Your All Inclusive Guide to Texas Wine Country
Texas Wine Country is one of my absolute favorite places to visit. What’s not to love? The food, the wine, the outdoors, and the weather are all amazing. Best of all? It is an affordable weekend trip that is accessible to most parts of west Texas with a simple drive! Not wanting to make the trek? You can still get there with a 45 min shuttle ride from the San Antonio airport.
This is one of the spots I get asked about the most. Though I have only been there a handful of times, I feel as though I have scoped out the best deals (and the yummiest wine).
In this article, I am going to cover:
- How to find the best place to stay (and my recommendations)
- My Favorite Restaurant – I go every time I visit
- All things Wine
- Private vs Public tours
- My Favorite Wineries
- Wine memberships with the best perks (and sips!)
- Non Wine Activities
Fredericksburg, Texas
How to Find the Best Places to Stay in Texas Wine Country
One of the most charming elements of Fredericksburg in general is the fact that the city is almost entirely family owned. This means most places you stay rely on word of mouth and being able to provide a financially competitive deal to their renters. By using the selection method I provide below, I have never had a bad experience.
How to Select a Place to Stay: Fredericksburg
Decide your price per night / person in advance
This is common sense, but it is the easiest number to adjust if necessary to find what you are looking for. Obviously, the price range of places available depends on seasonal demand in addition to the days / number of days you are looking to stay. Lots of places will offer a discount if you come and stay three or four nights instead of just one or two.
Decide what is more important to you: ambiance or location
The closer you get to Main Street, the more expensive it will be per person to stay. This being said, you have to account for taxi/Uber fares if you are staying somewhere a little further away. I have done both, and my advice would be to consider the group you are going with. When I went with my fiance for a weekend getaway, we stayed on the outskirts of town. It was amazing and beautiful, perfect for our romantic weekend. If you are going with people who are there specifically for the shopping and sipping, staying on or close to Main Street may be the better route to go!
Read the Reviews
I mentioned this earlier, but people are very honest on the Fredericksburg review sites and will tell you exactly what you need to know. Don’t ignore them!
Where I've Stayed and Loved in Texas Wine Country
Peach Tree Inn – this little family owned hotel is located right off the main road in the city. My mom, sister and I all fit in one room very comfortably, and there was even a little breakfast every morning and a bottle of wine included in the stay. Everyone who worked there was friendly and inviting. If I ever go back for a girls trip, this will be my recommendation. You can book your stay through Peach Tree directly or on AirBnb.
Photo taken from www.thepeachtreeinn.com.
Walnut Canyon Cabins – there are not enough good things to say about this property. Though it is a little out of town it is worth the drive if you are wanting to stay somewhere a little more secluded. My fiance and I had our own cabin (“Tree House Cabin”). It had a fireplace in the bedroom, a little kitchen, and a gorgeous upstairs outlook where you can see for miles. There is also a hot tub for a few of the cabins to use (if you look on their website, they will specify which have access). Every morning, the owners would stock the fridge with eggs from the chickens on premise, along with fresh bacon. We would go eat on the front porch and not have a care in the world because it was so peaceful.
Dining
Cabernet Grill – I have gone here for dinner on multiple visits. My mouth literally waters just thinking about their New York Strip. They cover it in a special Gorgonzola and Porcini Mushroom Cream that is to die for, and I’m not typically not a sauce girl. It is by far the best thing on the menu. My sister has confirmed the surf and turf option is also excellent.
The other great thing about Cabernet Grill is their wine flight option. This gives you the opportunity to taste wines from all over Texas Hill Country. This option is great if you do not know a whole lot about Texas wines and want to explore your pallet. I believe these get switched out from time to time, but when Harry and I went we enjoyed the Tempranillo option.
See the dinner menu here.
Route 290 Wine Tours
290 Wine Shuttle is a great service that takes you to lots of the major wineries on the 290 highway. It is affordable and gives you the option to hop on and off all day. If you buy wine, they give you the option to put your name on a tag and leave it on the shuttle so you aren’t toting it all day. They then put it in a refrigerated van to pick up once you return to town. This service is volunteer run and only goes on Saturdays (10 AM – 6 PM), so if you are hoping to tour another day, a different tour will be a better option.
Some of my favorites among the route are: Inwood Estates, Barons Creek, Messina Hof, and, my very favorite, Becker.
Messina Hof is my sister’s favorite winery along the wine route.
Becker Winery
Out of all of the wineries we went to, Becker was my absolute favorite and the one I decided to get a membership with. The service there, even when crowded, is top notch, and there isn’t a grumpy employee in the place. My mom, sister and I took a tour of the property during our time there, which I highly recommend doing if you get the opportunity. They also grow their own lavender and sell homemade lavender products in their store, which makes for a GREAT gift if you are looking.
Becker is also one of the only wineries in the area (that I am aware of) that hosts annual events such as a grape stomp and a lavender field painting session. These events can be found online here.
Something Besides Wine
Enchanted Rock
If you are needing a day to detox, or just really want to spend some time outdoors, take the time to go climb the oh so famous Enchanted Rock. I would recommend going first thing in the morning, particularly in peak season, and listening to “My Texas” by Josh Abbott Band and Pat Green all the way there. The hike is short but not for the fainthearted. Wear tennis shoes and prepare to feel your calves burn.
Allstadt Brewery
Some people just can’t do wine multiple days in a row! If this is you, check out Allstadt brewery – it offers lots of food and German beer options. I personally loved the beer flight. It allowed me to try lots of different tastes without commitment.