Wine News
Officer-owned Blue Line Winery finds cozy new home in Old Town Keller
A winery based in Colleyville has found a charming new location to call home. Blue Line Winery is a mom-and-pop operation that makes and sells wines, both reds and whites, including all your favorite varietals: Cabernet, Merlot, Moscato, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and more.
The winery was founded four years ago by husband-and-wife Chris and Lyn Gilliam as a venture to have great wine and a good time with friends and family.
"We don't grow grapes," Chris says. "We buy them from around the country — California, Texas, and Arkansas — then make and bottle the wine. We developed an interest and decided to try our hand at it, and ended up selling quite a bit. Our goal is to build a reputation for good wine."
Their output varies depending on supply; they've had hiccups with COVID. Their wines are supremely affordable, nearly all $20 per bottle. Chris says their most popular wines are their Moscato, sweet red, and their Hofer Red, which is a wine with a mission.
"The Hofer Red is named after a police officer who died in the line of duty," he says. "His wife designed the label. Profits will be given to nonprofits that support families of fallen officers."
Lyn is a police officer, so they have that personal connection.
"Through the sale of our wines we hope to raise lots money for several First Responder Charities," Chris says. "There are 150 police officers killed every year in the line of duty. This combines our love for wine and our desire to support the families of fallen officers."
They also have a cute, shiny, black 16-foot mobile wine and coffee bar nicknamed Oliver, which provides full service wine and coffee for weddings and other private parties.
They most recently brought Oliver to the Frisco Uncorked wine festival, where they had a line of more than 150 people from 11 am-7 pm and served more than 2,000 glasses of wine.
With all their good fortune, it was time to seek out a permanent spot. They found a darling old home in Old Town Keller, at 136 Hill St., that was previously a hair salon.
"We're renovating it with the goal of converting it into a winery — we want a place we can call a permanent home," he says.
