With summer coming to an end (pretty please), that means it’s time to get out and enjoy our beautiful outdoors and Texas wineries. Thought I would share some terrific Texas wine events (in person and virtual) over the coming weeks that you might want to check out!
Sunset Socials in the Vineyard
Saturdays, September 3 and 17, Spicewood Vineyards
Spicewood Vineyards stays open later until 9 p.m. every other Saturday and offers music and food. On Sept. 3 (my birthday!), Spicewood guests will enjoy sangria, live music from Jane Ellen Bryant, and grilled shrimp/chicken skewers with cilantro lime rice, savory watermelon salad and grilled peaches. The event is free; guests can preorder food here.
Texas Wine Jam 2022
Sunday, September 4, Vinovium
Hosted at Vinovium, this wine and music festival that shines light on new and off-the-beaten path wineries along with some “oldies.” You’ll be able to taste and purchase wines while enjoying live music. This fun event is also a fundraiser for the SIMS Foundation and Texas Wine Community Scholarships. $45/person; tickets here.
Duchman Family Winery Music on the Lawn
Monday, September 5 and Saturday, September 10
Enjoy wine and “Music on the Lawn” at Duchman Family Winery to kick off fall. Libby and the Loveless play on the 5th from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. and Jungle Man Sam plays on the 10th from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. The events are free; details here.
Texas Wine Month Passport
October, Texas Hill Country Wineries
Celebrate Texas Wine Month by getting a Texas Wine Month Passport that gives you complimentary tastings and exclusive discounts at more than 45 Hill Country Wineries. Sponsored by the Texas Hill Country Wineries, the passports are $85/person or $120/couple. Given that regular tasting room visits average about $15/person, you will more than pay for your passport with just a handful of visits. Get out and enjoy Texas wines in October with this special passport! Get tickets here.
Texas Fine Wine Annual Texas Wine Month Dinner
October 1, Duchman Family Winery
Speaking of Texas Wine Month, Texas Fine Wine also hosts its annual dinner to celebrate Texas Wine Month on Saturday, October 1. Held at Duchman Family Winery in Driftwood, Duchman Chef Antonio has designed a delicious four-course paired dinner with wines from each of the four wineries: Bending Branch Winery, Pedernales Cellars, Spicewood Vineyards and of course, Duchman. Ticket information here.
Pedernales Cellars Viognier Retrospective Tasting
October 2, Pedernales Cellars
Viognier is often described as Texas’ signature white grape and Pedernales Cellars is one of the notable producers of Viognier wines. Guests will taste and compare Viogniers from the 2016 to the 2021 vintages drawn from the Pedernales library of wines and paired with cheese. Tickets here.
Bending Branch Winery Virtual Happy Hour
October 7
Join the virtual Bending Branch happy hour from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. on Friday, October 7 where Winemaker Bob Young will talk about the special Texas Wine Month Trio – 2019 Texas Tannat, 2019 Texas Tempranillo and 2019 Texas Cabernet Sauvignon. Details here.
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.
