Wine Tours and Vineyards in the Austin Area

Texas Hill Country is covered in hundreds of acres of fertile soil that is nurtured by cool, dry air, making it the perfect climate for growing grapes. The lush vineyards are open to visitors for tours and tastings. Several of the vineyards have their own restaurants, which feature foods specially prepared for pairing specifically for each the vineyard's own wines. There's no need to travel to Napa or Chianti to find peaceful, rolling vineyards -- Texas Hill Country is covered in exceptional vines that produce top notch wines.

Dry Comal Creek Vineyards and Winery
Dry Comal Creek Vineyards and Winery opened in 1998 and has grown each year to its current production of 8,000 cases. The vineyard takes up only five acres and grows only Black Spanish grapes, but it produces an assortment of wines, including French Colombard, Orange Muscat, White Black Spanish, Comal Red, Black Spanish and 1096 Port. The vineyard holds an introduction to wine class called Winery U! every Saturday from 10:30am to 12:30pm, and once a month local artists perform at the vineyard's free event, Groovin' in the Grapes. Local restaurants and caterers set up booths with foods that pair well with the Dry Comal Creek wines. The vineyard also hosts weddings and provides wedding planning services.

Driftwood Estate Winery
The first vines at Driftwood Estate Winery were planted in 1998, with its first bottles sold to the public in 2003. The vineyard is spread out over 20 lush acres, with seven different grape varieties that produce 4,500 cases each year. Driftwood Estate has a tasting room, which is open daily from 10am to 6pm, and guests may taste a variety of wines for a $5 tasting fee. The vineyard welcomes guests to bring a picnic for lunch on their deck, which overlooks a bluff, under the oak trees, or on the new pavilion located right off of the tasting room. Driftwood Estate participates in the Texas Hill Country Wine Trail, which takes wine lovers through local vineyards on self guided, themed tours.

Stone House Vineyard
Located on six and a half acres overlooking Lake Travis, Stone House Vineyard produces award winning wines from its Norton Grapes. The owners purchased the land in 1996 and over the next few years toyed with the idea of turning it into a vineyard. In 2004, they released their first wine, Claros, which immediately went on to win a gold medal at the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition. Stone House's tasting room and the winery are open to the public on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 5pm, and by appointment. The winery is also available for special events, and hosts four course dinners, complete with wine pairings, periodically.

Fall Creek Vineyards
The owners of Fall Creek Vineyards, Ed and Susan Auler, have been called "The first family of Texas Wine." Their vineyard was established in 1975 and spans 400 acres of land. Their many years of wine making have produced a slew of award winning bottles, with variations including Tempranillo, Sauvignon Blanc, White Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Cache, Granite Blush, Merlot, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Muscat Canelli, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viogner, and their double gold Meritus. Fall Creek hosts tours and tastings daily, from 11am to 4pm Monday through Friday, 11am to 5pm Saturday and noon to 4pm Sunday. The vineyard also holds occasional wine pairing luncheons and special events.

Spicewood Vineyards
Edward and Madeleine Maingold established Spicewood Vineyards in 1992, and it has since grown to be a part of the local community through the various events that they host throughout the year. The vineyard is open for tours and tastings Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm, and on Sundays from noon to 5pm. In addition to occasional wine and food pairing dinners, Spicewood Vineyards holds events, including a chili cook off -- the chili that pairs best with the vineyard's red table wine takes home the prize. The new event center seats 200 people and is available for weddings, parties, and other special events.