Rotarians on Wednesday heard more details about the new Bankhead Texas Wine Bar opening very soon in downtown Mineral Wells. It is located on West Hubbard Street, across from Coffee & Cocktails 76067 and along the Commons Plaza. Pictured, from left, are manager Julie Dennis, co-owners Zinn Brown, Danny Kissinger and Hebron Burkhall, and this week's program chair Lyn Butcher.
Burkhall said they intend for the wine bar to become the destination for North Texas wine lovers, and perhaps lead to Mineral Wells one day replacing Fredricksburg as one of the top wine tasting and production destinations in Texas. After all, Palo Pinto County is located in the Northern Hill Country, an extension of the Central Hill Country that is considered the heart of Texas’ wine production and tasting destinations.
Burkhall noted Texas is the nation’s fourth-largest wine producer. He wants the Mineral Wells establishment to be part of the North Texas Wine Trail and believes its location on U.S. Highway 180 will be an attractive stop for those going to, or returning from, Possum Kingdom Lake.
Kissinger said they also want to introduce local residents to more wine varieties, especially Texas-made wines and those Bankhead Texas Wine Bar will craft behind the talents of winemaker and viticulturalist Zinn Brown. There will be tastings and classes on how to appreciate and identify wines, especially those one finds most pleasing to their palette – and for those to experience one and perhaps realize for the first time they like wine.
The bar is so named because it sits along Bankhead Highway, the nation’s first intercontinental highway stretching from Washington, D.C., to San Diego, Calif.
Bankhead Texas Wine Bar has indoor sitting for about 50 and a shaded outdoor patio. The bar enjoyed a soft opening of sorts Thursday evening, hosting a reception and informational meeting with Baker Hotel investor and developer Chad Patton and Mineral Wells Economic Development Director David Hawes.
Hopes are to pop the corks and have the new bar fully operating and open to the public by Valentine’s Day. Raise a glass and enjoy!