Scenic Stops & Sips: Take a Texas winery road trip
By RACHEL STRICKLAND | Photos courtesy of Becker Vineyards, Flat Creek Estate Winery, Axis Winery, BeeMaRosa Winery and 3 Texans Winery
If you fancy yourself a bit of a wine connoisseur, you’ll be in heaven in Texas. The Hill Country is home to more than 100 wineries and vineyards, and has wineries and wine distributors spread throughout the entire state. If you’re planning a road trip this summer, here are a few wineries you should add to your route.
Becker Vineyards
Fredericksburg | www.beckervineyards.com
At the heart of Texas Wine Country sits Fredericksburg, a city that has been producing wine since its early settlers and is home to many wineries, vineyards and tasting rooms. Becker Vineyards is one of the original Hill Country wine producers. Celebrating 30 years, this family-owned winery has grown from 1,500 cases of wine annually to 80,000 cases. They are recognized as one of the best and fastest-growing Texas wineries and have received multiple awards. To commemorate its 30th anniversary, Becker Vineyards has monthly celebrations open to the public. Like most wineries in the area, they offer tastings, tours and beautiful outdoor seating.
The Austin Winery
Austin | www.theaustinwinery.com
The capital city of Texas is no stranger to locally owned urban wineries and breweries, and the Austin Winery is reportedly Austin’s first full-production urban winery. They specialize in crafting “premium, approachable wines” sourced from Texas High Plains and Hill Country. They love subverting traditional wine service norms and try to make enjoying wine more accessible to everyone. In 2019, they made nearly 6,000 cases of wine and are growing. Located in the warehouse district of South Austin, they’re in a great spot for afternoon tastings and local events.
Flat Creek Estate Winery & Vineyard
Marble Falls | www.flatcreekestate.com
Located roughly 45 minutes from downtown Austin in Marble Falls, Flat Creek Estate is an 80-acre property featuring a tasting room and full-service restaurant. On their grounds, there’s a beautiful expanse of vineyards, a winery, and an 18-hole disc golf course. They have nine varietals, including Tempranillo, Pinot Blanc, Sangiovese and Montepulciano. The winery has earned more than 400 awards and was named one of Food & Wine’s top 50 Most Amazing Wine Experiences in America. The folks at Flat Creek proudly boast Southern hospitality and best-in-class wines.
BeeMaRosa Vineyard and Winery
Belton | www.beemarosa.com
Belton’s BeeMaRosa is a boutique-style winery on land that has been in the owners’ family for years. The vineyard has four grape varieties: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Tannat, all of which were handpicked because of how well they grow in Central Texas. It’s hard not to feel relaxed in their gorgeous garden setting and natural atmosphere. Located off Interstate 35 in Belton, BeeMaRosa is easily accessible to locals and those passing through the area.
3 Texans Winery and Vineyard
Temple | www.3texanswinery.com
Just a short drive from Belton down I-35 sits a female-owned and family-run winery and vineyard named 3 Texans. Kim Langston and her two daughters opened 3 Texans to share their mutual love of wine and celebrate their Texas heritage. The planting of 4,000 grapevines started their vineyard, and another 1,000 were added in 2015. Some of the grapevines they have are Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo.
Axis Winery
Salado | www.axiswinerytx.com
Salado is one of the best places to go for an afternoon of sampling wines. Veteran-owned Axis Winery, now in a new location on North Robertson Road, has an impressive selection of local wines that are bottled in-house and paired with a cozy atmosphere. Owner Stephen Springer hosts tons of events at the winery to make the experience much more fun and memorable for his patrons.
DeepRoots Vineyards
Plantersville | www.deeprootsvineyards.com
Located north of Houston, just off the 249 tollway, sits a fun and unique vineyard steeped in history. DeepRoots has a laid-back vibe in their vintage dairy farm, which has been converted into a vineyard, winery, brewery, and music venue. The roots are indeed deep in this vineyard. In fact, the property has been in the family ever since the owners’ grandparents, Earl and Rowena Fuchs, purchased the 1,196-acre land in 1956 and turned it into a dairy farm. The creation of DeepRoots Vineyards was a way for the family to pay tribute to the legacy of Grandpa Earl’s land. At the winery, they share wines made in Texas with Texas-grown grapes. Some of their more notable varieties include Tempranillo, Alicante Bouschet, and Sweet Sunsets. At DeepRoots Vineyards, you’re encouraged to kick back, enjoy the atmosphere, and sip a glass of Texas-made wine.
Nice Winery
Houston | www.nicewines.com
The owners of Nice Winery, Ryan Levy and Ian Eastveld, are certified sommeliers, wine educators, and trained chefs from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Their sustainably farmed wines, made from their own estate vineyards in Texas, California, Washington and Argentina, have won gold medals in prestigious wine competitions. To put it mildly, they know what they’re doing. There’s a wide selection of wines at Nice Winery, and you can be certain that it’ll be fantastic no matter what you get.
