Llano Estacado Mad Ira Wins Best of Class at 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Lubbock, TX — January 2025 — Llano Estacado Winery is thrilled to announce that its Mad Ira dessert wine has earned the prestigious Best of Class distinction at the 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the largest wine competition in North America.

This exceptional honor highlights Llano Estacado’s dedication to crafting world-class wines that celebrate the artistry and quality of Texas winemaking. Mad Ira, known for its rich flavors, velvety texture, and perfect balance of sweetness, stood out among a competitive field of entries from across the nation.

“Receiving the Best of Class award for Mad Ira is a testament to our talented team and our commitment to excellence,” said Matt Bostick, Hospitality Director and Sommelier at Llano Estacado Winery. “This recognition showcases the potential of Texas wines to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the world.”

Mad Ira is a meticulously crafted dessert wine, featuring layers of indulgent flavors and a smooth, lingering finish. Perfect for pairing with desserts, cheese boards, or as a standalone indulgence, this wine embodies the spirit of innovation and tradition that defines Llano Estacado.

The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is a renowned platform that celebrates excellence in winemaking, with over 7,000 entries judged by an esteemed panel of wine experts. The Best of Class accolade places Mad Ira among the elite wines celebrated on this stage.

To celebrate this achievement, Llano Estacado invites wine enthusiasts to visit their tasting room in Lubbock or explore their online store to experience the award-winning Mad Ira for themselves.

About Llano Estacado Winery Founded in 1976, Llano Estacado Winery is a pioneer of Texas winemaking, committed to producing premium wines that reflect the unique character of Texas vineyards. Located in Lubbock, TX, the winery has become a leader in the Texas wine industry, earning numerous awards and accolades for its innovative and high-quality wines.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Bret Perrenoud
General Manager
Llano Estacado Winery

Email: Bret@llanowine.com
 

Llano Estacado Winery Acquired by New Investor Group

Press Release:

Llano Estacado Winery, the largest and second-oldest winery in Texas, was recently purchased by a group of investors, including Lubbock attorneys Kevin Glasheen and Noe Valles. The group also features wine industry veteran Bret Perrenoud, who will serve as both an owner and the new general manager of Llano.

Founded in 1976 in Lubbock, Llano Estacado has spent nearly 50 years building its reputation as a leader in the Texas wine industry. Previously owned by over 100 small stockholders, many of whom served on the board for decades, the winery is now poised for significant growth under its new leadership. The investment team brings the capital and vision needed to sheppard the company through its next phase of growth, and build on this storied brand. This includes expanding tasting room locations and developing a flagship winery in Fredericksburg.

The winemaking team at Llano remains unchanged, ensuring continuity in quality and expertise. Bill Freidhof will continue to lead distribution. Winemaker Jason Centanni, who has been with the winery for 20 years and has held the winemaker role since 2015, expressed his enthusiasm for the transition:

“I am excited to share our wines with more wine enthusiasts across Texas. Working with new ownership that appreciates the historical significance of Llano and believes in our vision is truly inspiring. It’s an honor to be part of this legacy.”

In addition to Glasheen and Valles, the new ownership team includes wine enthusiast Ron Ross, retired business executive Bryan Miller, business consultant Aaron Handler and Bret Perrenoud. Aaron Handler will manage business operations as CEO. Perrenoud, who served as general manager of Becker Vineyards for 17 years and owns Airis'Ele Winery near Fredericksburg, will lead Llano’s growth strategy as both an owner and General Manager of Llano. Perrenoud emphasized the significance of the winery’s history and potential:

“Llano has so much history, distribution, and the largest winemaking facility in the state. This is an incredible opportunity to build on that legacy. The new investment and energy from the ownership team are invigorating.”

Llano’s long-serving president, Mark Hyman, is retiring after joining the winery in 1994. Under his leadership, Llano achieved a dominant position in retail distribution, accounting for 40% of Texas wine retail sales. Hyman shared his optimism for the winery’s future.

“The new ownership represents a bright new beginning for Llano. I’m excited to see what they’ll bring to the table to fuel future growth.”

Llano is celebrated for its popular “Sweet Red” and a range of affordable wines, alongside its award-winning fine wines, which are primarily available through its winery tasting room and wine club. Looking ahead, Llano Estacado Winery has ambitious plans to expand its offerings of fine wine and bring that wine directly to consumers. These plans include:

• A new tasting room in Lubbock’s Cactus Alley Shopping Center, scheduled to open in April 2025 inclose proximity to the hospitals and Texas Tech University.

• A tasting room on Main Street in Fredericksburg, opening in 2025.

• A state-of-the-art winery and tasting room in Fredericksburg, set to debut in 2026, promising to offer the premier winery experience in the Hill Country.

• Expanded hospitality facilities at the Lubbock winery to enhance event hosting and tours.

• Expanded distribution of fine wine through existing distribution channels.

Investor Kevin Glasheen echoed this sentiment:

“This is an exciting time for Llano. We see the tremendous opportunity ahead and believe in our winemaker, Jason Centanni, and believe Bret Perrenoud’s leadership can take Llano to the next level.”

With fresh investment and a bold vision, Llano Estacado Winery is ready to cement its position as a cornerstone of the Texas wine industry while exploring new horizons in the Hill Country and beyond.

For more information contact:
Bret Perrenoud bretperrenoud@gmail.com 830-456-9102, or
Kevin Glasheen glasheenkevin@gmail.com 806-789-0734