Need More Wine

Dallas wine shop Times Ten Cellars pulls plug on second location

There's still a chance for a few last toasts.

Times Ten Cellars

Fort Worth wine drinkers are about to lose a favorite little hang when Times Ten Cellars closes its location at 1100 Foch St. on January 28. The wine spot announced the impending closure on Facebook.

"Thank you for allowing us to serve you and share in so many special occasions," it said. "We look forward to seeing you before we close and would love to raise a glass."

Rob Wilson and Kert Platner opened the Fort Worth outlet in 2009 as a spinoff of their original location in Dallas. Both branches serve wine made in-house and boast a laid-back easygoing vibe, with cheese platters and other snacks, as well as the option for you to bring your own.

Fans loved it not only as a place to get a glass of wine, with an attentive knowledgeable staff, but for all kinds of gatherings: tastings, birthday parties, showers, wedding receptions, girls night out, and neighbor meet-ups.

The Fort Worth location also became known for its alliance with Cane Rosso pizzeria, which brought its mobile pizza truck to the wine bar once a week for pizza nights. Not only did it give wine drinkers excellent pizza, it also gave Cane Rosso a foothold in Fort Worth's dining scene that helped pave the way for its successful opening in the Near Southside district.

Wilson says they timed the closing to give faithful customers a chance for some closure.

"There are a lot of reasons that led us to this decision, the biggest being that we just weren't profitable at that location," he says. "We made the decision with our managers to stay open most of the month of January to give our loyal customers a chance to say goodbye and enjoy a glass of wine."

Meanwhile, the prognosis for Dallas is good.

"For now we want to focus on Dallas which continues to do well," he says. "All of the production and storage will move back to Dallas or our warehouse in East Dallas, and Dustin Walker will continue as our winemaker."

Times Ten Cellars produces approximately 20,000 cases of wine a year, and has its own 10-acre vineyard in Alpine, Texas, where they grow Tempranillo, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah grapes.

closings

H-E-B News

North Texas ice cream company crowned Texas' best in H-E-B competition

Photo courtesy of Sol Dias

Paletas from Sol Dias in Haltom City.

Five Texas-made products took top honors in Quest for Texas Best, the annual competition hosted by Texas supermarket chain H-E-B, sharing $110,000 in cash prizes, as well as a chance to be sold at H-E-B stores.

According to a release, the Grand Prize winner was Sol Dias, a family-owned Mexican ice cream and paleta company based in Haltom City, near Fort Worth, who took home the top cash prize of $50,000, earning the title of "Texas Best" and a guaranteed placement on H-E-B shelves.

The five winners were as follows:

Grand Prize $50,000: Sol Dias, Haltom City Mexican ice cream company
First Place $25,000: La Fregona, Bastrop creators of a chile sauce for elotes and esquites
Second Place $15,000: Hive Food Co., Houston beekeepers known for gourmet infused honey
Third Place (tied) $10,000: Dean & Peeler Meats, Floresville beef producer known for smoked Gouda sausage and Angus tallow
Third Place (tied) $10,000: Uncle Marc’s, Glenn Heights manufacturer of barbecue seasonings, rubs, and sauces

Now in its 13th year, Quest for Texas Best challenges small businesses to compete for the chance to win cash prizes and the opportunity to be stocked on H-E-B shelves.

This year's winners were chosen from a record-breaking 978 entries representing more than 500 companies statewide. Those were culled down in September to 10 finalists , who pitched their products on October 8 at H-E-B's headquarters in San Antonio.

The remaining five finalists were awarded $5,000 each, bringing the grand total to $135,000.

Sol Dias Ice Cream was founded in 2020 by Victor and Stacey Garcia. Their paletas are known for their creamy texture and big chunks of fruit. The company has several shops around Fort Worth, including Haltom City, Watauga, and Irving, with another shop coming to Northside Fort Worth in spring 2027.

The 2026 finalists brought a distinctly Texas mix of food, beverages, and general merchandise to the competition, from frozen cookie dough, smoked sausage, and infused honey to seasonings, street-corn sauce, pet treats, and cocktail mixes.

Since the program began in 2014, H‑E‑B has discovered more than 1,000 Texas-made products and awarded nearly $3 million in prize money, complemented by marketing support, mentoring, and opportunities designed to help small businesses scale.

In a statement, H-E-B's Senior Director of Diversity & Inclusion and Supplier Diversity James Harris said that “Because H‑E‑B began as a small business, we understand the difference that meaningful support and access can make. Through Quest for Texas Best, we are honored to champion these innovators as they take the next step in building their businesses and reaching more customers.”

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Brandon Watson contributed to this story.

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