Located in the small town of Hye, Texas, off Highway 290 between Johnson City and Fredericksburg is Hye Meadow Winery. Founded by Texas couple Denise ’88 and Mike Batek, the winery specializes in varietals from the Mediterranean areas of France, Spain and Italy. But what truly makes the winery special is the couple’s journey to becoming winemakers. After graduating from Texas A&M, Denise dove into a fast-paced career that ultimately placed the Batek family in Austin. Because of the significant travel required, Mike stopped his career to provide support for her and their three children. Fast forward 20 years later, and it was Denise who stepped into a support role that allowed Mike to pursue an education in the industry and ultimately begin their wine production in 2013. “Supporting my husband is my passion,” said Denise. “I retired in 2014 to support Mike however he needed during his new career and haven’t looked back.”
Denise serves as Chief Operating Officer for Hye Meadow Winery. She works alongside her husband, Mike Batek, who is the winemaker and vineyard manager. Denise has served on the board for local winery association, Texas Hill Country Wineries, and currently serving on an advisory board, Wine Industry Development Advisory Committee, part of Texas Agriculture Dept.