Hill Country Wineries
So Many Wineries – So Little Time
Texas wines and picturesque Hill Country wineries are rapidly garnering national acclaim. As of last count, the Texas Hill Country near Austin boasted 38 wineries, and Wine Enthusiast listed the region in its “10 Best Wine Travel Destinations for 2014.” It is no wonder that several Texas wines have won double gold medals in toe-to-toe taste-offs against their California and international counterparts.
The question is: On a day trip from Austin, which wineries should I visit? Chances are that you’ll need to narrow it down to two or three wineries.
The following are our top 9 picks, using criteria such as: the use of Texas grapes, quality of wine, interesting varietals, spectacular scenery, warm hospitality, and overall Gemütlichkeit. While not meant to be limiting, this list provides a handy starting point for charting your highly enjoyable outing.
Once you’ve picked candidate wineries to visit, you will find invaluable the easy-to-access information at www.TexasWineTrail.com. Double check opening times, read up on their histories, and view their photographs. Most importantly, use their powerful mapping tool to chart your route.
Becker Vineyards. www.beckervineyards.com. Located just off of US Hwy 290 on Jenschke Lane, west of Stonewall. The vineyard consists of 46 acres of Bordeaux, Burgundian, and Rhone varietals, plus an additional 29-acre vineyard in Ballinger, Texas, that includes German varieties among others. The estate features a stone winery built in the tradition of the German settlers in the area, plus a log cabin circa 1890 that serves as a bed and breakfast venue, and an event center. Becker’s wines have won numerous awards, including 18 medals in the 35th Annual San Francisco International Wine Competition (2015). Try their Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Newsom Vineyards, which is part of their single vineyard Cabernet program. The winery is a very popular destination, so avoid the weekend hoards. Better yet, sign up for their Reserve Wine Library Tasting ($60), held in the Library in their underground barrel cellar. The tasting is limited to 20 people and includes a behind-the-scenes tour, tastings of their very best reserve wines, and wine and cheese pairings.
Bending Branch Winery. www.bendingbranchwinery.com. Located a little off the beaten path at 142 Lindner Branch Trail, Comfort, the winery has opened a second tasting room, Branch on High, at 704 High Street in Comfort. No matter which destination you pick, their wines are superb and their production philosophy is sustainable and organic-focused. Located on 56 acres of rustic Hill Country terrain, the 14 acres of vines are located on south-facing slopes to minimize the hot evening sun. Bending Branch wines have won numerous awards, including a double gold for its 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon at the San Francisco International Wine Competition. (This is an amazing accomplishment, as to win double gold, all five judges have to unanimously award the wine a gold medal.) The winery took 8 medals in the 2015 San Francisco International Wine Competition, and its 2011 Tannat was acclaimed to top Texas wine in 2015. Tannat is their signature grape – a grape that has emerged as a champion of the terroir unique to Texas.
Driftwood Estate Winery. www.driftwoodwine.com. Located just off of Ranch Road 12 south of Dripping Springs. The tasting room is on a high bluff overlooking the vineyard and the venue offers spectacular views (The Texas Winery with the Million Dollar View!) 
and a great picnic site. Grapes are sourced from the 14 acres of vines in production, as well as from other Texas vineyards and from the sister vineyard in Paso Robles. Try their Estate Rose (bright red berry fruit and citrus flavors, medium-bodied, crisp acidity) and Muscat Canelli, Leperd Vineyard (a great dessert wine; fruity, pleasantly sweet, smooth, balanced).
Duchman Family Winery. www.duchmanwines.com. 150 Ranch Road near Driftwood. The winery focuses on Italian varietals with 100% Texas-grown grapes. In 2012 Duchman’s Vermentino was named by the Austin Chronicle as one of the top three wines in Texas. Straw yellow, with hints of green, the nose has delicate nuances of white flowers and citrus blossoms, and the flavor is complex of pear, grapefruit and lime zest. It is crisp, full-bodied, with a long finish. Duchman’s, Italian in design, offers delightful views of the estate vineyards set against the rolling hills of Central Texas. One of the best things about visiting Duchman’s is taking advantage of the nearby restaurant, Chateau Lisina.
Flat Creek Estate and Winery. www.flatcreekestate.com. Located off Ranch Road 1431 on Singleton Bend East between Marble Falls and Lago Vista. The closest winery to Austin, Flat Creek is best known for its “Super Texan Sangiovese,” which in 2003 took the double gold medal in San Francisco International Wine Competition. This is an amazing accomplishment, as to win double gold, all five judges have to unanimously award the wine a gold medal. Although the blend of 85% Sangiovese, 11% Tempranillo, and 4% Syrah varies slightly from year-to-year, it continues its extraordinary tradition and pleases the palate with its rich dark fruits and supple tannins.
Flat Creek has a Bistro with fabulous food, and an Enoteca, a wine bar where they feature their Signature Flights and Bites.
Pedernales Cellars. www.pedernalescellars.com. Located just off of US Hwy 290 on Upper Albert Road, near Stonewall. Acclaimed as Texas’s premier boutique winery, the estate is the product of a long family tradition of growing Hill Country grapes. Larry Kuhlken began growing grapes outside of Fredericksburg in 1994, a time for experimenting with different grapes varieties and viticultural practices. His son and daughter and their spouses have carried the tradition forward. Their commitment is to Texas grown fruit, fine wines and sustainable practices. The tasting room site is on a high hill with a beautiful view overlooking the Pedernales Valley, and the winery features a cellar built into a limestone hill. Try their Tempranillo and Viognier.
Perissos. www.perissosvineyards.com. Located off US Hwy 281 on Park Road 4. Perissos is at the top of everyone’s must-visit list! Surrounded by rolling
granite hills, the estate has a breathtaking view that includes a distant castle (yes, a castle in Texas!). The soil is decomposed granite and clay, making for an outstanding terroir. The winery uses only Texas-grown fruit, and many of the wines are estate grown on its 13 acres. Try their Roussanne and Tempranillo wines.
Texas Hills Vineyard. www.texashillsvineyard.com. Located 1 mile east of 290/281 on RR 2766, just outside of Johnson City. Texas Hills Vineyard has a decidedly Italian influence, as owners Gary and Kathy Gilstrap say that their rolling hills and soil are much like that of the Tuscan countryside. They were the first to grow Pinto Grigio in Texas, and in 2015 took three awards at Houston Rodeo Uncorked for their 2011Port Rubino, 2011 Malbac Newsome Vineyards, and 2012 Port Bianco. The winery is built of rammed earth to provide natural insulation for the fermenting and aging wines – literally a cave above ground. They are dedicated to sustainable production practices.
Torre di Pietra. www.texashillcountrywine.com. Located on at 10915 E. US Hwy 290 between Stonewall and Fredericksburg. The estate vineyard is in Doss, Texas with a mixture of Italian and French varietals, including Zinfandel, Primitivo and the first Petite Syrah grown in Texas. The tasting room on US Hwy 290, west of Stonewall has a small vineyard of Blanc du Bois, a variety chosen because of the pressure of Pierce’s disease in the area. The winery produces fruit forward style wines from the estate as well as from other sources. Try their Petite Syrah, with its nose of black cherries and red plums and the characteristic cherry finish of Petite Syrah. On Saturday afternoons they have live music and wine-by-the-glass, artisan breads, cheese and snacks.
- last updated August 2015
e-mail Lynn Jelinski at kc2kg@earthlink.net with updates and comments