Historic Pioneer Home Transformed into Axis Winery in Salado

By Rachel Strickland | Photos courtesy of Stephen Springer

Wine tasting is an increasingly popular leisure activity, and for good reason. There are so many delicious wines to taste from all over the world, and there’s no better place to go for an afternoon of sampling wines than Salado. The town has several wineries within walking distance of each other, but one stands out from the rest. Axis Winery has an impressive selection of wines, a welcoming staff, and a location that’s steeped in Texas history.

Owner Stephen Springer was in the Marine Corps for 13 years, and he spent a lot of that time in California where he got to know some winemakers and winery owners. Opening his own winery quickly became a dream, so when he got back to Texas, he did just that on Feb. 14, 2019. The name of the winery comes from Springer’s appreciation for the beautiful axis deer, and he also made sure to include a compass in the logo to represent his time in the Marine Corps.

Axis Winery’s location has a history as rich as the wines it serves. Located in a historic home built in 1850 by Texas pioneer and Bell County’s first sheriff, William Reed, the house is “a grand example of pioneer Texas construction, built of hand-hewn burr oak logs cut from the river bottoms on Reed land,” according it the winery’s website. The house is built in the classic dogtrot style, which was common at the time.

Originally, the house had no windows, save for the gun ports, because it was designed with safety in mind.

In 2008, the house was relocated to where it stands today by Tim Brown. “Everything you see in the front of the cabin is 100% authentic,” Springer says proudly. “Even the gun port windows are original.”

Axis Winery has a wide selection of wines, but not all are native to Texas. “There are certain varieties that people want that just don’t grow in the state,” Springer says. Therefore, while he sources the red wines from Lubbock, he gets other varieties, such as the Chardonnay, from out of state, which guarantees the quality. Even though Springer gets his wines from all over, he bottles them all in house. While Axis regulars tend to love the sweets and the reds, Springer says that the Sparkling Almond white wine is a fan favorite.

Like so many small-business owners in the Central Texas area, Springer is heavily involved in giving back to the community. He’s a member of the Salado Chamber of Commerce, and he actively supports local police, firefighters and first responders.

“We have a big veteran outreach, and we’ve supported Fort Hood and active-duty soldiers that didn’t have a place to go for Christmas or Thanksgiving,” Springer says. “But I don’t really want to focus on just those holidays. I want to focus on the ones that everyone forgets about because they don’t just need help two months out of the year. That’s the kind of outreach I’m trying to do — support some local families that are just struggling a little bit.”

Salado has had its ups and downs when it comes to economic growth, but things seem to be looking up for small-business owners. One of Springer’s goals is to give back to the community to try to get more business for the town as a whole.

“Salado has been a destination place for a long time,” he says. “But we’ve seen a lot of growth recently.”

There’s no doubt that Salado is a hotspot for wineries, but the downside of setting up shop in the town is the unavoidable competition; however, Springer isn’t worried. He says that what makes Axis stand out from other wineries in the area is its “customer service, quality, experience, and loyalty.”

When asked what makes Salado the perfect place for his winery, Springer smiles and adds simply: “God drew me here.”