Our Story
Adelphos Cellars represents far more than a commitment to producing hand-crafted, world-class wines from proud Texas grapes. We’re about strengthening relationships, finding common ground, and loving our community. We believe that wine is a great way (the best way?) of creating bonds and connecting with others. We believe in pouring into people, and we invite you to join us on this journey.
Whether you’re an old friend or a new friend, we’re glad you’re here. Thanks for sharing this story with us.
OUR FAMILIES
When the Irwin and Conklin families first met at church in Idalou, Texas in the mid 1990s, they never imaged that their new friendship would become such an integral part of their lives, nor that it would one day lead to the founding of a winery, tasting room, and event center. Their friendship has sustained them through seasons of joy, hardship, and change over thirty years, and it forms the heart of Adelphos Cellars – named in honor of the brotherhood that has bound our two families together for three decades.
Family is at the heart of everything we do at Adelphos Cellars. We’re proudly family-owned and family-run, from those managing the tasting room, event center, and estate vineyard, to those who help us run every aspect of the business.
OUR WINEMAKER
Manuel Lechuga has enjoyed a long history as an award-winning winemaker within the Texas wine industry. Manuel grew up in Santa Clara, Chihuahua, Mexico and worked for three decades at Pheasant Ridge Winery in Lubbock, beginning in the 1980s. As a winemaker and as a consultant, Manuel has helped to produce some of the most-awarded wines in Texas. We were thrilled when he agreed to join Adelphos as our Head Winemaker in 2020.
Manuel is passionate about making wine and credits his success to the love he puts into each one. He’s thankful to God for giving him the opportunity to bring joy to so many people.
OUR ESTATE VINEYARD
The Texas High Plains region produces the most sought-after grapes in the Texas wine industry. Most of the fruit used in our handcrafted Adelphos wines are sourced from Cerro Santo Vineyards, our family-owned estate vineyard located just west of Lorenzo and near the former Quaker-settled community of Estacado. This dry but patient land has a rich and lengthy viticultural past. It was originally settled by a colony of Quakers, the first to bring grapevines to West Texas, planting midwestern cultivars in this area when they settled Estacado and established a seminary almost 140 years ago. Their legacy lives on today at Cerro Santo, our “Holy Hill,” where Primitivo, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Montepulciano, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc vines now thrive on the slightly sloped and terraced land rising above an old lake bottom, which the Quakers once tended and blessed more than a century ago.
Adelphos Cellars believes in the exclusive use of locally sourced grapes, and we actively support the positive agricultural impact of viticulture on the Texas High Plains. We are proud to partner with other vineyard owners and family friends in the High Plains to supply us with additional varietals.