The Father and Daughter Origin Story Behind the Wildly Popular Barrel No. 33 Wine

WINESSTORIESHISTORY
Written By By Kelly Doherty

This is the story of:

One barrel,
One bottle, and
One bold move


Sometimes one bottle or one barrel can change your life. Who knew? In this case, sampling from one Kiepersol barrel and tasting it next to one iconic wine changed Marnelle Durrett’s winemaking life in one nerve-wracking, but pivotal afternoon. Barrel No. 33 has one of my favorite wine origin stories.


The story involves some bold mischief, a bottle of an allocated cult wine from Washington State, and a lot of passion, trust, and love.

The story reveals the part this wine plays in Kiepersol finding its identity in the world of wine styles and ultimately defining what our house style tastes like.

This video is from three years ago when we released the 2017 vintage, but what Marnelle shares in this throwback video still holds true today. The current release of “2020 Barrel”, as we call it, is a true continuation of this story of depth, comfort, and the experience of a singular terroir.

Comment below and let us know your stories of why you love Barrel No. 33.

Kelly Doherty is the Branding and Marketing Director of Kiepersol. A photographer, graphic designer, and writer at heart, the winery and vineyard are the inspired backdrop for Kelly’s creative endeavors. 

She holds a WSET Level 3 Award in Wines from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, is a member of the Society of Wine Educators, and loves talking about wine.

By Kelly Doherty

Kelly Doherty is the Branding and Marketing Director of Kiepersol in Tyler Texas. She has been with the estate since its inception in 1998 creating the brand from the ground up, literally helping plant the first Cabernet and Sangiovese vines. 

A photographer, graphic designer, and writer at heart, the winery and vineyard are the inspired backdrop for Kelly’s creative endeavors. She designs the website, runs the social media team, and hosts a vineyard blog. She is a wine and spirits packaging expert with over 25 years of designing eye-catching classic and timeless designs.

She holds a WSET Level 2 Award in Wines from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and is in the midst of the exciting journey of Level 3. Teaching and giving behind-the-scenes tours on the estate are her passion. You can also find her creating wine pairing dinners with chefs across the state.

Her other adventures include life coaching and podcasting. Kelly is the creator of the ‘Drink a Little’ podcast that explores the possibilities intertwined in the world of wine and wellness. Each week a different wine from around the world is tasted and paired with a conversation about creating a balanced and abundant life without overdrinking.

*Kiepersol is a Texas wine and culinary destination with a vineyard, winery, distillery, steak house, fifteen B&B rooms, and even an RV Park located in the countryside ten miles south of Tyler, Texas. Kiepersol has recently won the Top Texas Winery Award from the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo International Wine Competition of 2024.

kellydoherty.com

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