Texas is an exciting wine region, one that has experienced significant growth over the past decade, with some 400+ wineries. Interestingly, during and post-Covid, wineries saw a big increase in guests who normally would travel to Napa, Sonoma or Oregon but instead, stayed closer to home and visited the wine country in their own backyard. All one has to do is drive down Highway 290 between Johnson City and Fredericksburg to be greeted by some 50+ wineries offering a wide range of wine styles and experiences – plenty to see during weekend visits.
Denise Clarke is an avid wine enthusiast who loves sharing and teaching people about wine. She is a Certified Wine Educator, Certified Sommelier, WSET Advanced graduate and an expert on Texas wine. Owner of Denise Clarke PR, she currently represents Texas Fine Wine and the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Wine Marketing Program. She has lived in Austin for more than 30 years and when she is not swirling and sipping wine, she can be found on her bike, climbing every hill she can find.
Follow Denise on IG at @deniseclarkeTX for more wine recommendations.
Former WSJ wine columnists Dottie Gaiter and John Brecher recently shared their observations about what’s happening on the Texas wine scene in a Grape Collective column.
Don’t have a full weekend to devote to visiting wineries? No problem, here are some winery day trips from Austin when you are short on time.
Driftwood
Driftwood Estate Winery – With the first commercial vineyard established in 1998 in Hays County, Driftwood Estate Winery sits on a bluff overlooking an 18-acre vineyard. Texas native Jackie van Sant Downes is the winemaker, returning to Texas last year with her Sonoma wine making expertise. Recommended wine: 2017 Alicante Bouschet Reserve that won Best of Class at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
Duchman Family Winery – Working with top growers in the state, Duchman Family Winery is known for its Italian varieties, including its popular Vermentino and Montepuliciano, but recently released a Roussanne, a popular white variety that originated in the Rhone wine region in France and is making beautiful wines in Texas. Grab a pizza or other foods from the in-house chef and sit under the big oaks with your favorite glass. Recommended wine: 2020 Roussanne, Oswald Vineyard that won Gold at the 2021 San Francisco International Wine Competition.
Fall Creek Vineyards – Fall Creek Vineyards, rooted in time and place since 1975, has been a 100% terroir-driven winery with estate-farmed vineyards for 46 years. Dedicated to matching the right grape variety to the right site in the Texas Hill Country, Fall Creek Winemaker Sergio Cuadra produces exquisite wines. Recommended wine: 2019 Chardonnay, Certenberg Vineyards, Terroir Reflection, which won a 2021 Texas Vintners Cup award.
Spicewood
Spicewood Vineyards – Spicewood Vineyards, established in 1992, is one of the first Texas Hill Country wineries. With a passion for Spanish varieties including Tempranillo, Graciano and Carignan, Spicewood Vineyards is also recognized for its estate Sauvignon Blanc. Recommended wine: 2019 Texas High Plains (black label) Tempranillo, Dutton Vineyards which won Best of Class at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
Stone House Vineyard – situated on a high bluff overlooking Lake Travis, Stone House offers wines from Texas, California and Australia. Its 7-acre vineyard grows the Norton grape for its Claros wine. Recommended wine: 2020 Claros with nice fruit and spice.
Dripping Springs
Bell Springs Winery – A boutique winery offering both dry and sweet white wines and red wines from Tannat, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Alicante Bouschet, Bell Springs also offers beer to go. Recommended wine: 2019 Viognier, a popular white grape for Texas.
Hawk’s Shadow Winery – located off McGregor Lane with sweeping, gorgeous views of the Texas Hill Country, Hawks’ Shadow grows Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Tempranillo and Sangiovese on its 5-acre vineyard. Check out the gravity-flow winery with an underground cave-like cellar. Recommended wine: 2021 Roussanne Block 21; Roussanne is a fabulous white grape for Texas.
Texas AVA– this stop off of Fitzhugh Road is a shared tasting room between Wine for the People and C.L. Butaud where you can enjoy flights combining wines from both. Wine for the People features three brands including Dandy Rosé, The Grower Project and La Valentia. C.L. Butaud offers a range of wines including its popular Pa Pa Frenchy Rosé. Recommended wines: Wine for the People’s 2020 La Valentia Carignan and the 2021 C.L. Butaud ‘The Beaj’ carbonic Sangiovese, both perfect with a slight chill. (two images)
See you in Texas Wine Country!
