After living in Texas for 5 years, we finally decided to drive a few hours west and visit Fredericksburg. I’ve had this place on my list for years, and I’ve always been curious about the wine. A lot of people were shocked when we told them we were going to visit wineries in Texas. Most people assume that all Texas wine is bad, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. While Texas is no Napa, there are still PLENTY of amazing wineries that are making great wines.
If you’re planning a trip to Fredericksburg, take a look through the information below. I was impressed with all of the wineries we visited, and I would highly recommend adding them to your list. We tried to go to some of the “smaller” wineries and some of the lesser known spots because I always feel like those end up being our favorites.
Overall, I thought it was the perfect weekend getaway, and we’re already planning to return again in the fall. Cheers!
Table of Contents
Getting There
If you live in Texas, I’d recommend driving to Fredericksburg. We live in the suburbs of Houston, and it took us about 3.5 hours to get there. It’s a super easy drive!
If you don’t live within driving distance, I’d recommend flying to the Austin Airport. It’s a pretty big airport, and there’s several flight options to many different cities all over the USA. If you do fly in, I’d recommend renting a car.
Where to Stay
We stayed 1 night in Dripping Springs and 2 nights in Fredericksburg. In Dripping Springs, we stayed at Lucky Arrow Retreat. This had more of a “glamping” feel to it, but it was really nice!
In Fredericksburg, we stayed at the Villas at Barons Creek Vineyard. Barons Creek is a popular winery in Fredericksburg, but they do have a few villas on their property. I was very impressed with our room, and it was super cozy. We were provided robes, coffee, popcorn and many other amenities. It’s only 10 minutes from Downtown Fredericksburg, so I’d highly recommend it!
Below are few other places to stay that we considered when planning our trip.
Dripping Springs:
Fredericksburg:
Where to Eat
We ate at several amazing restaurants while we were in Fredericksburg and I loved the variety of food we had. While it is a town with a lot of German influence, you’ll find more than just sausages and sauerkraut. These were some of my favorite restaurants:
Here are a few other restaurants that we were recommended to me, but we didn’t get a chance to visit:
Map
Itinerary
Friday (Dripping Springs)
- 11 AM – Lunch at Salt Lick BBQ
- 12 PM – Wine Tasting at Fall Creek Vineyards
- 2 PM – Wine Tasting at Hawk’s Shadow Winery & Vineyards
- 4 PM – Check in at Lucky Arrow Retreat
- 5 PM – Treaty Oak Distillery
- 7 PM – Dinner at Tillie’s
Saturday (Fredericksburg)
- 11 AM – Wine Tasting at Heath Sparkling Wines
- 12:30 PM – Wine Tasting + Charcuterie Lunch at Signor Vineyards
- 2:30 PM – Wine Tasting at French Connection Wines
- 4:30 PM – Check in at Barons Creek Villas
- 5:00 PM – Wine Tasting at Pontotoc Vineyard
- 6:45 PM – Dinner at Vaudeville
Sunday (Fredericksburg)
- 10 AM – Shopping in Downtown Fredericksburg
- 11 AM – Lunch at Vaudeville
- 12 PM – Wine Tasting at Augusta Vin
- 2:30 PM – Wine Tasting at Southold Farm + Cellar
- 4:30 PM – Wine + Charcuterie at La Bergerie
- 5:30 PM – Beer at The Auslander
- 6:30 PM – Dinner at Otto’s German Bistro
Winery Recap
Fall Creek Vineyards
- Tasting Fee: $20 for 6 wines
- Varietals: Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Rosé, Syrah, Tempranillo, GSM Blend
- Favorite Wine: 2019 Chenin Blanc
- Reservation Needed? We didn’t need one when we visited on a Friday. You may need to make a reservation if you visit on the weekend.
If you’re in the Dripping Springs area, be sure to visit Fall Creek Vineyards. They are right across the street from Salt Lick BBQ, and they make some incredible wines. I loved this stop because they had some vines out front where we were able to walk around and take a few photos. I was shocked at how big the grapes were!
This winery has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available and tons of shade. We did a tasting of 6 different wines, and then we each got a glass of wine to follow. It was a really lovely experience, and I would highly recommend this winery if you’re looking for great wine from Texas.
Hawk’s Shadow Winery & Vineyards
- Tasting Fee: $10 for a basic tasting or $35 for the Winemaker Experience
- Varietals: Riesling, Rosé, Bordeaux Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot
- Favorite Wine: Texas Left Bank Bordeaux Blend
- Reservation Needed? I would make a reservation if you want to do the Winemaker Experience and tour the limestone wine cellar/cave.
If you’re wanting to do a cave tour, you HAVE to check out Hawk’s Shadow Winery & Vineyards. They have the only limestone cellar in the state of Texas, and it feels like you’re in Europe when you’re in the cave. I was surprised as to how cool they can keep the wine cave despite the Texas heat.
We started our tasting upstairs on the patio overlooking the hillside. It’s a gorgeous area and there’s so many trees. After tasting a few wines outside, the winemaker and owner, Doug, took us downstairs to tour the limestone wine cave.
We were able to try several barrel samples while in the wine cave, and it was nice to be able to try a wide variety of wines. We tried everything from Tannat to Cabernet Sauvignon to Petite Sirah. If you’ve never done a barrel tasting before, you should add this winery to the top of your list. It gives you a whole new perspective on the wine you’re drinking.
I LOVED our visit to Hawk’s Shadow, and I couldn’t recommend this place more if you’re looking for a great experience. We tried some amazing wines, learned a lot about growing grapes in Texas and so much more.
Heath Sparkling Wines
- Tasting Fee: $25 for 4 wines
- Varietals: They do all sparkling wines which are made up of different varieties including Chenin Blanc, Viognier and Pinot Noir.
- Favorite Wine: 2017 Blanc de Blancs
- Reservation Needed? Yes.
If you’re looking for sparkling wine in Fredericksburg, Heath Sparkling Wines is your place! They are the ONLY winery in Texas that is dedicated to making sparkling wines. They are located right next to their sister winery, Grape Creek Vineyards, which has been around for several years.
The tasting experience at Heath is very professional and sophisticated. During your tasting you will get to try 4 different sparkling wines paired with 4 unique bites. I LOVE food and wine pairings, so I thought this experience was great. It was interesting to taste the wines both with and without the food.
If you venture outside to their patio, there are some great views of the vineyards. It’s technically a “members-only” patio for wine club members, but they’ll let you step outside for a quick photo. If you do decide to join the wine club, you will get a complimentary glass of wine to enjoy outside.
The only turn off to this place was that they were a little pushy about joining the wine club. It was the only winery that did this all weekend, so I thought it was a little odd. Despite that, we still had a great time and enjoyed the experience.
Signor Vineyards
- Tasting Fee: $18 for 5 wines
- Varietals: Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Rosé, Chardonnay, Riesling, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon
- Favorite Wine: 2017 Tempranillo
- Reservation Needed? Reservations are recommended on weekends.
One of my favorite wineries from the weekend was Signor Vineyards. This place is so dreamy, and the wines are even better! Unfortunately, we didn’t get to do an official tasting due to COVID restrictions, but we were able to enjoy wines by the glass and/or bottle.
We ordered a couple wines by the glass before committing to a bottle of rosé. The rosé was fantastic and we ended up taking a couple bottles home with us. I also recommend trying the Tempranillo and the Viognier.
Signor has little charcuterie plates to enjoy while sipping on your wines, so I’d recommend grabbing one of those during your visit. I loved all of the different cheeses and charcuterie meats.
Not only can you taste wine at Signor, but you can also do some shopping over at Joanna’s Market. They have a little boutique shop on their property that sells tons of different items like kitchen towels, home decor, soaps, etc. It’s a nice way to change things up if you get tired of wine tasting in the middle of the day!
Overall, I loved the vibe at Signor Vineyards, and I hope to return this fall to learn a little more about their wines and farming practices. It’s a beautiful property full of trees, and there’s plenty of seating for groups of all sizes. Signor definitely has it figured out and knows how to give each guest a memorable experience.
French Connection Wines
- Tasting Fee: $20 for 5 wines
- Varietals: Roussanne, Picpoul Blanc, Rosé, Syrah, Various Rhône Blends
- Favorite Wine(s): 2018 La Connection Rosé
- Reservation Needed? We made a reservation, but it wasn’t needed. I’d recommend having a reservation just in case they get busy on the weekend.
If you’re a fan of Rhône wines like Syrah, be sure to check out French Connection Wines. They have some really interesting varietals that you won’t find at other wineries in Texas. Their winemaker, Benjamin Calais, is from France and moved to Texas in 2007. He started making wine as a side hobby, and it quickly evolved into much more.
All of the grapes are grown in the Texas High Plains AVA which is near Lubbock. There’s a drastic temperature swing between the day and night, and that allows the grapes to fully ripen.
This winery has TONS of outdoor seating and some incredible views. It’s a great place to enjoy a bottle of wine with friends. If you’re looking for a more intimate experience, they have a reserve tasting option that comes with a French inspired charcuterie board.
Pontotoc Vineyard
- Tasting Fee: It varies. To my knowledge, they don’t do wine tastings. It is more of a “wine garden” where you purchase wines by the glass or bottle. They also have a very popular sangria.
- Varietals: Albariño, Tempranillo
- Favorite Wine(s): 2017 Estate Tempranillo
- Reservation Needed? No.
If you’re looking for a fun place to visit in Downtown Fredericksburg, be sure to check out Pontotoc Vineyard. They are making wines with all Texas grapes, and they are known for their sangria.
We stopped here before our dinner reservation and ordered two different wines: the Viognier and Tempranillo. Both were delicious, but I think the Tempranillo was our favorite.
They have plenty of outdoor seating including some smaller tables and some larger picnic tables. It’s a great spot to come with a bigger group or a family. They are kid-friendly and dog-friendly. Overall, it’s a casual place to hang out and enjoy some good wine.
Augusta Vin
- Tasting Fee: $20 for 5 wines
- Varietals: Malbec, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Tempranillo, Marsanne, Roussanne, Rosé
- Favorite Wine: 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
- Reservation Needed? It’s not required, but I would recommend making one if you can.
Augusta Vin is a relatively new winery in Fredericksburg, as they just opened their doors in the Fall of 2019. Right now, most of their wines are produced with fruit from other vineyards in Texas. Eventually, their goal is to produce all estate wines meaning that the fruit only comes from the vineyards on their estate. They can’t make wine from those vineyards yet since the vines are too young.
Augusta Vin offers several different tasting experiences and flights. It really just depends what you’re in the mood for. They have everything from rosé to dry white wines to red wines. I was really impressed with how much variety they had!
We tasted several wines during our visit, but one of my favorite parts of the experience was when we got to compare 3 different rosés.
All of the rosés we tasted were incredible, and I loved how each one had its own unique taste. The first rosé we tried was pretty light and the last rosé we tasted had more depth and body to it. It was really interesting to compare and contrast these three different wines.
Another thing to love about Augusta Vin is their tasting room. The building is absolutely stunning and there are so many different areas to taste. You can sit outside, upstairs on the patio or inside at one of the cozy tables. I was so impressed with the entire space, and I wanted to move in.
Overall, I loved everything about Augusta Vin. The wine, the beautiful architecture, the land and the people. It was a wonderful experience, and I’m planning to return on a future visit.
Southold Farm + Cellar
- Tasting Fee: $20 for 4 wines
- Varietals: Albariño, Rosé, Red Blends, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon
- Favorite Wine: 2018 “All Things Go” Red Blend
- Reservation Needed? Yes.
If you’re looking for a smaller, boutique winery in Fredericksburg, Southold Farm + Cellar is your place. We fell in love with all of their wines and their overall philosophy on wine and winemaking.
The owner used to live in Long Island, New York and was making wine out there for several years. Due to some permit issues, he decided to move his family and his business to Texas. They are currently working on establishing some vines on their property, but in the meantime, they are purchasing grapes from several well-known vineyards in Texas.
The tasting experience is super cozy and intimate. You can sit outside on their swings and take in the beautiful views of the Texas Hill Country. I could have sat there all day sipping on these amazing wines.
We loved the wines so much that we decided to join the club! It was the only wine club we joined all weekend, so I’d highly recommend a visit.
Other Things To Do
If wine isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of other things to do in Fredericksburg and the surrounding area. Here’s some ideas:
Other Resources
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Hi! I was wondering how you transported around when you did the wine tastings?
Hi Tori! We drive ourselves, but there is plenty of transportation in the area including Uber, Lyft and private transportation companies. Check out Cellar Rat, Reserve Tours, Brooks Bubble Bus!