English Newsom Cellars

Producing wine on our own premises and with our own grapes allows us to have complete control over all aspects of the winemaking process. This gives our customers the confidence that year after year we will deliver both quality and yields to support and grow the Texas wine industry and the Texas economy.

In 2013, Tommy and Jana English purchased Caprock Winery in Lubbock, Texas. Realizing the beauty and potential of this facility, they invested their efforts into bringing Caprock Winery back to a state of the art production and processing center, as well as a premier event venue. The English’s began to renovate the building, the landscape, and added more estate vines consisting of Malbec and Tempranillo. However, a piece of the puzzle was still missing... a family who knew the wine industry. In January of 2018, the English’s had the opportunity to partner with Steve and Cindy Newsom, known for their quality Texas vineyards located in Hockley County. This partnership sealed the missing element in making English Newsom Cellars an award winning producer of Texas wines. These two West Texas families have the work ethic, integrity and passion required to bring wine lovers the best Texas wines available from the premier facility in this area.

They happily extend the invitation to come and see what Texas tastes like!

OUR VISION: English Newsom Cellars wants Texas wine to be celebrated, enjoyed and shared.

OUR MISSION: As a small family owned winery we are able to focus on every detail of quality from the vine to the bottle.

OUR VALUES: We will achieve our vision by staying true to the following core values:

• Employees: We are committed to treating our employees as our greatest asset by providing competitive wages, responsive management, and training.

• Flexibility: As we strive to serve and satisfy the needs of our customers, our exceptional team accepts that change is a key factor to staying ahead of the curve.

• Teamwork: A culture of respect, communication, and high standards produces excellent employee hires and retention. With a strong cultivation mentality, English Newsom Cellars

believes that a good idea deserves to be heard, regardless of title or position. We take pride in our work and are proud of the top-tier team of professionals moving us forward.

• Rewards: Competitive wages, and a service-centered culture is the bonus for being part of the English Newsom Cellars Team.

• Love Local: We aim to support Lubbock and Texas. We do this through sharing the beauty of our facility and award winning wines with visitors from across the country. We also provide a wine experience that brings customers back to the region time and time again. Our award winning wines are 100% Texas High Plains and we take pride in that. We are also known for donating to local charitable causes. We are dedicated to the continuous growth of English Newsom Cellars locally and statewide.

We encourage you to discover our award winning wines from the world's largest wine competitions. At these competitions the top wine experts, including Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers, come together to blind taste wines from across the world.

Our wine has won numerous national and international medals and best in class designations. These awards are a universally recognized indicator of exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

Kyra Simmons - Business Manager

Kyra is from Acuff, TX and received her bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University. After graduation she began her career in management. With over 20 years of managing people in retail and restaurant settings, business growth is her passion. Empowering a team to be creative and provide superb customer service gives her enormous gratification. At English Newsom Cellars she has the unique privilege to indulge in every aspect of the business. Kyra is able to manage many things at once and keeps things operating smoothly for the employees and the business.

Roman Marcus - Production Manager

Roman is a West Texas native. Growing up in Midland, Texas, Roman's first venture into the world of wines was at the age of 12 years old. He helped plant 5 acres of Tempranillo and 5 acres of Syrah at Red Star Farms. Roman is currently working towards an Agriculture and Applied Economics degree at Texas Tech University.

The booming Texas wine industry has made a lasting impression on Roman and he looks forward to continuing building a wine program here at English Newsom Cellars, a program that the entire state of Texas can be proud of.

Mariah Deardorff - Tasting Room Manager

Mariah was born and grew up in Lubbock, Texas. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Texas Tech University and went on to complete her Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies combining Chemistry, Business and Viticulture. In her final semester at Texas Tech, she participated in an internship with Llano Estacado Winery. During this time, she discovered her true passion for wine. Next, she spent three years as the Manager for a wine lab in Brownfield, Texas, where she became very familiar with different grape varieties, winemaking styles/methods and storage techniques. She was also in charge of Quality Control for the bottled projects. At the end of 2019, Mariah joined the team at English Newsom Cellars as the Tasting Room Manager. She enjoys familiarizing others with English Newsom wines as well as continuing her own wine education.

Caroline Cleveland - Hospitality Administrator

Caroline was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas. She recently graduated from Texas Tech University where she majored in Agricultural Communications. Her passion for the wine industry has grown as she has learned from Llano Estacado winery by serving guests and assisting in events and from Texas Wine Company where she was an intern. Caroline has a passion for Texas wine and wants to help others enjoy it just as much as she does!

Taylor Szymanski - Winemaker

Taylor was born in Lubbock, and after doing a majority of his youth’s schooling in Oklahoma, he felt the pull of the High Plains to return and pursue a degree in Plant and Soil Science with a concentration in Viticulture and Enology from Texas Tech University. After exploring the world’s most famous wine regions, Taylor sees enormous potential and excitement for the Texas wine industry. Taylor started his first harvest in 2017 with Llano Estacado Winery. With experience in the cellar, lab, and distillery, Taylor brings a bright future to English Newsom Cellars and the Texas wine industry as a whole.

Keegan Newsom - Vineyard Manager

Farming and developing world class vineyards is my passion. I manage 21 varietals on 100 acres in Hockley County, Texas. My dad and I have a reputation as a supplier of quality winegrapes.

I started working in the vineyards at age 14. In high school I realized I wanted to work with my Dad and follow in his footsteps.

My philosophy in growing grapes is to treat each varietal and each site unique to the soil type, water availability and then adjust to what Mother Nature gives us each year with the weather.

Our Vineyards are at an elevation of 3,600 feet. The landscape is flat, but its steady tilt to the North gives the Texas High Plains grapes opportunities to grow a broad array of varietals. This is why I love growing grapes in West Texas. As a child I always loved working in the cotton fields. It gave me the experience I needed to do what I love today. I farm and manage the vineyards in a healthy, sustainable manor, and always strive for quality first.

Christie Hodge - Wine Steward / Training Coordinator

Christie has lived in Lubbock for most of her life. She graduated from Texas Tech University with degrees in Advertising and Food and Nutrition and worked as a registered dietitian. Christie is a homeschool mom and teaches in a homeschool co-op. She is active in her church and loves to exercise. Christie also hosts AirBnB homes in Lubbock, which gives her an opportunity to connect with guests and create a space that makes them feel welcome and valued. Her mission in working at English-Newsom Cellars is the same - to serve guests superb wine and connect with them through warm, caring service.

Zach Bartlett - Cellar Master

Zach is from Lubbock, Texas. He is currently studying at South Plains College with the intention of transferring to Texas Tech University to study Viticulture and Enology.

He loves to brew beer as a hobby at home when he is not working or going to school. Zach is looking forward to working his first harvest at English Newsom Cellars. Fruit will be arriving soon, and its life cycle will begin: Sort. Cold soak. Punch down. Inoculate. Punch down. Measure Brix daily. Punch down. Press. Barrel. Rinse and repeat.

Zach knows there is a story behind every wine and can’t wait to be a part of this vintage.

Mackenzie Archer - Food & Wine Market Coordinator / Shift Leader

Mackenzie is a Lubbock native and is a Junior at Texas Tech University. Her degree plan is a double major in Advertising and Creative Media Industries. She has the warmth, the passion and personality that makes every customer interaction a memorable experience. She loves serving customers from behind the bar and at corporate and private events.

Her outgoing personality and love for people, makes her one of the top wine stewards at English Newsom Cellars. Swing by for a tasting and she will teach you about her favorite varietals and her love for Texas wine.

Angie Alspaugh - Compliance Manager - Angie received a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education from Texas Tech University. She worked for 25 years in the mental health field as a Licensed Professional Counselor, with the last 15 of those years in the role of Clinical Director at a residential treatment center for children and teens.

In 2009 Angie and her husband Terry founded a nonprofit horse rescue organization, Easy R Equine Rescue, of which she is the Executive Director.

She has been employed at Caprock Winery/EN Cellars for the past 4 years. She is also a registered yoga instructor and teaches classes at several area gyms.

Skye Knapen - Wine Steward

Skye is from Arlington, Texas and has been a student in Lubbock at Texas Tech since the fall of 2017. She recently graduated with her undergraduate degree in Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management, and she will attend Graduate School in the coming fall to continue her education in Hospitality Management. Skye has worked in restaurants for several years, and became interested in wine after she obtained her WSET Level 1. She is eager to build her career at English Newsom Cellars and to learn more about the Texas wine industry.

Cameron - Wine Steward

Cameron was born and raised in Austin, Texas and made his way to Lubbock in 2014, where he attained his degree in Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management from Texas Tech University. After graduation, Cameron moved to Horseshoe Bay where he was a Conference Service Manager at Horseshoe Bay Resort. He recently decided to move back to West Texas to learn more about the Texas wine industry!

Caroline Fitzgerald - Wine Steward

Caroline is from Boerne, Texas and is a sophomore at Texas Tech University. She is majoring in Speech Pathology with a minor in Special Education and plans to be a speech therapist for children with disabilities. Caroline has previously worked in the food and beverage industry but has become very intrigued with the wine industry and is excited to learn all she can!

Clay Cockrum - Wine Steward

Clay is from Fort Worth, Texas, and is currently attending Texas Tech University. Originally a Plant and Soil Science major, his appreciation for horticulture and viticulture brought him to the vineyard. He enjoyed his work so much, he decided to spend his extra time at the winery and helping in the Tasting Room. Now on the path to be a Financial Planner, he still has a passion for the people and atmosphere at English Newsom Cellars. He is enthusiastic to further develop his viticultural knowledge and to build new relationships with people through the winery!

Katie Berryhill - Brand Ambassador

Katie is an enthusiastic, outgoing individual with a passion for people, wine and events. Katie represents English Newsom Cellars in Dallas, San Antonio, Houston and Austin. She provides wine tastings and product knowledge to customers at events and in retail settings. Katie has a natural ability to draw others to her. She is passionate and exudes a positive energy. She helps foster a strong connection between our customers and our brand.

Lycretia Thompson - Brand Ambassador

Lycretia Thompson is from Lubbock, Texas and attended Texas Tech University. She has over 30 years of experience in office management, sales and marketing. Lycretia represents English Newsom Cellars in a positive light, and by doing so, helps increase brand awareness and sales. She embodies our culture in appearance, demeanor, values and ethics. To know her is to love her!

Esiquiel Bilger - Wine Steward

Esiquiel was born in San Antonio, Texas and was raised in Wimberley. He transferred to Texas Tech University after receiving his associates from Tyler Junior College. He plans to major in Plant and Soil Science focusing on Viticulture and Enology with a Minor in Business. Esiquiel has had some previous experience working with wine. In 2016 his parents purchased a plot of land in Fredericksburg with the hopes of starting a winery of their own. All of Esiquiel’s summers were soon turned into free labor for this project. What began as an apathetic job, soon captivated him and then finally a grew into his passion. Having learned much about the vineyard aspect of winemaking he is ecstatic to learn more about sales and customer service while at English and Newsom Cellars.

Ryan Bain - Wine Steward

Ryan grew up in Arlington, Texas and moved to Lubbock in 2016 after receiving her Bachelors in Marketing and Management from Dallas Baptist University. In 2016, she worked for Llano Estacado Winery where her grandad was once President. This is where she learned her two passions are event planning and wine. She also works full time at Texas Tech and is involved in many local organizations in Lubbock. Ryan is excited to bring her expertise in events to EN Cellars and growing her knowledge in the wine industry.

Seth Satterwhite - Wine Steward

Seth was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas. After graduating from South Plains College, Seth transferred to Texas Tech University in pursuit of a degree in Plant and Soil Sciences. His passion for agriculture was ignited during his experiences in FFA. He raised livestock, completed welding projects, and competed in several leadership development events to prepare him for a career in agriculture. After taking a liking to viticulture, there was no better way to continue his wine knowledge than to begin working in the tasting room at English Newsom Cellars.