The Austin Texas Wine Society was founded a couple of years ago by my friends Jake and Josh Ruse. The charter was to help people learn about wine, demystify it, and help people be comfortable choosing and enjoying wine. Once Covid restrictions loosened, the group looked for new venues to host wine tastings. A place in Round Rock was recommended by a distributor friend that supposedly had “some pretty great wine.” One Saturday afternoon, Google maps led to High Country Market Bistro and Gastro Pub on Gattis School Rd.
At first, we weren’t sure if we were in the right place. It was a nice neighborhood convenience store with a beer bar and a long kitchen along the back wall, but to the left was an imposing wall of wine bottles.
As we were waiting for the owner, I started to notice the selections on the bar. It was dotted with famous (and expensive) Burgundies, grand Bordeaux houses, embossed bottles of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and some pretty high-end California brands. Next to the bar were stacked cases of the same. This was definitely not an average convenience store.
That was our introduction to Zahir Walji and his wife Salima (who absolutely shines with excellent food when she sometimes mans the kitchen.)
Zahir started the business with his wife seven years ago, and he tells me that the first stocks numbered only about 400 bottles. Early on, most of his new neighbors were not privy to the joys of Rhône Gigondas, phenomenal Spanish Ribera del Duero, or pricy Super Tuscans (though some definitely were).
Luckily several well-to-do neighborhoods nearby had just the folks with the resources to build a good business.
Over the years, he’s made several outstanding collections for regulars in the neighborhood, and hosts visits from wine collectors as far away as Dallas and even a few surgeons from Baylor in Waco.
Zahir now regularly holds court from behind his wine bar, blind tasting with Somms or just teaching neighborhood regulars about great wine. I’ve gotten to understand that he is now one of the best wine resources in the region, not only in size but with careful attention to vintage.
Zahir now has nearly 7,000 bottles on hand, mostly in temperature-controlled storage and growing every week. Outstanding stocks of high-end Burgundy like Grand Cru Echezeaux, Vosne- Romanée, and Corton vie for space with varying supplies of all five the 1855 Premier cru houses, all fourteen of the deuxième cru houses, and most of the third through fifth growths. He also grows stocks in high-end California wines for his many clients who prefer them.
A huge fan of Côtes du Rhône wines personally, Zahir carries 47 different Chateauneuf-du-Pape houses.
Recently I’ve been lucky enough to attend a four vintage Cheval Blanc vertical tasting (complete with a Solo cup photo-op.) and enjoyed an introduction to nearly a dozen incredible Gaja wines.
Over the years, I’ve gotten to know some of Zahir’s collector friends, and the wines I’ve been exposed to have been unbelievable.
However, one box recently bought at auction had me green with envy and worrying about my wallet.
Zahir recently bought a box of six Premiers Grands Crus / Grands Cru Classés wines from the very best recent vintages. It’s a veritable dream box, every wine rated 100 points. They include the outstanding Château Lafite-Rothschild, 2010, Château Latour, 2009, Château Margaux, 2000, Château Haut-Brion, 2015, Château Mouton Rothschild, 2016, and Château Cheval Blanc 1er Grand Cru Classé A, 2016.
Each storied wine will be sold or shared with his wine club members over the coming years. As quick as I could, I called dibs on the Château Margaux, 2000.
Over the next year or so, Zahir plans to convert part of his current space into a temperature-controlled wine storage facility that will allow clients to store on-premises and move his wine bar to the building next door.
I very much look forward to my continued education.
Richard Arebalo
OTL Features