FOOD & LIFE

Central Texas wineries

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

So many wineries, so little time.

With more than 180 wineries and 280 commercial vineyards, the Texas wine industry is a $1.35 billion industry. In Central Texas, nearly 50 wineries are turning millions of pounds of grapes, grown nearby and imported from other vineyards in the region, into every shade of wine.

Many vintners are experimenting with grape varietals that can take Texas' heat and hit-or-miss rain, and each year Central Texas wine enthusiasts are discovering exceptional wine that is coming not from far-off, more famous growing regions but from within a hundred miles or so of the capital city.

How do you sort through the dozens of wineries to find the tempranillo or viognier you're looking for? Wineries are upgrading their Web sites and expanding their reach through social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. The ever-growing Yelp community rates wineries just like restaurants, with reviews and feedback.

If you're up for an adventure, check out one of Texas' 10 wine trails. In Central Texas, you can hit several wineries at once on the Texas Hill Country Wine Trail, Fredericksburg Wine Road 290, Way Out Wineries, Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail or the Guadalupe Valley Wine Trail. For more information on Texas' wine trails, visit gotexanwine.org/texaswinetrails.

This guide to Central Texas wineries is just the starting point. Nearly every winery offers tours and wine tastings outside the regular tasting-room hours and for large groups. Just call and ask.

— Addie Broyles

1. Barking Rocks Winery

1919 Allen Court, Granbury. 817-579-0007, www.barkingrockswine.com.

Tasting room hours: Saturday afternoons.

2. Bluff Dale Vineyards

5222 County Road 148, Bluff Dale. 254-728-3540, www.bluffdalevineyards.com.

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays-Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.

3. Rising Star Vineyards

1001 County Road 290, Rising Star. 254-643-1776, www.risingstarvineyards.com.

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.

4. Red Caboose Winery

1147 County Road 1110, Meridian. 254-435-9911, www.redcaboosewinery.com.

Tasting room hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

5. Brennan Vineyards

802 S. Austin St., Comanche. 325-356-9100, www.brennanvineyards.com.

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays.

6. Alamosa Wine Cellars

677 County Road 430, Bend. 325-628-3313, alamosawinecellars.com.

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

7. Pillar Bluff Vineyards

300 County Road 111, Lampasas. 512-556-4078, pillarbluff.com.

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

8. Texas Legato Winery

2935 FM 1478, Lampasas. 512-556-9600, www.texaslegato.com.

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

9. Fall Creek Vineyards

1820 County Road 222, Tow. 325-379-5361, fcv.com.

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.

10. Inwood Estates at The Vineyard at Florence

8711 W. FM 47, Florence. 254-793-3363, thevineyardatflorence.com, www.inwoodwines.com.

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.

11. Sandstone Cellars Winery

211 San Antonio St., Mason. 325-347-9463, sandstonecellarswinery.com.

Tasting room hours:11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays.

12. Perissos Vineyards and Winery

7214 Park Road 4 W, Burnet. 512-656-8419, www.perissosvineyards.com.

Tasting room hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays during the summer. Call for appointment other times of the year.

13. Georgetown Winery

715 S. Main St., Georgetown. 512-869-8600, www.georgetownwinery.com.

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

14. Lost Creek Vineyard

1129 RM 2233, Sunrise Beach. 325-388-3753, lostcreekvineyard.com.

Tasting room hours: 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays. noon to 5 p.m. Fridays-Sundays.

15. Flat Creek Estate

24912 Singleton Bend East Road, Marble Falls. 512-267-6310, flatcreekestate.com.

Tasting room hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

16. Spicewood Vineyards

1419 Burnet County Road 409, Spicewood. 830-693-5328,

spicewoodvineyards.com.

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

17. Stone House Vineyard

24350 Haynie Flat Road, Spicewood. 512-264-3630 or 512-264-9890, www.stonehousevineyard.com.

Tasting room hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays.

18. Bell Mountain Vineyards

463 Bell Mountain Road, Fredericksburg. 830-685-3297, bellmountainwine.com.

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

19. McReynolds Winery

706 Shovel Mountain Road, Cypress Mill. 830-825-3544, mcreynoldswines.com.

Tasting room hours: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

20. Chisholm Trail Winery

2367 Usener Road, Fredericksburg. 830-990-2675, chisholm

trailwinery.com.

Tasting room hours: Noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays-Mondays.

21. Fredericksburg Winery

247 W. Main St., Fredericksburg. 830-990-8747, fbgwinery.com.

Tasting room hours:10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon to 5:30 p.m. Sundays.

22. Rancho Ponte Vineyard

315 RM 1376, Frederickburg. 830-990-8555, ranchoponte.com.

Tasting room hours:11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays.

23. Torre di Pietra Vineyards

10915 U.S. 290, Fredericksburg. 830-644-2829, texashillcountrywine.com.

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

24. Becker Vineyards

464 Becker Farms Road, Stonewall. 830-644-2681, www.beckervineyards.com.

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.

25. Woodrose Winery & Retreat

662 Woodrose Lane, Stonewall. 830-644-2539, woodrosewinery.com.

Tasting room hours:11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.

26. Texas Hills Vineyard

878 RM 2766, Johnson City. 830-868-2321, texashillsvineyard.com.

Tasting room hours:10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

27. Grape Creek Vineyards

10587 U.S. 290, Fredericksburg. 830-644-2710, grapecreek.com.

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

28. Pedernales Cellars

2916 Upper Albert Road, Stonewall. 830-644-2037, pedernalescellars.com.

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.

29. Driftwood Estate Winery

4001 Elder Hill Road, Driftwood. 512-858-9667 or 512-692-6229, driftwoodvineyards.com.

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

30. Mandola Estate Winery

13308 W. FM 150, Driftwood. 512-894-3111, mandolawines.com.

Tasting room hours: Noon to 9 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.

31. Bella Vista Ranch

3101 Mount Sharp Road, Wimberley. 512-847-6514, bvranch.com.

Tasting room hours:10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.

32. Wimberley Valley Winery

206 Main St., Spring (winery is in Driftwood, but tasting room is in Spring). 281-350-8801, www.wimberleyvalleywinery.com.

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays–Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, 1 to 5:30 p.m. Sundays.

33. Comfort Cellars Winery

723 Front St., Comfort. 830-995-3274, www.comfortcellars.com.

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

34. Sister Creek Vineyards

1142 Sisterdale Road, Sisterdale. 830-324-6704, sistercreekvineyards.com.

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.

35. FawnCrest Vineyard

1370 Westside Circle, Canyon Lake. 830-935-2407, fawncrest.com.

Tasting room hours: Noon to 7 p.m. Saturdays.

36. Three Dudes Winery

125 Old Martindale Road, San Marcos. 512-392-5634, three

dudeswinery.com.

Tasting room hours: Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays.

37. Singing Water Vineyards

316 Mill Dam Road, Comfort. 830-995-2246, www.singingwatervineyards.com.

Tasting room hours:11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

38. La Cruz de Comal

7405 FM 2722, Startzville. 830-899-2723, lacruzdecomalwines.com.

Tasting room hours:No tasting room. Visits arranged by appointment.

39. Dry Comal Creek Vineyards & Winery

1741 Herbelin Road, New Braunfels. 830-885-4076, drycomalcreek.com.

Tasting room hours: Noon to 5 p.m. daily.

40. Tehuacana Creek

Vineyards & Winery

6826 E. Texas 6, Waco. 254-875-2375, www.wacowinery.com.

Tasting room hours:Noon to 6 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays.

41. Messina Hof Winery

4545 Old Reliance Road, Bryan. 800-736-9463, messinahof.com.

Tasting room hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

42. Windy Winery

4232 Clover Road, Brenham. 979-836-3252, www.windywinery.com.

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays.

43. Pleasant Hill Winery

1441 Salem Road, Brenham. 979-830-8463, pleasanthillwinery.com.

Tasting room hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, Noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

44. Rosemary's Vineyard

& Winery

5521 E. Texas 71, La Grange. 979-249-2109, wines-made-in-texas.com.

Tasting room hours: Noon to sunset, Thursdays-Sundays.

45. Poteet Country Winery

400 Tank Hollow Road, Poteet. 830-276-8085, poteetwine.com.

Tasting room hours: Noon to 6 p.m. Fridays-Sundays.

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