Rebecca Caroline Opens, Bringing Texas-Grown Traditional Method Sparkling Wine to the Highway 290 Wine Trail

New tasting room in the historic Hye Post Office becomes the first destination on the Highway 290 Wine Trail dedicated exclusively to Texas-grown traditional method sparkling wine.

HYE, TEXAS (June 30, 2026) — William Chris Wine Company is proud to announce the opening of Rebecca Caroline, a new tasting room dedicated entirely to Texas-grown traditional method sparkling wine, located within the historic Hye Post Office in the heart of Texas Wine Country.

Rebecca Caroline is the first tasting room on the Highway 290 Wine Trail devoted exclusively to Texas-grown traditional method sparkling wine. The new destination offers guests an immersive experience centered around wines crafted from Texas vineyards and produced using the same labor-intensive méthode traditionnelle employed in the world's great sparkling wine regions.

Named after June Rebecca and Tess Caroline, the daughters of William Chris founders Chris and Katharine Brundrett, Rebecca Caroline represents a dream more than a decade in the making. The project traces its roots back to 2013, when some of William Chris' first traditional method sparkling wines were produced. What began as a passion project has evolved into a dedicated sparkling wine program and now a destination entirely focused on showcasing the potential of Texas-grown sparkling wine.

“History gives a place its soul, and vision gives it a future. Rebecca Caroline brings those two things together in a meaningful way. We’re honored to breathe new life into one of Texas’ most historic post offices and transform it into what we believe is the state’s first destination dedicated entirely to traditional-method sparkling wine,” shares Chris Brundrett, co-founder and CEO of William Chris Wine Company. “Every bottle starts with extraordinary Texas-grown fruit and tells the story of the land it came from. And every guest who walks through these doors becomes part of the next chapter. Our goal isn’t just to make great sparkling wine. It’s to show the world that Texas deserves a place among the great sparkling wine regions.”

The tasting room is housed inside the historic Hye Post Office, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Texas Hill Country. Thoughtfully restored and reimagined, the space blends Texas history with contemporary hospitality while preserving the building's connection to the community.

Guests are welcomed into a tasting room that features the building's original post office boxes, which remain on display as a tribute to the site's role as a gathering place for generations of Texans. The historic post office also shares a unique connection to President Lyndon B. Johnson. At just four years old, Johnson mailed his first letter from the Hye Post Office, becoming a postal customer for the first time. Decades later, on November 3, 1965, President Johnson returned to the same building to swear in Lawrence F. O'Brien as United States Postmaster General. During the ceremony, Johnson reflected on his Hill Country upbringing and the dramatic changes he had witnessed throughout his lifetime. The Hye Post Office was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark the following year, further cementing its place in Texas history.

Rebecca Caroline's wine club, the R.C. Express, draws inspiration from both the Pony Express and the building's postal heritage. Members receive exclusive wine allocations, access to limited-production sparkling wines, and invitations to special events. The club's name serves as a nod to the history of a building that spent more than a century connecting people through letters, stories, and shared experiences.

The Rebecca Caroline program is led by Sparkling Winemaker Seth Urbanek, who oversees production of the winery's traditional method sparkling wines from vineyard to disgorgement.

“We’re proud to welcome guests into the historic Hye Post Office to experience something truly special for Texas wine. These Texas-grown traditional-method sparkling wines represent the intersection of old-world technique and Texas innovation, capturing the character, energy, and pioneering spirit of this place,” adds Seth Urbanek, Winemaker, Rebecca Caroline.

The opening of Rebecca Caroline reflects William Chris Wine Company's continued investment in elevating Texas wine and creating meaningful hospitality experiences that celebrate the state's agricultural heritage, creativity, and sense of place.

The Rebecca Caroline Tasting Room is open Thursday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., and Sunday, 12 p.m.–5 p.m.

Reservations are highly encouraged. $35 per guest for a 60-minute experience. The tasting room also offers oysters and caviar. To make a reservation and for more information about visiting, go to rebeccacaroline.com.