Exploring the Texas Wineries

The Texas wine industry is quickly growing, with 85 current Texas wineries and 19 additional wineries pending state approval. Currently, it is the fifth largest wine producing state in the country. The grape growing climates of Texas wineries are quite varied. In the north, the summers are hot and the winters are cold. Therefore, frost can be a problem and hailstorms during the summer can ruin the vineyards in a matter of minutes. In the south, excessive rainfall can bring about rot and disease.

Tours of Texas Wineries

Many tours of Texas wineries are available. The Highland Tour offered by Texas Wine Tours, for example, is a full day limousine tour that makes stops at 4 of the best Texas wineries. One stop is the Lost Creek Vineyards, which features a restored antique bar. The company has many other limousine tours to choose from, including those that stop off at historical towns or at great antique shopping locations.

For those who would rather tour the Texas wineries on their own, there are many established Texas wine trails available. In fact, many of the Texas wineries are located in the Austin area and can be visited on a day trip. For example, the family owned Bell Mountain Estate can be found on Route 16. Here, visitors can enjoy Cabernet Sauvignons, Riesling, and Pinot Noir in the tasting room. In 1986, this 56 acre farm was the first viticultural area in Texas to be granted appellation.

Not far from here, visitors can enjoy a stop at Becker Vineyards, where the tasting room is housed inside a German style stone house. This 36 acre farm specializes in cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, syrah, and Grenache. In addition, Becker Vineyards is home to Texas’s largest underground wine cellar. On RR 2766, visitors can enjoy a stop at Texas Hills Vineyard, or Akashic Vineyard, which specializes in Chenin Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Moscato, Chardonnay, and Sangiovese. In addition, they hold the distinction of being the only producer of Pinot Grigio in all of Texas.

Nearby Attractions While Visiting Texas Wineries

While visiting Texas wineries, visitors can also take in a hot air balloon ride arranged by Texas Wine Tours. In addition, many of the Texas wineries can be located in or around the town of Fredericksburg, which often has some sort of event, such as a music festival or fair, taking place in its town square. This area is also rich with historical significance, including the remains of a line of forts built by the Army along the frontier border.