Texas boasts a winemaking history that dates all the way back to the 1600s, when Spanish missionaries brought up vines from what’s now Mexico to make sacramental wine. The industry further developed in the 19th century; the state’s oldest pre-Prohibition winery, Val Verde Winery, was founded in 1883 and is still in operation. Fast forward about 100 years to 1992, when the Lone Star got its first American Viticultural Area (AVA)—the Texas High Plains, where more than 85% of the state’s wine grapes are now grown.
The industry has grown extensively in the ensuing decades. Many winemakers first began with plantings of popular international grapes—Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and others. But viticulturalists later discovered that lesser-known varieties, like Viognier, Roussanne, Picpoul, Tempranillo and others were more successful in Texas’s largely sunny and dry climate.
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These days, wine is Texas’s fastest-growing agricultural commodity with more than 800 wineries spread across eight AVAs. It’s certainly more difficult than ever to narrow down which wineries to add to a travel itinerary. To remedy this potential option paralysis, we quizzed in-the-know wine writers, restaurateurs, sommeliers and local industry professionals about the best Texas wineries to visit along with suggestions for where to sleep and eat nearby.
Austin
The Austin Winery
Roughly a 15-minute drive from the Austin airport, visit this St. Elmo Arts District spot upon arrival or departure. The urban winery is housed in a lively mixed-use complex of attached corrugated metal units called The Yard, which is also home to Texas Saké Company, Austin Cocktails, Still Austin Whiskey Co. and food trucks like Midway Dogs and Middle Eastern specialist Reem’s. Inside the sunlit, industrial-style tasting room, guests can settle into one of the tables—or a comfy brown leather couch—to taste low-intervention natural wines made with native yeasts and regeneratively-farmed Texas grapes.
Tastings, which are offered Tuesday through Sunday, include picks like a lemony Viognier, a range of skin-contact bottles and vegan reds such as a single-varietal Mouvédre. Rae Wilson, owner of the Fredericksburg-based winery Wine for the People, appreciates how Austin Winery presents the opportunity “to have a true cellar experience within city limits, while staying true to showing Texas terroir.”
Where to Eat: Spicy Boys Fried Chicken
Grab a seat at a picnic table in front of St. Elmo Brewing Co.—roughly a two-minute walk away from the winery’s front door—and fill up on crispy fried chicken spiced with chili oil and sweet chili honey, vegan rotis, Sichuan tots and banana pudding from this courtyard food truck. With live music, friendly locals and plenty of dogs, the scene is just about as Austin as it gets.
Where to Stay: Colton House Hotel
This “Traveler’s Choice” hotel on TripAdvisor hits a sweet spot of “comfortable luxury,” says Randy Hester, owner and winemaker at C.L. Butaud winery in Southwest Austin. The South Congress hotel boasts a serene rooftop deck and locally-made artwork that echo the neighborhood’s creative vibes. If you happen to be in town on a Saturday, consider tacking on a visit to C.L. Butaud (a 30-minute drive away) for elegant carbonically-macerated wines, along with full-bodied Texas Tempranillo and Mouvédre.
Texas Hill Country
Ab Astris
This secluded winery near the Pedernales River offers respite from the traffic—and winery hopping—on Fredericksburg’s Wine Road 290. Grab a table on the laid back patio that overlooks the vineyard or inside the limestone-clad tasting room to taste its award-winning wines—13 of which recently earned medals in the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle competition.
Make sure to sample its white Rhône blend, Stello, which Wine Educator and This is Texas Wine Podcast Host Shelly Wilfong, describes as “wildly impressive.” Try it and four other dry wines in its $25 flights, available Thursday through Monday. Reservations are strongly recommended on Saturdays and required for parties of six or more.
Where to Eat: Vaudeville
This bistro is a cross between fine-dining establishment, art gallery and boutique. The regular menu features flavorful dishes like grilled lamb rack with curried potato gratin and herbed tzatziki and seared sashimi-grade yellowfin tuna with herbed spaghetti squash and oven-cured tomatoes. And there’s a popular monthly V Supper Club series of themed dinners, which recently included a caviar extravaganza that quickly booked up (hint: make a reservation now).
Where to Stay: Stonewall Motor Lodge
Built in 1964 to accommodate the throng of media and Secret Service agents accompanying President Lyndon Johnson during his frequent sojourns to Hill Country, this place maintains its nostalgic, roadside motel ambience but with a modern twist. The Western-inspired rooms blend mid-century accents with natural materials, like rattan and linen, and the outdoor area offers sweeping views of the stars. For an extra special experience, consider booking “The Press Room,” a suite that was formerly used as a darkroom by photojournalists who needed to develop pictures on the road. Cabins and RV hookups can also be reserved.
Adega Vinho
The trapezoidal-shaped tasting room at this Stonewall winery looks like it could’ve been plucked straight from a Madmen set, with a mid-century modern living room sitting area complete with vintage record player console. It’s a cozy place to kick back with a $25 tasting flight of five estate-grown wines (plus a likely bonus pour) that have recently been racking up awards.
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At the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Adega Vinho earned 14 medals including a Double Gold for a Texas Hill Country AVA Chardonnay (in the $46+ tier), as well as Gold medals for Mourvèdre and Touriga Nacional. Its wines like these, and specifically its Portuguese varietals, that have been helping to ensure Adega Vinho and surrounding new Fredericksburg wineries “are identified for premium wines,” says Andre Boada, owner of locally-based wine event and vineyard consultancy VinoCadre.
Where to Eat: Nice n’ Easy
“There’s nothing better than an ice cold Yokefellow beer or pét-nat paired with a gourmet hot dog to wrap up after a day in the vineyard,” says Mike Bilger of Adega Vinho—which is why local winemakers love this place. The cozy bar, which features white-washed brick walls, casual wooden high tops and a lively patio, is a top pick for its well-made cocktails, curated wine and beer list and concise menu of laid-back comfort fare.
Where to Stay: Outdoorsy Hill Country
Four luxury glampsites are set upon 34 acres of rugged Hill Country terrain at this recently opened spot. The upscale tents feel like camping—if your version of roughing it includes spa-like bathrooms, heat and AC and decor that looks like it’s straight out of a Restoration Hardware catalog.
Becker Vineyards
Dr. Robert Becker started working a Hill Country site replete with native Mustang grapes in the 1990s and was the first viticulturist to plant Viognier in Texas. He now operates the one of largest and most awarded wineries in the state. While the tasting room evokes a mountaintop retreat, built from wood, metal and stone, estate grounds awaken the senses with an ever-changing, biodiverse environment with rotating seasonal plantings of poppies, zinnias and lavender.
Guests can pick and choose from a variety of experiences, such as individual and group tastings (which can include cheese and charcuterie boards) and private barrel room tours. Wilfong suggests seeking out Becker’s “small-production hidden gems,” like single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon grown in West Texas, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and a light-bodied Counoise with delicate cherry notes.
Where to Eat: Otto’s German Bistro
This farm-to-table spot offers upscale interpretations of the fare that 19th-century German settlers brought to Texas served in a chic, modern farmhouse atmosphere. Specialties, like flammkuchen (homemade flatbread), schnitzel and chicken paprikash, pair nicely with the winery’s selection of German and Austrian wines.
Where to Stay: Fredericksburg Inn & Suites
A quick walk from downtown Fredericksburg’s tasting rooms, specialty shops and many historical sites, this five-acre property boasts an open-air stone gazebo with a T.V. and fireplace, a picnic area and multiple pools and firepits. The 103 guest rooms offer all the comforts one expects of a resort (including coffeemakers, mini-fridges, etc.) with sleek ranch-inspired decor.
CALAIS Winery
Winemaker Ben Calais is “a genius who makes excellent wines,” says Wilfong. He sources grapes from the Texas High Plains (just south of the Panhandle) and far West Texas to create premium Cabernet Sauvignon, which visitors can sample in two different ways in this tiny cave tasting room constructed with wood planks from an East Texas horse barn. The Cabernet Experience is a roundtable tasting with Calais ($50 per person), who eloquently describes the precise climatic and environmental conditions shaping each vintage. The $25 Cave Tasting is similarly in-depth and conversational and takes place at the winery’s front countertop bar. Reservations are required for both.
Where to Eat: Old 290 Brewery & Restaurant
This steakhouse, which is housed on the Carter Creek Winery Resort and Spa property, describes itself as “equal parts rustic and refined.” It offers a wide selection of local Hill Country craft beer along with a selection of its own wines, paired with Texas-inspired steakhouse fare like chicken-fried steak and seared red snapper. Weekend reservations are highly recommended.
Where to Stay: Carter Creek Winery Resort and Spa
After dinner, stumble back to one of Carter Creek’s villas, which feature private patios, gas fireplaces and roomy, modern interiors. The dog-friendly vineyard resort also boasts a winery, golf course, spa, pool and more.
Duchman Family Winery
Duchman is known for highlighting unique Italian varietals like Montepulciano and a Gold medal-winning Aglianico, and the winery summons comparisons to a remote Tuscan villa. The ornate building follows the Italianate style with amber-hued lighting, a Spanish tile roof and large arched windows. It’s a lovely space to taste through the excellent wines, particularly the whites that winemaker Dave Reilly crafts so well. His Rhône-style Roussanne is a great example, says sommelier and journalist Jessica N. Dupuy, because “he understands the brightness that needs to come through.” Flights cost $20 for six wines and are available seven days a week; reservations are required Friday through Sunday.
Where to Eat: Hays City Store and Ice House
At this easy-going restaurant housed in a former convenience store, linger in a shaded garden with wood-fired pizza, burgers with creative toppings, “truck stop enchiladas,” specialty cocktails and more than 40 tap beers.
Where to Stay: Sage Hill Inn & Spa
This 88-acre retreat outside of Austin, which offers rustic-chic casitas, cottages and luxury suites, is surrounded by 2,500 acres of nature. The bucolic property boasts numerous amenities to keep guests busy including a spa, pickleball courts, a large pool and firepit—and awesome Hill Country sunset views that are best enjoyed with a bottle of local wine.
Invention Vineyards
“Invention Vineyards has stunning vineyard views, a grand entrance and patio and such impressive wines,” says Lindsay Baerwald, director of Uncork Texas Wines. Outside, it’s all about the views. The massive patio offers unobstructed panoramas of the property’s 35-acres of vines and seemingly endless Hill Country sky. Meanwhile, the uncluttered brick-and-stone interior offers spare, elemental simplicity that puts the focus on the wine.
Since its 2022 debut, Invention—the latest project from Heath Family Brands—has been receiving widespread acclaim. In the $30 customized “classic tasting,” potential pours include a Riesling that earned a coveted top-12 spot at the 2023 Texas Vintner’s Cup, balanced Bordeaux blends and other well-made picks. For another $10, the winery’s “tour and taste” package brings guests into the tank and barrel rooms. Guests can taste straight from the barrel, followed by a back vintage of the same offering, giving insight into how the aging process changes the wine’s expression.
Where to Eat: Cabernet Grill
This Fredericksburg restaurant is renowned for its upscale Texas-style fare like chicken-fried ribeye topped with lobster and center-cut filet mignon broiled at 1800°F. Named as one of “America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants” in 2018 and recently listed number four in USA Today’s 10 Best Winery Restaurants, it is distinguished by its entirely Texas wine list.
Where to Stay: Cotton Gin Village
On the same grounds as Cabernet Grill, 14 wood and stone cabins are set among tranquil streams, fountains, shaded patios and pergolas. In the mornings, staff drop off a picnic basket of homemade baked goods and savory items, like quiche and breakfast tacos, at your door.
Pedernales Cellars
Siblings Julie and Michael Kuhlken are second-generation Texas winemakers; their parents were part of the cohort that revived Texas viticulture post-Prohibition, between the late 1970s and 2010s.
The view of the Pedernales River Valley from the 145-acre estate’s patio is “beautiful and panoramic,” says Austin-based food writer Stacey Ingram Kaleh. She recommends “taking it all in” from the tree-shaded deck with a glass of Tempranillo in hand. Tastings, which start at $25 per person, take place at the granite-topped main bar and are guided by friendly, knowledgeable servers. Guests can also opt to add on an optional cellar tour that includes pours of limited-edition wines along with tank or barrel samples. The winery is open seven days a week; online reservations are required for all tasting experiences.
Where to Eat: Alla Campagna
This rustic Italian concept, helmed by John and Evelyn Washburne of Side Street Hospitality, offers classics like stuffed squash blossoms, Tuscan bean soup and wild boar ragu in an art-covered dining room.
Where to Stay: Rose Hill Retreat
A three-minute drive or a 20-minute walk from Pedernales Cellars, the suites and cottages here share the same stunning valley views. Lodge in the main guest house, a cottage overlooking a prolific herb garden or a contemporary farmhouse called Lotus Hall. A three-course gourmet breakfast is served Thursdays through Sundays, including homemade pastries made with organic Texas-milled flours, spinach omelets, apple crisp and eggs Benedict.
Sandy Road Vineyards
Sandy Road has got “passion for Texas,” says Amie Nemec, a contributing writer to Texas Wine Lover. The winery sustainably produces small-lot wines on what feels like untamed land with endless promise and potential.
The business is a family affair: Sisters Adrienne Chagoly and Kristina Sivadon’s great-grandfather purchased this land in 1931. Today, they run the operation alongside respective husbands Bryan Chagoly and Reagan Sivadon.
“When you come here, we want you to feel like you’re coming home to the farm,” says Bryan. Lead winemaker is Reagan Sivadon, who crafts complex red and white wines and a signature dry rosé of Sangiovese with bright strawberry and light cherry notes. A 2021 Texas High Plains AVA Albariño earned a Judge’s Selection Medal, the highest commendation, at TEXSOM in 2022.
“The wines speak for themselves,” says Dupuy. “Sit back and enjoy, in a tree house overlooking a vast estate vineyard, or in Adirondack chairs around a firepit.”
Where to Eat: Hill & Vine
Here, find high-end, comforting dishes like smoked carnitas nachos, smoked tri-tip and pan-seared redfish. While you wait, drinks are served from a converted VW bus known as “Das Bar Bus.” And, if you missed a local vineyard while exploring, not to worry—Hill & Vine pours wines from over 20 different Texas winemakers. Inside, all works of art were commissioned from Texas artist Jon Flaming and depict archetypal Texas animals, landscapes and landmarks in dynamic color.
Where to Stay: The Winchester Lodge
This comfortable place is easily walkable to downtown Fredericksburg. Cool off in a private pool or warm up beside the patio fireplace and choose from one of 16 suites, many with custom four-poster beds. Don’t worry about breakfast, they have it covered—it’s literally delivered in a complimentary covered picnic basket.
Spicewood Vineyards
Owner Ron Yates is a Hill Country icon, an unmistakable and approachable presence in shorts and flip-flops at all times of year. Stacey Ingram Kaleh says, in this way, Yates “captures the spirit of the Texas wine community.” Not to mention, of course, the excellent wine—Spicewood Vineyards selections recently earned a mix of ten Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle competition.
“All are welcome, staff are friendly and laid-back, the vineyard is beautiful and the wines are bold and dynamic and have a story behind them,” Kaleh continues.
Tempranillo is a star here; Yates fell for it during a college study abroad program, while living with a family who grew Tempranillo in Ribera del Douro. After several return visits, he determined that the region’s topography bore similarities to Texas Hill Country. The winery is open seven days a week and reservations are not required.
Where to Eat: Opie’s BBQ
Open since 1999, this homage to all things smoked is housed in a metal building topped with an iconic red-and -white neon sign. The operation’s 12-foot-long smoke pit puts a firm char (yielding to exquisite tenderness) on its notable pork chops and ribs, sausage, chicken, turkey breast and brisket.
Where to Stay: Horseshoe Bay Resort
This spot has a home-away-from-home feel, with many pools and jacuzzis, stunning lake views and welcoming on-site dining that make it hard to venture off-site once ensconced. A main lodge has all the fineries of a trusted hotel, while off-site villas emulate spacious modern condos with comfortable furnishings and full kitchens.
Uplift Vineyard
Uplift, in the forthcoming Llano Uplift AVA, is roughly an hour and a half northwest of Austin. Visits are by appointment only, Thursday through Sunday; the $50 experience begins with a private guided golf cart tour through the property’s 55 acres. Afterward, guests are returned to the elegant tasting room, where the neatly-folded linens and gleaming glassware offer a striking counterpart to the lush agrarian expanse outside.
Winemaker Claire Richardson’s wines, made from Italian varieties like Sangiovese and Montepulciano, are graceful and complex. “I’m just so excited for where Uplift has the potential to go,” says Wilfong. “It’s unlike anything else in Texas.” Uplift Vineyard is managed by William Chris Wines, which also has a tasting room.
Where to Eat: Hooper’s
This Southern-inflected spot, housed in a building where much filming of the iconic 1974 cult classic Texas Chainsaw Massacre took place, is fittingly named in homage to director Tobe Hooper. Expect classic fare like biscuits and gravy, fried chicken and pulled pork along with salads, sandwiches and entrees.
Where to Stay: Log Country Cove
These rustic chic waterfront rental properties, nestled along Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, include everything from petite cabins for one to three guests to large properties evocative of European chalets. Nearby there’s access to everything outdoorsy, from hiking and boating to fishing and waterskiing.
William Chris Wines
A sign reading “Enchanté, Y’all” positioned along the driveway leading to William Chris Wines sets the tone for this place, which specializes in Texas-style hospitality. Recognized on the World’s Best Vineyards’ top 100 list for the past two years, William Chris’s tasting room in Hye is a set inside an airy, modern structure with windows all around. On property, guests are free to linger under a 400-year-old oak tree or wander through an 18th-century cemetery.
Wine-wise, you have several options. The signature Vineyard Table Experience is a five-course epicurean journey; a recent menu pairs a lemon-forward 2022 Chenin Blanc made with Dell Valley grapes with seared mushrooms basted in leek butter. Another pairing joins a 2020 Newsom Vineyards Texas High Plains AVA Cabernet with a rose petal herb salad and creamy bone marrow. There’s also a $30 winemaker’s tasting, a $20 vineyard picnic, a $55-a-person large group tasting and more.
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Also of note: William Chris recently launched a wine education program; co-owner Chris Brundrett is a WineAmerica board member and an impassioned advocate for the Texas wine industry.
Beyond Hill Country…
Messina Hof, Harvest Green Winery & Kitchen
Messina Hof’s origins date to 1977, when Paul Vincent and Merrill Bonarrigo planted grapes in Bryan, Texas. “In Bryan in 1971, there was nowhere to buy alcohol unless you were a member of a club,” recalls Paul Vincent. Now helmed by his son, second-generation winemaker Paul Bonarrigo, and his wife, Karen Bonarrigo, Messina Hof has a big footprint in Texas, with four wineries throughout the state.
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At Harvest Green Winery & Kitchen in Richmond, the focus is on food and wine pairings. The space features a stone and marble design, complemented by fountains made from wine barrels. Houston-based food, wine and travel writer Rebecca Deurlein describes Harvest Green as “a sweet getaway from Houston, with an expansive wine list.” Wilfong also commends the sparkling brut and GSM, crediting Messina Hof with identifying the promise of Sagrantino in Texas.
Where to Eat: Texas Harvest Green Winery & Kitchen
Our two cents—don’t consider eating anywhere else. Wine is integrated into just about every dish, which also has a suggested wine pairing. Case in point, the stuffed mushrooms finished in a Sèmillon bianco sauce paired with a reserve Cabernet Franc, and the toasted meringue stuffed with a mixed berry Pinot Noir filling paired with a late-harvest Riesling.
Where to Stay: Houston Marriott Sugar Land
Take advantage of a special guest rate for winery patrons at this Marriott outpost, which is located 15 miles from downtown Houston and within walking distance of shopping and dining at Sugar Land Town Square. Local restaurant gems include Shiva Indian Restaurant, the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium and Escalante’s Fine Tex Mex.
Texas High Plains
McPherson Cellars
Kim McPherson, the son of Clint “Doc” McPherson who founded Texas’s first post-Prohibition winery in 1976, owns and makes wines at his eponymous downtown Lubbock winery. Its located in an old Coca-Cola bottling plant that maintains its vintage ‘modern’ vibes with curved wall and furnishing that complement the lines of the building’s renowned pill-shaped window. The wines are a mix of past and present, too. Some bottles date back to Doc’s original Sangiovese test vineyard, while others highlight varietals, like Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne, McPherson feels suit the Texas terroir. According to Dupuy, his “single-variety, single-vineyard wines highlighting warm-climate grapes demonstrate the depth and range of his winemaking ability.” McPherson is open from 12 to 6 Tuesday through Saturday.
Where to Eat: The Nicolett
Chef Finn Walker’s highly acclaimed Lubbock restaurant, which has received nods from the James Beard Foundation, Bon Appetit and Texas Monthly, blends a wide range of culinary influences that span from Paris to Napa and Santa Fe in multiple dining rooms. Dishes vary from elk tartare with green chile, tomatillo and nopales to wild boar char siu. For a particularly memorable experience, reserve a table in the greenhouse, a 1920s brick building where panels of colorful glass window panels create an ethereal, birds’ nest-like hideaway.
Where to Stay: Cotton Court Hotel
Loft units surrounding a central courtyard outfitted with a swimming pool, badminton courts, and firepits create an adult summer camp vibe at this boutique hotel. The outdoorsy camp aesthetic extends into the rooms, too, which are outfitted with iron bedframes and lamps and neutral olive green and khaki color palettes.
Far West Texas
Château Wright
Château Wright sits at 5,400 feet, making it one of—if not the–highest vineyards in Texas. Less than 30-minutes drive from high desert art mecca, Marfa, neatly laid out vines are set against the rugged backdrop of the Davis Mountains and surrounding cattle ranches, offering unparalleled views for guests. Head there to snack on sandwiches from the onsite food truck and to sample viticulturalist and winemaker Adam White’s unique wines, which include an award-winning Marsanne-Roussanne blend and a Best in Class Malbec from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The tasting room is open from 12 pm-7 pm, Friday through Monday.
Where to Eat: Margaret’s in Marfa
Snag a seat at Margaret’s communal square bar for high-end comfort fare (think: spaghetti bolognese and brown butter salmon over green grits) served in a convivial atmosphere, right on Marfa’s main drag. The wine list is extensive, spanning from Furmint and Lambrusco, to Merlot by local natural wine specialist Alta Marfa, located a 20-minute walk around the corner.
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Where to Stay: The Lincoln
This artsy hotel originated as stable yards for the Presidio County Courthouse in the late 1890s. Eventually, a residence was added and those structures were transformed into just over a dozen casitas, which were recently transformed into a series of Boho-feeling short-term rentals. Each of the aesthetically pleasing units, which surround a central courtyard equipped with communal fire pits, bocce court and cowboy soak tank, include a smart TV and fully stocked kitchen with a French press, local Big Bend coffee and everything you need to get cozy.
Published: February 29, 2024
