing and Development Corporation applied for the recognition earlier this month, the Texas Historical Commission designated the 96-year-old building a “recorded Texas historic landmark,” leading the agency to award an official Texas Historical Marker.

“The Texas Historical Commission has recognized the Stonewall Jackson Hotel as a significant part of Texas history,” the commission states. “The designation honors the Stonewall Jackson Hotel as an important and educational part of local history and recognizes its architectural integrity as a historic structure.”

HISTORICAL DESIGNATION TO ENHANCE SALE

The housing authority, which bought the city’s former grand hotel 10 years ago, applied for the designation as part of its plan to sell the three-story building after the agency scraped a proposed renovation project when its costs climbed too high.

Now, officials are counting on the Stonewall Jackson’s designation to help sell the building, Art Rodriguez, the housing authority’s executive director, said.

“Before, we just had a building. Now we have a historically recognized building,” he said during an interview. “We’ll have a different type of buyer interested now that it’s a historical building. We’re looking at anyone who might have an interest in restoring the building — an investor.”

RENOVATION COSTS CLIMBING

The cost of renovating the Stonewall Jackson has dramatically climbed since the housing authority bought the building 10 years ago.

Meanwhile, the Stonewall Jackson continues to decay.

After the agency paid $220,000 for the Stonewall Jackson in 2013, a previous administration contracted the architectural firm Megamorphosis Design to conduct a story to determine the cost of renovating the building to its original condition.

At the time, officials said the firm estimated the renovation project to cost about $3.4 million.

When the housing authority requested Megamorphosis Design update its study in 2019, the firm’s estimate jumped from $6 million to $7 million, officials said.

Today, Rodriguez estimates the cost of renovating the building has climbed to about $10 million, in part the result of the continuing escalation of material costs from the coronavirus pandemic’s supply chain crisis.

“Materials’ costs have skyrocketed,” he said.

HARD SALE?

For decades, area leaders dreamed of taking on one of the region’s greatest renovation projects.

Now, officials are counting on an investor to save a priceless piece of the city’s history.

“Will it be a hard sale — we’re asking them to rehab it,” Rodriguez said. “I may have a task that I may not be able to accomplish. There aren’t many options. We’re not thinking of demolishing it. That’s the last thing we have not discussed. It means a lot of the community, to the people of San Benito, to the history of San Benito.”

SOUTH TEXAS MONUMENT

For about five months, Sandra Tumberlinson, a co-founder of the San Benito Historical Society, worked to research the building’s history as she applied on behalf of the housing authority for the historical commission’s designation.

In 2013, the housing authority’s purchase likely saved the building, she states in her application.

“The building began to deteriorate, creating a public eyesore, and residents feared that demolition of the former community anchor seemed inevitable,” she wrote.

Opened in 1927, the grand hotel marked an era in which land barons courted northern businessmen who helped transform the city into an agricultural mecca.

During the city’s heyday, the building stood as the area’s social hub.

“In the 1920s, San Benito was booming,” Tumberlinson said during an interview.

The city’s leaders build the Stonewall Jackson as “a monument to the success of visionary people who harnessed the Rio Grande river to bring agriculture to the nation via a railroad that brought northern land seekers to this area and created the need for a magnificent place to stay,” she wrote in her application to the historical commission.

To build the grand hotel, the city’s leaders hired architect Harvey P. Smith to design the building.

“The planners thought so much of the building, they hired the premier architect in Texas,” Tumberlinson said. “They wanted the best of the best.”

DEEP IN THE CITY’S HEART

When she was growing up, the Stonewall Jackson was part of her life, Tumberlinson said.

As she researched the hotel’s history, her parents’ stories came alive.

“I grew up hearing stories from my parents about weddings, parties and other functions at the hotel, and as I walked the lobby and patio during my research, I could see the unique tile work found in my parents wedding photos,” she stated, adding her parents Raul and Celia Longoria hosted their wedding reception on the hotel’s patio in 1946.

“I could hear the big bands playing and the brides squealing from the staircase as they tossed their bouquets,” she stated.

As a young teacher, she got a chance to live some of the Stonewall Jackson’s majesty.

“I was fortunate that the hotel was still open when I began my teaching career so I also attended functions there,” she stated.

In the hotel’s sprawling lobby hung nationally renowned Texas artist Royston Nave’s portrait of Stonewall Jackson, now showcased at the Museum of San Benito in the city’s Community Building.

“It is saddening to see the beautiful artwork and patio that the public can’t enjoy anymore,” Tumberlinson stated, referring the hotel, which the city boarded up years ago.

During the last decades, the Stonewall Jackson fell deeper into disrepair before city officials condemned the old hotel, which had turned into a low-rent apartment building, fining its owner $12,500 for building code violation after evicting its last tenants in 2012.

Where to buy fresh Texas Hill Country peaches in Fredericksburg-Stonewall this summer 2022

Long before the Texas Hill Country became famous for its many wineries, peaches were the agricultural gem of this stunning slice of the state. And those golden globes of sweetness are in season now.There are many spots to stock up on fresh fruit, peach ice cream, peach preserves and countless other peach-based products along the 15-mile stretch of U.S. 290 between Freder...

Long before the Texas Hill Country became famous for its many wineries, peaches were the agricultural gem of this stunning slice of the state. And those golden globes of sweetness are in season now.

There are many spots to stock up on fresh fruit, peach ice cream, peach preserves and countless other peach-based products along the 15-mile stretch of U.S. 290 between Fredericksburg and Stonewall. Many of the orchards and produce markets sell a wide variety of peaches that come in and out of season now through late summer. Right now, clingstone peaches are available, and freestone peaches will begin ripening in the next couple weeks.

If you’ve got a serious peach craving and feel like a scenic road trip, here’s a guide to 10 great spots to find peaches in the Hill Country. All of the orchards and markets will be open throughout the growing season, which can end anywhere from mid-August into the second week of September depending on the varieties planted and weather conditions. To make sure you’ll find what you’re looking for, visit the Facebook pages for these businesses for the latest updates.

On ExpressNews.com: This year’s Hill Country peaches are small but super sweet

Behrends Orchard

This grower offers a wide variety of peaches as well as berries and vegetables at its roadside market. Its homemade peach ice cream is also a popular draw, with many customers lining up for a cold cup on hot summer days.

Behrends Orchard, 4579 E. U.S. 290 in Fredericksburg, 830-997-4420, Facebook: Behrends Orchards. Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Burg’s Corner

This seasonal produce market specializes in Hill Country peaches, but also offers a wide range of other fruit and produce items such as tomatoes, squash, watermelons, onions and more. More than 100 specialty food products are also available, including peach cider, fruit preserves, canned produce, salsas, honey and more.

Burg’s Corner, 15194 U.S. 290 in Stonewall, 830-644-2604, burgscorner.com, Facebook: @BurgsCorner. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily

Das Peach Haus

This sprawling compound from the Fischer & Wieser Specialty Foods brand offers a complete culinary experience. Oodles of fresh peaches are available at a roadside stand on the property. Inside the main building, Das Peach Haus sells about 150 varieties of sauces and preserves. It also offers cooking classes, wine tastings and more. Dietz Distillery sits next to Das Peach Haus and sells peach- and pear-based spirits.

Das Peach Haus, 1406 S. U.S. 87 in Fredericksburg, 830-997-8969, jelly.com, Facebook: @daspeachhaus. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Donald Eckhardt Orchards

This venerable orchard was established in 1936 and currently produces peaches, blackberries, plums and tomatoes. The orchard’s market sells a wide range of other Hill Country-grown fruit and produce and canned goods as well as a selection of farm and garden antiques.

Donald Eckhardt Orchards, 2150 S. U.S. 87 in Fredericksburg, 830-992-7113, hillcountrypeaches.com, Facebook: @EckhardtOrchards. Hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

On ExpressNews.com: Peaches: How to speed up and slow down their ripening

Gold Orchards Inc.

Fresh, ripe peaches, plums and nectarines are available at this orchard’s market stand. It also sells freshly baked peach pies and cobblers from its in-house bakery, as well as soft-serve peach ice cream and preserved peach products.

Gold Orchards Inc., 14329 E. U.S. 290 in Stonewall, 830-644-2890, Facebook: Gold Orchards, Inc. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday

Jenschke Orchards

You’ll find more than 30 varieties of peaches that ripen throughout the season at this orchard with more than 3,000 trees. This is the only orchard in the Hill Country that lets customers to pick their own fruit, although that starts later in the season. Visit Jenschke’s website for pick-your-own details. The orchard’s roadside market also sells peach ice cream, jams, jellies and canned peaches.

Jenschke Orchards, 8301 E. U.S. 290 in Fredericksburg, 830-997-8422, bestfredericksburgpeaches.com, Facebook: @fredericksburgpeaches. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday

Lydell’s Store

This seasonal produce market has been in business since 1985. Lydell’s is well stocked with fresh peaches, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, melons and a wide range of preserved items such as sauces, jams and jelly.

Lydell’s Store, 1607 E. Main St. in Fredericksburg, 830-997-1982, Facebook: Lydell’s Store. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Studebaker Farms

You’ll find a wide range of fresh peaches at this small family farm which frequently collaborates with state and national horticulturists to develop the best and most flavorful varieties. Peach jams, sauces, preserves and more are also available.

Studebaker Farms, 9405 E. U.S. 290 in Fredericksburg, 830-990-1109, studebakerfarms.com, Facebook: Studebaker Farm. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Vogel Orchard

This orchard was established in 1953 and offers a wide range of produce including peaches, blackberries, plums and pumpkins. Peach cobbler, peach ice cream, fruit preserves, jellies and more are also available.

Vogel Orchard, 12862 E. U.S. 290 in Fredericksburg, 830-644-2404, vogelorchard.wixsite.com, Facebook: Vogel Orchard. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Wahl’s Peaches

Find organically grown peaches produced without pesticides or chemical fertilizers at this family operated orchard. In addition to fresh fruit, Wahl’s sells jams, pies and preserves.

Wahl’s Peaches, 15369 E. U.S. 290 in Fredericksburg, 830-992-9498, Facebook: @WahlsPeaches. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily

[email protected] | Twitter: @pjbites | Instagram: @pjstephen

Central Texas Peach Crop Takes A Hit After Mild Winter

July is typically the height of peach season in Texas, but many of the Hill Country’s well-known peach farms don’t have as much of the savory fruit to offer this year.A mild winter has made for a much tougher growing season than usual, forcing an early end to peach season for many Texas farms.Jamie Vogel owns ...

July is typically the height of peach season in Texas, but many of the Hill Country’s well-known peach farms don’t have as much of the savory fruit to offer this year.

A mild winter has made for a much tougher growing season than usual, forcing an early end to peach season for many Texas farms.

Jamie Vogel owns Vogel Orchard in Stonewall, Texas, outside Fredericksburg. He heads the Hill Country Fruit Council.

Vogel says peaches require a certain number of chilling hours below 40 degrees to allow the buds to grow and develop properly. This winter’s lack of cold weather limited crops.

“One thing we understand in farming in general and with fruit is that you’re going to have good years and you’re going to have bad years,” Vogel says of Hill Country farmers’ morale. “We’ve had three pretty good years – 2014, 2015 and 2016 – with 2015 being really a bumper crop. You know that when that happens you’re likely to have some years coming up that won’t be so good. It’s just part of the process.”

The Hill Country Fruit Council posted a message on their website alerting consumers. “Because the Hill Country (and Texas crop in general) is small this year, you are unlikely to find true Hill Country peaches outside of the area so be careful what you are buying.”

“You can come to the hill country and buy direct from the growers, but there’s not enough production left this season for fruit to go outside the county for wholesale purposes,” Voegel says, warning of “counterfeit peaches” grown in other areas. “Chances are if you’re seeing Fredericksburg or Stonewall peach signs, it’s unlikely that they’re actually fruit coming from this area.”

Vogel says in previous years peach farmers have had great chilling hours during the winter only to encounter destructive late freezes in March and April. “If you don’t have thick skin for something like that, you better not be in this business,” he says.

Written by Rachel Rascoe.

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