October is not only one of the most beautiful months of the year in Texas–it’s also Texas Wine Month! We spent the week in the Fredericksburg area to visit a handful of some of the newer wineries we hadn’t been too. We were seeking producers whose grapes are all or predominantly grown in Texas. For our restaurant adventures, head here.
Of course, no trip to the 290 Wine Trail would be complete without a visit to the beautiful Becker Vineyards. The award winning winery is definitely a shining star in this region. We began our sojourn sipping a delightful Becker Provençal Rosé on their spacious patio.
Our first stop after Becker Vineyards was at Narrow Path Winery & Vineyards in Stonewall. The tasting room is beautiful–sleek with stunning floor to ceiling windows offering a dynamite view. The winery is known for its small batch wines, predominantly red, made from Texas grapes. Don’t miss the Tempranillo and the Mouvédre. White wine fans, they make a lovely Marsanne, a Rhone varietal that grows well in Texas. This winery is by appointment only and well worth it.
Our next visit was to a wine making family making waves in Texas wine circles. Ab Astris Vineyards near Stonewall. The name means ‘from the stars’ and it fits this producer judging by the number of awards on display in the tasting room. The winery is located on a beautiful ranch next to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Park. Leave yourself plenty of time for this spot. The wines are well made, and you’ll want to savor what you sip. White fans, the Clairette Blanche, a varietal mainly grown in France, is delicious. And an added bonus, the grapes for this refreshing white at Ab Astris are estate grown. The Tannat is an enticing big red, and we enjoyed the Sinistra, a Right Bank Bordeaux style Texas blend. We bought two of everything we tasted here!
The newest winery on our list opened just a few weeks before our arrival – Michael Ros Winery on the beautiful, winding Old San Antonio Road. The venue is stunning and reminds me of something you would see in Napa. It’s built into the side of a hilly vineyard. Their Sangiovese Rosé was outstanding – crisp and dry with notes of cherries. The Viognier was lovely too. Red wine fans, they also offer a Tempranillo and Malbec both made from Texas High Plains grapes.
Our final stop was to Ron Yates Winery. I first met Ron at an event in Houston where his wines won a coveted Rodeo Houston saddle in the Rodeo Uncorked! competition. His vibrant personality stood out then, and that same exuberance was on display as he led us through a tasting of his wonderful wines, many of them award winners. Spend some time here because this guy has fun with his wine making, and he makes a lot of them. His Tempranillos were my favorite, especially the Friesen vineyards blend from the High Plains.
One new discovery this trip, for me, was the Souzao varietal that is being planted by some Texas wineries. It’s a varietal that hails from Portugal where it’s used mainly in Port. In Texas, it produces a tasty, dark red wine with bright acidity and flavors of ripe strawberries, boysenberries and spice. We enjoyed The Texas Heritage Souzao when we dined at Cabernet Grill–it paired perfectly with the bacon-wrapped quail.
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