Hill Country Wineries Proudly Tout Winemaking with All Things Texas-Made
Texas Hill Country's wine region is a master class in Texas Terroir and has developed quite a reputation for making top-notch Mediterranean varieties that thrive in the harsh heat and limestone soils. The result is wines with a distinct Texas character rather than imitations of other regions. It's no surprise that Hill Country wineries proudly tout winemaking with Texas-grown grapes, Texas-sized pours, and for generally being less pretentious than other wine regions.
What do we mean when we say Hill Country Wineries? We're zooming in on Fredericksburg, Johnson City, and Dripping Springs, which form the trifecta of Texas wine country. Many wineries offer live music on weekends and Texas-inspired food pairings.
Who likes drinking more than Texans? People visiting Texas! So the Hill Country wineries can get packed, especially on weekends. Be sure to make reservations, and for a slower and quieter experience, consider weekday visits. When visiting, keep in mind that, unlike their California counterparts, distances between wineries can sometimes be 20-30 minutes. So plan your route carefully to avoid spending your day in the car. Uber and Lyft have limited availability in the region, or buy your DD a Dr. Pepper.
Especially in summer months, temperatures regularly hit 90-100°F. Many tastings are indoors, but be sure to grab sunscreen, hats, umbrellas, and, heck, some water.
- William Chris Vineyards in Hye - Passionate about 100% Texas-grown grapes with excellent Mourvèdre and Malbec.
- Ab Astris Winery in Stonewall - Woman-owned with exceptional Bordeaux-style blends, in a beautiful setting without the crowds. Their Tannat and Claret blend is really, and we mean really, good.
- Becker Vineyards in Fredericksburg - A pioneering winery with lavender fields and big Texas character, made of 100% Texas grapes. Authentic Texas Terroir.
- Heath Sparkling Wines in Fredericksburg - Specializing in fine sparkling wines made using the Méthode Champenoise. They use grapes from their own vineyards and other Texas vineyards to create a variety of sparkling wines.
- C.L. Butaud in Johnson City - Small production focusing on quality over quantity. C.L. Butaud boasts some of the most critically acclaimed wines in Texas. And y’all, they host Majong & Wine nights!
- Flat Creek Estate in Marble Falls - From the outskirts of Austin comes a super Texan experience with some award-winning "Super Texan" Sangiovese.
- McPherson Cellars in Lubbock - McPherson Cellars is located in a converted historic 1930s Coca-Cola bottling plant, in the heart of downtown Lubbock.
No visit to Texas Hill Country – or as we lovingly call it – not Napa Valley, would be complete without tasting the two varietals they're best known for: Tempranillo and Viognier. We also never miss a Mourvèdre, and don't forget that a Texas Sangiovese is nothing to sneeze at.
And y'all! We'd be remiss not to shout out a few of our favorite nearby restaurants to help soak up all of that Texas juice.
- West End Pizza Company - Perfect pizza with a chill atmosphere.
- Albert Icehouse - Delicious, Texas-sized smash burgers with live music.
- Hill Country Cupboard - Famous for chicken fried steak when you need serious sustenance.
- Salt Lick BBQ - Iconic Texas BBQ experience near several wineries.
Oh, and one last thing: Texas wine ain't cheap! Expect tasting fees between $15-30 per person, and bottles usually start at $30. The smaller production scale means higher prices than the mass-market wines you're used to seeing at H-E-B.
Hill Country Wineries Proudly Tout Winemaking with All Things Texas-Made
Texas Hill Country's wine region is a master class in Texas Terroir and has developed quite a reputation for making top-notch Mediterranean varieties that thrive in the harsh heat and limestone soils. The result is wines with a distinct Texas character rather than imitations of other regions. It's no surprise that Hill Country wineries proudly tout winemaking with Texas-grown grapes, Texas-sized pours, and for generally being less pretentious than other wine regions.
What do we mean when we say Hill Country Wineries? We're zooming in on Fredericksburg, Johnson City, and Dripping Springs, which form the trifecta of Texas wine country. Many wineries offer live music on weekends and Texas-inspired food pairings.
Who likes drinking more than Texans? People visiting Texas! So the Hill Country wineries can get packed, especially on weekends. Be sure to make reservations, and for a slower and quieter experience, consider weekday visits. When visiting, keep in mind that, unlike their California counterparts, distances between wineries can sometimes be 20-30 minutes. So plan your route carefully to avoid spending your day in the car. Uber and Lyft have limited availability in the region, or buy your DD a Dr. Pepper.
Especially in summer months, temperatures regularly hit 90-100°F. Many tastings are indoors, but be sure to grab sunscreen, hats, umbrellas, and, heck, some water.
- William Chris Vineyards in Hye - Passionate about 100% Texas-grown grapes with excellent Mourvèdre and Malbec.
- Ab Astris Winery in Stonewall - Woman-owned with exceptional Bordeaux-style blends, in a beautiful setting without the crowds. Their Tannat and Claret blend is really, and we mean really, good.
- Becker Vineyards in Fredericksburg - A pioneering winery with lavender fields and big Texas character, made of 100% Texas grapes. Authentic Texas Terroir.
- Heath Sparkling Wines in Fredericksburg - Specializing in fine sparkling wines made using the Méthode Champenoise. They use grapes from their own vineyards and other Texas vineyards to create a variety of sparkling wines.
- C.L. Butaud in Johnson City - Small production focusing on quality over quantity. C.L. Butaud boasts some of the most critically acclaimed wines in Texas. And y’all, they host Majong & Wine nights!
- Flat Creek Estate in Marble Falls - From the outskirts of Austin comes a super Texan experience with some award-winning "Super Texan" Sangiovese.
- McPherson Cellars in Lubbock - McPherson Cellars is located in a converted historic 1930s Coca-Cola bottling plant, in the heart of downtown Lubbock.
No visit to Texas Hill Country – or as we lovingly call it – not Napa Valley, would be complete without tasting the two varietals they're best known for: Tempranillo and Viognier. We also never miss a Mourvèdre, and don't forget that a Texas Sangiovese is nothing to sneeze at.
And y'all! We'd be remiss not to shout out a few of our favorite nearby restaurants to help soak up all of that Texas juice.
- West End Pizza Company - Perfect pizza with a chill atmosphere.
- Albert Icehouse - Delicious, Texas-sized smash burgers with live music.
- Hill Country Cupboard - Famous for chicken fried steak when you need serious sustenance.
- Salt Lick BBQ - Iconic Texas BBQ experience near several wineries.
Oh, and one last thing: Texas wine ain't cheap! Expect tasting fees between $15-30 per person, and bottles usually start at $30. The smaller production scale means higher prices than the mass-market wines you're used to seeing at H-E-B.
.webp)
.webp)
