On October 3, 2008 we official launched Delysia Chocolatier, delivery the first boxes of truffles to Becker Vineyards. However, the story starts a few months earlier.
It had been years since we visited the Texas Hill Country. We were both so busy with our careers, traveling, and starting a family that we didn’t venture out towards the Texas Wine Country much. But one weekend, when Sebastien was 18 months old we decided to spend a weekend in Fredericksburg.
At this point, Delysia Chocolatier was in the process of obtaining all necessary licenses, etc. That’s as far as we had gotten (well, I did have business cards). Other than that, it was simply still a concept.
We enjoyed such a relaxing weekend. Our last stop before heading back to Austin was at Becker Vineyards. I remember pulling up and seeing a stone building with a beautiful grassy field perfect for picnics. We entered a small tasting room with a long bar (what is now the entry room in the front of the tasting room). We loved the relaxing atmosphere of the winery.
My husband suggested that I speak with them about the business. I inquired and the next thing I knew I was handed tasting tickets, 3 bottles of wine, and had an appointment in a week with the Tasting Room Manager. I was ecstatic! A week later, I returned with numerous truffle samples. The Tasting Room Staff painstakingly paired each truffle with their top selling wines. It was quite exciting and educational. And they loved the truffles. On the spot, they ordered 20 boxes asking for delivery in October for Texas Wine Month.
It was 2 years before I told the Tasting Room Manager (and now a good friend) the rest of this story. It was an overwhelming experience to get my first order – to hear a complete stranger say how impressed they were and how much they liked my creations. I calmly thanked them for the order and said I’d see them in a few months. Driving back to Austin, I called my husband to tell him the exciting news. Then reality set in – we didn’t even own boxes!!
This partnership with Becker Vineyards created an avenue for Delysia Chocolatier that I could never have imaged. One of the creations made for the tasting was a Port Truffle made using Becker Vineyard’s Port. And it was one of the truffles selected by Becker Vineyard’s to be included in their first order. This is now our specialty, offering chocolates using the rich and fruitful flavors of wine. We are the first in Texas to use local wines to create chocolate truffles, offering a truly extraordinary experience.