Our Story:
In 2005, the three of us loaded up for a fun girl's trip to Dallas. You know the drill..Shopping, wine, massages, wine. While there, we took in a downtown winery that offered the option to make your own wine. We decided to go for it! We made two batches of wine, and after returning to bottle, cork and foil it, we thought, "Hey! Let's do this in Hochatown!" So we did.
The doors opened on April Fool's Day (not a joke) in 2006. Our plan was simple, and honestly, we never meant this to be a "real" business. We had no formal business plan, but we locked arms and dove into a partnership with a mission to have fun – fun with customers; fun with wine; fun with each other and our employees. AND if the business didn't succeed, the plan was to get a pink leather sofa, and a TV to watch chick flicks. If no customers came, we would drink the wine and watch rom-coms. Good plan, huh?
Well…we didn't get the sofa until 10 years later because our fun, not "real" business launched! We expanded the first time in year three; again in year five, and the growth has continued with new additions occurring pretty regularly.
David v. Goliath
It wasn't long after we had trademarked our name that we got a phone call. "Girls Gone WILD" was alleging trademark infringement! The story made BIG national news…especially since the Girls Gone Wild owner was being interviewed from his jail cell. With the expertise of a few good legal minds, our small business triumphed over the corporate bad guy (well that's how we saw it at that time..ha). We were able to continue using our trademarked – Girls Gone Wine, and we haven't heard from them since!
Business philosophy
One of our original goals for Girls Gone Wine was to be the BEST employees ever--a lofty goal but one we would have liked when we worked for our previous employers. We also strive to deliver excellent customer service and feel like happy wine girls equal happy customers. We train our wine girls and we reward our wine girls! Work hard, play hard! We hop on a plane, or fill up the Girls Gone Wine Party Bus and head to fun locations…Dallas, Las Vegas and even Mexico … where they are the VIPs and are treated to a fabulous vacay! Bonuses and fun-filled employee retreats are part of the perks. We've noticed than when our employees love their work, our customer's love the experience. THAT'S why we're in business!
Our Artist: Teresa Farrington
The signature look of our labels is the creativity and talent of the Okie Artist, Teresa Farrington. Teresa and Michelle met in the mid-1990s. When we started our fun, not "real" business, we had to label the product, and Teresa came to mind. The first label was developed while we were drinking and thinking at Rhonda's kitchen table. This label was Sinfully Delicious and was a caricature of that photo taken at the original Dallas winery where this idea sprouted.
Learn more about the Okie Artist and arrange to get your own caricature at https://www.facebook.com/theokieartist/
How do you get the oak taste in the wine?
We use oak chips, granules or oak cubes. We add the oak chips or cubes in muslin bags that are submerged into the tank of wine. Some of the wines are aged this way for 14 days or more. The oak is a variety – the most common oaks used are American or French. A lot of wineries use oak barrels to age wine, but oak barrels are very expensive! Some of the big wineries also use chips just like we do. Some use wooden staves – like a big stick that is placed down in the stainless tank.
Do you use any animal products in GGW wine?
In our fining agents, chitosan and/or kieselsol are used. These products are derived from sea shells or fish by-products.
How long does it take to get from juice to wine?
Sweet wines take about 5-6 weeks. Dry wines are more complicated, often utilizing wood chips and require aging.
Why do you use the word "style" on your tasting sheets when describing wines?
The reason we use the word "style" is because the TTB (the feds) require us to. Since our juice does not have a viticulture or region from where the grapes are grown, we can't say it's a particular Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Shiraz, etc. It's a blend of Chardonnay-style juices. We have also used the phrase, "Like a Chardonnay." Either will satisfy the TTB.
Why do you use synthetic corks?
We use synthetic corks because they make a better seal and they allow storing wine upright rather than on its side.
Does GGW use sulfides or preservatives?
What is sulfide? It prevents oxidation and improves shelf life, protecting the wine from spoiling. GGW uses significantly less sulfide than some of the larger commercial wineries. Why? Because we anticipate our wine being consumed within 3-5 years and we aren't warehousing wine or aging it for long periods of time. For our higher end, dry red specialty Christmas wines, the winemaker does add a little additional sulfide to allow those to get more age on them. Many people think they are sensitive to sulfides (aka allergic to wine) but in reality, their reaction is to the histamines in it. Some are able to take an antihistamine (i.e. Benadryl) before enjoying wine and have no or much less severe reaction to the histamines.
If you don't grow your grapes, how do you make wine?
We purchase pasteurized juice that is sourced from vineyards around the world. Grapes are harvested, crushed and pasteurized so that the juice won't begin fermentation while being packaged and shipped. It arrives to us in a large bladder. We add yeast back in to start the fermentation process.
What makes dry wine dry and sweet wine sweet?
All wines are dry by nature. The sugar that is in the juice at the time of harvest is converted into alcohol during fermentation. Some prefer sweet wine – like people who add sugar and cream to their coffee. After we make wine, we stop fermentation by adding sulfides and then we add sugar back to the wine. In our case, this additive is generally in the form of flavored syrups.
Is GGW adults only?
Children are welcome in our gift shop and south patio with adult supervision. The G Spot is an adults-only area.
Most FAQ
The most frequently asked question our winemaker gets is, "Did you catch that fish,"
referring to the blue marlin hanging in the production building.
"Yes, I did," says the winemaker, Terry Dean Walker.
