Slate Mill Wine Collective was evolved from a boutique, family operated, winery called 1851 Vineyards.  The 1851 brand is a celebration of the unstoppable maverick spirit for which Texas is known.  Produced by Director of Winemaking Tim Drake and the Slate Mill cellar team, this continues to be our featured in-house brand.

Winemaker and Sommelier Rae Wilson began her career working in the cellar with several of Texas’ top wineries before beginning her brand Knipp Cellars. While offering wine education and consultation, she realized the vast potential of the Texas terroir and began her education as a grape grower and winemaker. She resides in Austin and you can find more about her products at dandypink.com.

Winemaker Josh Fritsche began working in the Texas wine industry nearly a decade ago.  Working his way through the ranks from cellar rat, assistant winemaker to winemaker he joined the Slate Mill winemaking team in April of 2019.  His personal label Tatum Cellars, named for his daughter, was launched to extraordinary critical and consumer acclaim and continues to establish itself as a leader in the Texas wine industry.

Randy Hester, a Texas native,  began his winemaking education studying in many of Napa Valleys’ finest facilities.  His sister brand, Lightning Wines, is produced in Napa using California fruit while C.L. Butaud remains his sole Texas label grown and produced in Texas. The namesake C.L. Butaud pays homage to grandfather along with his retail friendly label ‘Papa Frenchie’.

The Seaton and the Furgeson families are a multi- generational farming family that together farm 7,000 acres of row crops and 4 vineyards with 112 acres of wine grapes within the Texas High Plains AVA.  Though they first and foremost consider themselves growers, they produce wines of integrity from their family vineyards with the help of Slate Mill Wine Collective.