Written by Ben Cox – May 30, 2018– Local entrepreneurs Moira and Brian McCue are celebrating a year in business with Spirit of Texas Winery, and are celebrating with a new wine.
Located just a mile from the railroad bridge on the road to Zephyr, Spirit of Texas Winery is more than just a place for wine buffs to sit and talk about wine. Moira says “Sometimes people are afraid to come into a winery because they don’t know what to expect. I think that this is a good place to start. We’re small enough that we can sit and talk to you about it.”
Decorated with items found exclusively on their property, the winery has a warm, friendly, homey quality to it. “Everything, even the boat behind the bar was found here” says Brian.
Posted by Jeff Cope, July 2, 2017
Spirit of Texas Winery is located in Early and is owned by Brian and Moira McCue. The winery opened April 6, 2017.
I first met Brian McCue at the Wine Marketing & Tourism Conference held in Fredericksburg November 2016. After the conference, I looked forward to the winery opening and then getting a chance to visit. The winery opened as Star of Texas Winery, but like other wineries have had to do, they were contacted of a possible trademark infringement and changed their name to Spirit of Texas Winery.
I visited on a Saturday, and the previous day it had rained heavily in the area leaving some places muddy. I was on the road already and did not happen to check Facebook when the winery announced they would be opening later in the day instead of noon because the parking lot was a “swamp.” Thankfully when I pulled into the winery’s entrance, Brian and Moira were outside and they directed me to a parking spot out of the mud and under a covering. I was happy they said I could still do a tasting and as it turned out, others stopped by while I was there too.
Posted by Brownwood News, Jun 12, 2017
Brownwood News – The Brownwood and Early Chambers of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting on Friday, June 9th for Spirit of Texas Winery. Pictured at top are Spirit of Texas Winery owners Brian and Moira McCue with Brownwood and Early Chamber ambassadors and board members.
“Every now and then you get a business that’s a little bit different and special,” Brownwood Chamber of Commerce Director Ray Tipton addressed the crowd during the ceremony. “Not every business on its own is a tourist attraction. Those draw in large amounts of people from larger cities, and that makes you unique to Brown County.”
The new winery opened in April of this year and offers a selection of wines that can be enjoyed in their tasting room or outside on the patio. They also offer cheese and meat trays, but customers are welcome to bring their own food as well. They frequently offer special events and live music to add to the atmosphere.
Ronald W Erdrich , Abilene Reporter-News Published April 23, 2017
EARLY – Love that bathroom!
“The bathroom is a beautiful place,” laughed Moira McCue. “I know that sounds horrible, but that’s what it is. We spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to do the bathroom because it had to be really neat.”
Moira and her husband Brian opened the Star of Texas Winery two weeks ago. It’s on U.S. 183/84 about a mile south of the Union Pacific overpass on the east side of the highway.
“It sounds silly, but I wanted places where women could hang their purses,” she explained, still laughing. A peek inside showed what she meant; a door knob hangs on the wall opposite the commode and reclaimed wood covers the walls. It feels homey, perhaps even restful.
FABIANA SANTANA POSTED MARCH 28, 2017
One hardworking Texas couple is fulfilling their lifelong dream of opening a winery. Star of Texas Winery & Vineyards is a small, family-owned boutique winery owned by Brian and Moira McCue. After leaving their respective 30-year careers in finance and teaching, they decided to work together and focus on their love of wine.
They found the perfect location and hope to open Star of Texas Winery in early April. Located in Early, Texas, the property was something that ‘fell into place’ for them.
By Spring Sault | March 3, 2017
With a goal of creating a place where you can “relax and unwined”, the Star of Texas Winery in Brown County is a family-owned boutique tasting room exclusively stocking Texas wines and presently in the process of developing their acreage to grow their own grapes. Brian and Moira McCue had 30 years experience in their respective employment fields when they chose to make a change and finally pursue their shared interest in starting a winery. After seeing the property in Early, Texas, they knew they had found the place.
By Graham Dudley / Brownwood Bulletin Posted Feb 21, 2017
Just off Highway 84, a few miles south of Early City Hall, an abandoned storehouse is quickly transforming into Brown County’s new destination for quality Texas wine.
Brian and Moira McCue spent 30 years working in sales and teaching, respectively, across the state of Texas. Both felt the time was right for a change, and started searching the state for a property to pursue a shared love and start a winery.