English Newsom Cellars

English Newsom Cellars at Caprock Winery

English Newsom Cellars is located in Lubbock, Texas, a pivotal city in the Texas High Plains. The winery is owned by Tommy English and Steve Newsom. Steve Newsom grows all of our grapes in his vineyards in Sundown, Texas, located in Hockley County, which is directly west of Lubbock County. All of our wines are made exclusively from the vineyards of Steve and Cindy Newsom. That makes us one of a select few wineries in the country that have full control of our product from how it is grown in the vineyard to how it is produced and bottled.

In December of 2013, Caprock Winery was in a transition phase giving Tommy and Jana English the

perfect opportunity to make their mark on the Texas Wine Industry. Tommy being a real-estate developer, bought the building as a real-estate investment. He and his wife, Jana, saw Caprock as a hidden treasure. The English’s began to renovate the building, the landscape, and much more but were missing one piece of their puzzle…a family who knew the wine industry. The missing piece of the puzzle came together when the treasure the English’s had brought to light, was partnered with one of the largest grape growers in Texas, Steve Newsom.

In January of 2018, a partnership with Steve and Cindy Newsom was developed with aspirations to rebrand the company and create a game changing production plan. English Newsom Cellars is proud to have full control of all our products, and are using only the highest quality grapes. This means we know what is happening with our products from soil to glass. We not only make English Newsom award winning wines, but also have one of the largest production facilities in the state of Texas. We offer custom production services for other wineries and vineyards across the state. We make 100% of our own product and are proud to be 100% Texas made.

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.

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.

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.

Mary Haragan - Event & Hospitality Manager

As a wedding and events planner, Mary has been able to hone in on her passion for helping clients create truly fantastic experiences for their guests. Mary believes, there is nothing more satisfying than knowing her services make her clients’ special day better. Her past customer service experience has prepared her for this position where she loves her English Newsom Cellars work family just as much as she does her customers.

Christie Hodge - Wine Steward

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.

Mackenzie Archer - Wine Steward

Mackenzie is a Lubbock native and will be transferring to Texas Tech University as a sophomore. Her degree plan is a double major in Advertising and Creative Media Industries with a minor in English. Mackenzie has worked as a barista for several years and is enjoying being a wine steward for the best winery in Texas!

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.

David Mueller - Winemaker

David grew up in Spring, Texas. A Texas Tech University Alumnus, he received his bachelor's degree in Plant and Soil Science with a concentration in Viticulture and Enology. David developed his love for the Texas wine industry working at McPherson Cellars. After spending a year in the tasting room, he began working production where he would learn the craft of winemaking for the next 3 years. Early in 2019, David joined the winemaking staff at English Newsom Cellars. He is passionate about growing the reputation of Texas wine globally. David is a firm believer that great wine comes from great grapes, and that the Texas High Plains produces the best grapes in the state.

Taylor Szymanski - Lab Tech

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.

Zach Bartlett - Cellar Hand

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.

Greg Hernandez - Cellar Hand

Greg assists and supports the winemaker in the production of wine. He is an integral part to the day-to-day operation of English Newsom Cellars. Greg performs a wide range of tasks – from processing fruit, through fermentation, to finishing and maturing wine. The majority of Greg’s work includes manual labor – from cleaning tanks, barrels & floors to dragging hoses around the winery, filling barrels, driving fork-lifts, pumping over, racking off and transferring wine from one tank to another.

Greg takes pride in knowing that when a customer opens a bottle of English Newsom Cellars wine that his hard work is poured in every glass they drink.

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.