The Texas Hill Country is the second most visited wine region in the United States, with thenappa voucherbeing number one. Texas Hill Country AVA is the third largest at 15,000 square miles, 22 counties and 100 wineries. Texas' booming wine industry is thriving as the fifth largest wine producer in the United States and growing.
As you sip and spin on a Hill Country wine tour, remember a few things. Plan and book tastings or sign up for oneorganized wine tourwho will take care of everything for you. Better yet, select a winery where you'd like to spend time, relax and get to know the wine and the staff. Here are a dozen wineries where you can do just that and spend the night.
1. Messina Hof Winery and Resort, Bryan
The Bonarrigo family, with 200 years of winemaking experience from Messina, Sicily, foundedBodegas Messina Hofin 1977. It is the fourth winery in the state, based in Bryan. The estate includes 18 acres of vineyards, winery production facilities, Messina Hoff tasting room, The Vintage House restaurant andPousada La Villa. Awarded Best Romantic Getaway, The Villa offers eleven spacious suites with historic relics, stained glass, private patios, lake view balconies, oversized soaking tubs and all-inclusive packages.
Em 2011,Bodega Messina Hof Hill Countryopened a tasting room on ten acres of vineyards and a winery in Fredericksburg, addingB&B Mansion. You'll find four independent romantic cottages with all the comforts of home. Your stay includes a free continental breakfast and sparkling wine.
In 2012, his son Paul M. and his wife Karen took over operations as the second generation, and in 2014 they launched the Messina Hof Grapevine Tasting Room and Winery. In February 2021, they opened Messina Hof Harvest Green Winery & Kitchen, a restaurant offering culinary feasts, food and wine pairings, a tasting room and a production facility in Richmond, just outside Houston.
HoyHof Machineryis Texas' most awarded winery, producing more than 85 wines and 60,000 cases made from Texas-grown grapes.
2. The Wine Country Inn, Driftwood de Fall Creek Vineyards
Em 1975,Fall Creek Vineyardsbecame one of the first wineries in the Texas Hill Country. Ed Auler has researched and blended the right grape variety with the right terroir, producing excellent world-class wines from Texas-grown grapes. A new addition, Lescalo Chenin Blanc 2020, offers fewer calories and less alcohol, with clean floral notes and lively lemon acidity. enjoy itwine cluband shake tastings for $20 per person. two places aretrunksyTow.
To spend the night:Call for last minute dealsovernight stays in the Guest House or Chardonnay Room at the Wine Country Inn, just steps from Fall Creek Vineyard at the Driftwood Winery and Tasting Room. The guest house offers two bedrooms, one bathroom and a full kitchen, while the Chardonnay has one bedroom, one bathroom with a fridge and coffee maker. Your stay includes free wine tastings. The inn is across the street from the famoussalt barbecue.
3. Finca Flat Creek, Marble Falls
flat creek propertywas named one of America's Top 50 Greatest Wine Tasting Places for special classes and wine events. Experience harvest celebrations, blind tastings, barrel tastings, vineyard tours, disc golf tournaments and wine races. Call to make reservations for your wine tasting and pairings such as the Grape Escape Experience, Chef's Three Course Experience, Wine and Appetizer Experience and more.
Join a club and enjoy wine and benefits. For Syrah lovers, Reserve Syrah 2016 has plum and blackberry aromas and rich notes of chocolate, perfect for pairing with eggplant parmigiana.
Stay at the Vineyard:You'll find on-site accommodation for up to six people atwinemakers' quarters, with master bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen on the main level with two additional queen beds in the spiral staircase.
4. Farm Vineyard Market, Johnson City
Visit the Farmhouse Vineyards Marketplace in Johnson City on Main Street, where Highways 290 and Highway 281 meet. The second tasting room located at the base of the home vineyards in Brownfield is Parker Homestead, Whitehouse Parker.
Stay at the Winery:Vagabond's na Pecan Streetis a cozy 1,800-square-foot cottage on a half-acre shaded by 200-year-old live oaks in Johnson City. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom unit with an updated kitchen is near the square, rich in presidential history.
5. Grape Creek Vineyards, Fredericksburg
On Highway 290 to Fredericksburg, Grape Creek Vineyards is a 100-acre vineyard and Texas winery with patio and restaurant. Wine Club members and their guests have priority access to the restaurant, lounge and patio. New guests can take advantage of the tasting rooms on site at the vineyard and downtown Main Street with reservations. Join the wine club before your visit and enjoy all the benefits.
StayCabins on the Vineyard Trail, just a third of a mile from Grape Creek Vineyards on 12 acres. Each cabin is custom built and individually decorated. Wine glasses are waiting for you when you check in.
6. Barons Creek Vineyards, Fredericksburg
At Barons Creek Vineyards, look for small batches of fine wines from specialty vineyards in Texas, Washington, California and Spain. The prime location in Fredericksburg offers a beautiful winery, courtyard, tasting room and villas.
Stay at Vineyards:Reserve a villa at Barons Creek Vineyards in one of two villas, each with two private suites and four private bedrooms with king beds, large showers, kitchenettes, living areas, in-room coffee and minibars, TV, cable service, comfy bathrobes and two complimentary wine tastings.
Do you have a favorite winery? Nominate them in our Best of Travel awards here!
7. Carter Creek Winery and Spa, Johnson City
Indulge in an exclusive blend of some of the best award-winning wines in the Texas Hill Country ofCarter Creek Winery. Enjoy hearty Texas cuisine at the Old 290 Brewery & Restaurant, open for lunch and dinner. Enjoy the spa retreat offering organic ingredients and sustainable products for massages, facials and more.
Bodega Carter Creek Resortoffers 78 luxurious residential-style rooms in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Book direct and receive unique perks like tasting tickets and priority access to exclusive deals and better rates.
8. Mendelbaum Winery and Guest Cabins, Fredericksburg
Bodegas Mendelbaumoffers wines from the Texas Panhandle and Texas High Plains in the heart of the Texas 290 Wine Trail. Browse an extensive list of Israeli wines, including premium whites, rosés and reds, as well as Israeli kosher wines, Israeli reserve wines and flagship wines from Israel.
Six rustic guest cabinsthey are a peaceful retreat and share an eight-seat hot tub, large grill and Grape Creek firepit.
9. Hamilton Pool Vineyards and Farms, Dripping Springs
Sixty-five acres of oak trees, picturesque vineyards and settings for the perfect wedding.Hamilton Pool Vineyards and Farmsis the ideal destination just 20 minutes west of Austin. The boutique winery produces award-winning French-style wines unique among Texas Hill Country wineries. Enjoy wines in the tasting room or under the shade of an oak tree.
Accommodation:Nestled amongst 10 hectares of lush vineyards, stay at theReal estatesleeps eight people in two three-bed rooms and two baths. You'll enjoy views of vineyards from the deck, hiking trails, shady oak trees, an on-site organic farm, and friendly cows and chickens.
Pro Tip:For more industry inspiration, check out12 Amazing Things to Do in Scenic Dripping Springs, Texas.
10. Pontotoc Vineyards
Founded on a farm by the German Emigration Company in 1872,Viñedos PontotocIt started with 5 acres of Tempranillo vines after Carl bought the farm in 2003. Family and friends converted the buildings in the town of Pontotoc into a weinhalle and winery. Shop Pontotoc Vineyard Weingarten on Main Street in Fredericksburg for award-winning Pontotoc wines.
StayWanderlust Camp Cabinat Pontotoc, a stone cottage tucked among 100-year-old oak trees along the Texas Hill Country Wine Trail in Hye, Texas. Enjoy the house with capacity for six people in two bedrooms with three beds and two bathrooms. Guests receive a complimentary bottle of Pontotoc Vineyard wine with each stay.
11. Ranch Hill Vineyards, Talpa
Visit two food and wine bars incolemanyFort WorthSouth side. Enjoy a flight of award-winning wine by the glass or bottle with dishes such as the meat and cheese board, Mediterranean board or bruschetta. Winemaking started in Coleman but moved togarbage fieldin the Altos Llanos in 2019 to be closer to the vineyards. Look out for a new presence on US-290, Texas' wine industry showcase.
Eleven miles from the tasting room, accommodations in a modern five-bedroom boutique inn were a first forrancho loma. Choose from five suites, king or queen, accommodating up to two adults with views of rolling terrain, luxury Frette linens, express room service, breakfast and free Wi-Fi. Stroll the grounds between the growing vines, visit the farm animals and relax by the pool. Make reservations for world-class dining in the 20-seat dining room, then stargaze from the shared patio.
12. The vineyard of Florence
Southwest of Salado, La Villa Firenze novineyard in florenceoffers a newly renovated great room and patio with award-winning wines by the flight, glass or bottle. Dine at Farmers' Commons, farm-to-table dining with seasonal menus led by Executive Chef Soraya Spencer.
StayFrom Thursday to Sunday in the beautiful Tuscan-style Vineyard Suite or in the Botticelli Suite with terraces overlooking the vineyard. Winemaker's Villa sleeps 11, with five bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a media room, a fully equipped kitchen, a spacious living room and a private terrace.