This holiday season make gift giving and entertaining super easy with wine from the Texas Hill Country. If you haven’t heard, Central Texas is making a name for itself. From Austin to Fredericksburg to Lampasas to Driftwood, Texas wineries are crafting a variety of quality award-winning crisp whites, full-bodies reds, special blends, roses’ and so much more.
Visit the Texas Hill Country before the holidays if you are buying fine wines to give as gifts or serve to guests. But, before you go know that there are a multitude of wineries and events available each with its own uniqueness. And, there are also a variety of options to taste and explore in the Texas Hill Country.
Exploring Texas’ wine country by car
You can wind your way through the Texas Hill Country and hit the trail. That is the Texas Wine Trail. On the trail there are over 50 wineries to experience and explore. You can drive the trail on your own and stop at your leisure. Or, you can plan your route ahead of time by going to the Wine Trail website for a map showing routes and winery locations. Another option is to drive on Highway 290 or also known as the Fredericksburg Wine Road. On 290 there are several wineries to stop into on your way to the quaint tourist town of Fredericksburg. From Leander it will take you about 22 minutes to get to Highway 290 via 183.
To get you on your way a few suggestions to visit include: Becker Vineyards, Flat Creek Estates, William Chris Vineyards, Fall Creek Vineyard, Hye Meadow Winery, and Driftwood Estate Winery. Food availability varies. Some wineries have on-site restaurants or small grocery stores. Others, have neither. However, for those that do not have food, they usually allow you to bring your own snacks. Be on the safe side and pack a sack of cheese, crackers, and a side of salami. Go on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and you will probably enjoy live music too.
Exploring Texas’ wine country via tour
Take a tour. You go with a group of friends, sit back, have fun and you don’t have to worry about driving. There are a lot of tour companies out there with plenty of options. There are both half and full day tours picking up from and going to different winery locations. Private tours that are 100 percent customized are also available. Times, prices, locations and mode of transportation (bus vs. limo) vary. To select the best one for your group visit TripAdvisor Top 10 Texas Hill Country Wine tours for information.
Attend an event
You can also taste and experience Texas wines at the many events located throughout the city of Austin and beyond. These events usually have admission fees and include food. Check out the list below for a variety of November and December events.
- Fall Creek Winery’s Chocolate and Wine Pairing Class, Sunday, Nov. 12, 4 to 6 p.m. in Driftwood – Wine and chocolate what else is there? Learn the art of pairing wine and chocolate during this informative, educational and fun class celebrating two of our favorite things. Reservations are required.
- Food and Wine Roundup, Saturday, Nov. 18 in Austin at Ironwood Hall – Award winning wines, music, door prizes, local food, and a silent auction. Ticket pricing and information is available at the Texas International Wine Competition website. As a 501(c)3 non-profit, this organization works to bring attention to Texas as a prominent wine destination. After the competition, things heat during the post competition party from 6 to 10 p.m. Proceeds from the event benefit the Whole Planet Foundation.
- The Third Annual Rockdale Uncorked Swirl & Shop, Saturday, Nov. 18, 3 to 7 p.m. at Patterson Center – An hour drive from Leander, this event will host eight wineries. Vendors selling holiday wares, appetizers, acoustical music, and a great time. Sponsored by the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce.
- Texas Hill Country Wineries 2017 Christmas Wine Affair, December 1-17 – This very popular and well-attended event takes place for 17 days through the month of December. Christmas carols, holiday lights, over 42 participating wineries, tastings, and fun! Passport information and tickets available online. This is a great opportunity to taste multiple wines on different days and choose your favorite for gift giving and entertaining.
Let the celebration begin. Have a safe and happy holiday season.
