Winemaker Tim Drake

Tim Drake joined Flat Creek Estate as winemaker & vineyard manager just in time for Vintage 2011.  Tim’s expertise, talent…and personality…add to the depth of our team.  Trust Tim to follow in the tradition of crafting wines of distinction here at Flat Creek Estate.

Winemaking has been a journey for Tim Drake and his family from the very beginning. A journey that was never intended to be about wine, yet fate had other plans.

Tim was born and raised around the greater Seattle area in Washington state. He put himself through college by working a variety of service industry jobs, from Barista to Alaska fisherman, Tim has done a little of everything...just ask him!

Upon graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in Chemistry, Tim and his family moved to a small town in Oregon. It was there that he answered an ad in the local paper for a job with Columbia Crest Winery. Why not? They liked wine, and the “perks” of working in a winery aren't too shabby! That ad was the seed of what would grow into a lifetime love of everything wine.

The moment Tim took in the intoxicating smell of barrels that fills the cellar something clicked deep in his soul. He threw himself into learning all he could about each aspect of winemaking. Transferring to the white wine facility of Chateau St. Michelle in Woodinville, WA was the next key step of the journey.

After several years honing his cellar skills and absorbing the techniques required to craft beautiful world-class white wine, Tim set his sights on reds…not just any red wine but red wines of distinction. Reds that speak to your soul and tell you about the places they've been. Reds that have both power and grace. Reds that possess finesse and strength.

The Woodinville wine scene was entering a phenomenal explosion which allowed Tim the opportunity to learn, grow, and share his deepening knowledge of wine. Tim became part of “the gang” of friends & talented winemakers that were producing the distinctive reds of which he dreamed.

It wasn't long before Tim moved into winemaking and consulting independently. Since then, he has developed his own sense of style and philosophy where winemaking is concerned, and has gained the respect of his peers. After working for over a decade with many well respected wineries in the area, including Mathews Cellars, JM Cellars, and Page Cellars, fate decided it was time for a new chapter.

Tim and his wife, Spring, had traveled to Texas a number of times to visit Spring's family. Over the course of those trips, they found themselves enchanted by the people, the terrain, and the climate. But most of all, they were drawn to the pride Texans have for Texas!

They both felt they wanted something different than a non-stop city life for their children, and they had long been searching for the place that felt like home. So, in March of 2010, in a leap of faith, they made the move to Texas and found what they had been missing.

Tim immediately entrenched himself in learning what sets Texas wine apart from the rest of the world. After spending a year traveling all over our great state and establishing themselves as a part of the Texas wine community (or as we like to say “Family”), they found a place to land at Flat Creek Estate.

Tim looks forward to coaxing the best out of the grapes here at Flat Creek Estate and hopes that you will join him in discovering the terroir and soul in every glass! Don't be surprised to see him wandering around the cellar, apparently muttering to himself. He's just asking the wines who they want to be. Feel free to ask him what they're saying, as he's more than happy to translate for you.