Texas is known for many things: juicy barbecue, spicy Tex-Mex food, and country music might come to mind. However, the Lone Star State is making a name for itself as a wine destination thanks to its talented winemakers tending some of the country’s most impressive and verdant vineyards. In fact, Texas takes the fifth place in terms of wine production after the better-known wine-producing estates, California, Washington, Oregon, and New York; and it’s just getting started.
This means that to try Texas wines, you must head down there. The Texas Wine Country is a lovely wine destination, home to many award-winning wines, available in comfortable indoor and outdoor seating spaces at large and small estates, at a fun patio, or in a dim-lit underground wine cellar. You will have an unforgettable time with wine tasting experiences, wine-pairing dinners, and fun wine flights. If you have to choose between the state’s viticultural areas, our list of the best wineries in Fredericksburg might convince you to visit the small but exciting area around the town of the same name.
What is Special about Fredericksburg Wineries?
It’s at the region’s heart.
The Fredericksburg AVA was founded in 1988; it’s part of the more prominent Texas Hill Country and is at its heart. Although the appellation is relatively large, with 70,400 acres of available land, only a few hundred acres are planted with grape vines. Of course, quality trumps quantity, and the best wineries in the state, from large producers to the smallest boutique wineries, make the most of this small but green spot.
It’s convenient.
The best wineries in Fredericksburg, Texas, are only 70 miles from San Antonio and 80 miles west of Austin, and they all feature beautiful tasting rooms to enjoy good food and varied wine tastings. This makes the area a convenient destination to enjoy wine when in the area. Drive through the Texas High Plains and keep going until you reach its vinous epicenter, the vineyards around Fredericksburg.
It’s fun.
The Texas wine country has a unique feel; the snobbery found in other regions is replaced by a sense of community and a desire to party Texas-style. As expected, food plays a vital role in Fredericksburg, Texas, so tasting rooms are complemented with outdoor patio experiences where food and drinks flow. A tasting or guided tour feels different under the Texan sun; wineries in Fredericksburg, Texas do things differently, and it’s fun.
It’s eventful.
Fredericksburg is all but a sleepy town. Every downtown tasting room hosts exciting tastings almost every day year-round; people get together to celebrate Texas grapes. Of course, if you want a more intimate experience, private tastings are available everywhere, and the best wineries offer exclusive reserve tastings for those experienced. If you want to learn more about the town and its people, the Fredericksburg Farmers Market that takes place each Thursday in the summer and fall is for you, and keep an eye on festivals, concerts, and special celebrations. Fredericksburg’s website is an excellent place to start your search.
When is the Best Time to visit Wineries in Fredericksburg, Texas?
Fredericksburg, Texas, has a unique subtropical climate with average high temperatures of 92°F in summer and winters as cold as 37°F. You can visit the region year-round and expect lovely weather; wine tours and wine-tasting opportunities are always available in the wine region.
Summer is the best time to visit the area if you don’t mind a little heat. Not only because the skies are clearer but also because this is still Texas, and the state is known for its outdoor entertainment. For wine lovers, summer is also an excellent opportunity to see those Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes ripen.
In fall, everyone rushes to pick their grapes, and harvest festivals and events invite you to celebrate the birth of the year’s freshest batch of Texas wines of all styles. Remember that the harvest season is the busiest time of the year for grape growers and winemakers, so don’t be surprised if they’re too busy to give you a personal tour around the property. You’ll still be able to taste Texas wines in a lovely tasting room, though.
Best Places to Stay During Your Wine Getaway in Fredericksburg
We hope by now we’ve convinced you to visit the Texas high plains, and we have yet to start talking about the best wineries in Fredericksburg, the heart and soul of Texas Hill Country. Fredericksburg is home to only around 10,000 people, but the town is well prepared to receive the many wine enthusiasts visiting the area every year.
A few wineries stand out for dedicated lodging, particularly Baron Creeks Vineyards, Mendelbaum Cellars, and Messina Hof Hill Country. However, there are several hotels in town, plenty of inns, and bed-and-breakfasts in downtown Fredericksburg and its surroundings. If you want to know more about accommodation in the area, explore our guide to Where to Stay in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Best Wineries in Fredericksburg, Texas
Fredericksburg wineries vary in size, but they have a common goal: to put the region on the map and distinguish themselves from the larger Texas Hill Country with spectacular wine. Wine tastings are one way to do it, so the best wineries in Fredericksburg make wine and take care of their guests.
Although it’s hard to only feature a few wineries in the area, from over one hundred available, the following are certainly amongst the best wineries in the wine region. Needless to say, no Fredericksburg winery will disappoint, and we’re leaving out many of them. However, the following list is a great place to start your vinous adventure. In no particular order, these are the best wineries in Fredericksburg.
#1 – Hilmy Cellars
This artisan winery makes things the old-fashioned way and offers an outstanding collection of red, pink, white, and even sparkling wine. The estate owns one of the most extensive vineyards in Hill Country, and they make good use of it by planting incredibly diverse grapes.
The winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon won’t disappoint; it has exquisite new-world charm. However, try their rarities, including an earthy Aglianico and a refreshing Albarino. Spanish grapes do great in the area.
Hilmy Cellars Pinot Noir is the best of the bunch. You’ll love this Pinot — all fruit and spices if you like Oregon wines. As for their sparkling wine, expect fine bubble streams carrying intense tropical fruit aromas; it’s worthy of celebrations of all types.
Hilmy Cellars’ idyllic estate vineyards produce spectacular wine and are worthy of a visit; their rustic tasting room is inviting, and the staff is knowledgeable.
Notes:
🌐 Hilmy Cellars
📍 12346 E US HWY 290, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
#2 – Lost Draw Cellars
Lost Draw Cellars opened in the early 2010s and now has over 50 acres of vines. The young team, led by founder Andrew Sides, focuses on diverse styles, mostly wine made with warm-weather grapes, such as Tempranillo, Mourvedre, Roussanne, Sangiovese, and Viognier.
Experts believe Malbec is the next big thing in Texas, and they might be right — you’ll see what they mean when you try the estate’s Malbec from the Lost Draw Vineyard — plummy fruit and chewy tannins from start to finish.
White wines are also well represented, with Rhône varietals standing out. The estate’s Marsanne Timmons Estate Vineyard is creamy and nutty, with a rich palate and a long finish.
Notes:
🌐 Lost Draw Cellars
📍 113 E Park St Fredericksburg, TX 78624
#3 – Grape Creek Vineyards
Ask the locals, and they’ll all say Grape Creek Vineyards is one of the best places to visit in Fredericksburg, not only for its wine quality but for the beautiful estate, its Tuscan inspired tasting rooms and verdant gardens.
Grape Creek Winery is part of the Heath Family Brands and other exciting estates, including the Heath Sparkling Wines winery, which we will discuss in a minute. These guys mean business and will stop at nothing until they put Fredericksburg on the wine map.
Grape Creek Winery has been around since 2006, and they only sell their wine directly to their customers through a wine club. This exciting take makes the estate more conscious about what wine-lovers in the area want, and that’s good-value everyday wine and reserve wine for special occasions. The Grape Creek Collection has something for every taste and budget.
Visit the winery and its vineyards and spend the evening on their wine tasting patio overlooking the rows of vines or their indoor tasting room. Do try the Grape Creek Vineyards Viognier and the Grape Creek Vineyards Riesling, two crisp white wines with floral aromatics.
If you’re into red, then Grape Creek Vineyards Invention, a structured blend of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and the spicy Petit Syrah won’t disappoint.
Notes:
🌐 Grape Creek Vineyards
📍 10587 US-290, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
#4 – Lost Oak Winery
Lost Oak Winery is more than a winemaking estate; with three locations, they host picnics, events, and even live concerts. Visiting Lost Oak is always exciting. The estate makes a nice collection of whites and reds, including several labels of easy-to-drink wine for everyday enjoyment. However, their finest wines, including their Meritage blend and bold Shiraz, are dinner-worthy.
Wine tasting at Lost Oak is always a fun experience, and with a wide range of grape varietals available, there’s something for everyone, even for those not all that into wine. Guided tastings are available at the winery’s tasting room. Touring the facilities and hiking around the vineyards is also available and recommended.
Notes:
🌐 Lost Oak Winery
📍 10354 US-290Fredericksburg, TX 78624
#5 – Pedernales Cellars
Pedernales Cellars is one of the best wineries for robust, long-lived Tempranillo. Their Gran Reserva has a splash of Graciano and Grenache inspired by the famous Spanish vineyards of Rioja. But this is only one thing worth mentioning about Pedernales Cellars; the estate is worth visiting, too.
Pedernales Cellars was founded in the early 1990s and is nestled in the Pedernales River Valley. The family-owned estate focuses on crafting premium wine sustainably and inspires its neighbors in such important matters. Pedernales Cellars comprises 145 acres of oaks and vineyards. At the heart of it, you’ll find the Estate Tasting Room, a comforting setting to try the estate’s finest libations.
Pedernales Cellars focuses on classic French and Italian varietals. Vermentino and Trebbiano produce refreshing wines, while their Viognier is full-bodied and aromatic. On the red side, Tempranillo is king, particularly their single vineyard labels. The Pedernales Cellars Lahey Vineyards Tempranillo is one of the best in the state.
Notes:
🌐 Pedernales Cellars
📍 2916 Upper Albert Rd, Stonewall, TX 78671
#6 – Signor Vineyards
Signor Vineyards might have a less extensive collection of wine, but the wines they make are top-notch. Founded by a family with deep horticultural roots, the Teas family harvested their first grapes in 2017. The rest is history. Today, the estate is a must-visit for wine lovers, featuring its own deli, Joanna’s Market.
Amongst the estate’s offerings, the Mozzafiato Signor Vineyards is an attractive red wine with a spicy and ripe black fruit character, and their Early Muscat is an easy sipper. Their finest expression of the land? That would be the Tempranillo RV Signor Vineyards — an oaky Tempranillo with old- and new-world charm filled with muted red fruit, undergrowth, and oak spices.
The Harvest Room tasting room is extensive and ideal for events and groups. However, sitting with a couple of friends still feels intimate enough to enjoy wine and the garden view.
Notes:
🌐 Signor Vineyards
📍 362 Livesay Lane, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
#7 – Heath Sparkling Wines
Unlike more rustic wineries in the area, Heath Sparkling Wines is a modern facility with an architecturally stunning tasting room with views of the vineyards. The tasting room has floor-to-ceiling windows that make you feel like you are sipping wine in the middle of the vines, and that’s because you are. This is different from your average patio; sitting here is a unique experience, especially if you’re here to taste wines.
Heath Sparkling Wines is, of course, known for its distinctive sparkling wines. Their Blanc de Blancs, a 100% Chardonnay, is made Champagne-style and has won several medals. Their more approachable Euphoria is all about sweet tropical fruit and peaches. All the wines are made with the Method Traditionelle, an incredibly time-consuming and labor-intensive technique that not everyone dares to undertake. This results in wines of more complexity and immensely higher quality.
Notes:
🌐 Heath Sparkling Wines
📍 10591 E US Highway 290, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
#8 – Becker Vineyards
Becker Vineyards owns an Estate winery and the Main Street tasting room in Fredericksburg. Both locations offer distinct experiences.
For a casual tasting, the tasting room is ideal. Expect to try six wines at a moderate price. Choose between the winery’s immense selection, including the Becker Vineyards Cabernet Franc Reserve, the refreshing (and rare) Becker Vineyards Counoise, and the Becker Vineyards Unita Cabernet, from a Becker and Francis Ford Coppola Winery collaboration.
White wines, including their California-style Chardonnay Reserve and the thirst-quenching Becker Vineyards Pinot Grigio, are also fantastic here. Most of the wines in Becker’s catalog are affordable, and they focus on dependable, everyday wines that are both great value and crowd-pleasing.
Becker’s estate is one of the best wineries to visit. It’s been open since 1996 and has an old-world feel, a rustic charm that is hard to describe — it’s simply beautiful.
Notes:
🌐 Becker Vineyards
📍 464 Becker Farms Rd, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
#9 – Wedding Oak Winery
The McHenry’s have been making wine since 2000, and their Texas estate proves they’ve learned something in all these years. Wedding Oak features classic grape varietals and makes reliable wine with a wedding theme.
Something Blue is a semi-sweet wine that is easy to enjoy. Roussanne from Phillips Vineyard is a different experience — it’s memorable, with hints of citrus and honeycomb over a silky palate. Wedding Oak Winery wines might be popular with newlyweds, but the wine is up there with the best in the region.
The estate’s tasting room in the historic heart of San Saba is inside a nicely preserved 1926 building. However, you can also visit the winery at Fredericksburg for a wine tasting.
Notes:
🌐 Wedding Oak Winery
📍 6009 Suite B US, Hwy 290 E, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
#10 – Fredericksburg Winery
Located at the heart of town, the adequately named winery is home to the city’s most popular tasting room. Established in 1996 and situated on East Main St, Fredericksburg Winery was named one of the Top Three Producers in Texas, and they make their wine traditionally with local grapes right there, downtown.
The Switzer Family is serious about wine, but their wines are not snobby but fun and easy to enjoy. Their field blend rosé Balanced Rock Rosé has a lovely floral bouquet, while their Italian-inspired Muscat is a local favorite. The estate offers more than quaffable wine; their Alicante Bouchet is a complex and sophisticated red, and their Montepulciano is as good as its Italian counterparts. For the snobbiest wine drinkers out there, the Orange Muscat is a rare sight, especially in Texas, and it offers the most enticing scents of dried fruit and nuts over a dry palate.
Notes:
🌐 Fredericksburg Winery
📍 247 West Main St. Fredericksburg, TX 78624
#11 – Fat Ass Ranch and Winery
Named by a big-bottomed donkey that lives on the estate, this fun and casual winery and brewery adds color to the region’s vibrant wine and beer scene, not only with quality but also with a sense of humor.
If your palate is tired from tasting wine, you’ll find enjoyable freshly brewed beer on tap. However, if you’re craving wine, the wine here is good. Try the fruit-forward Pinot Noir and the round and juicy Merlot. And suppose you want something you won’t find anywhere else. In that case, the winery also experiments with creative inventions, such as their Prickly Pear JalaRaspberryPeno, a berry-licious and a bit spicy wine-based drink.
Enjoy the fresh air at the estate’s outside covered patio under the shade of a silo for the High-Class Fat Ass experience.
Notes:
🌐 Fat Ass Ranch and Winery
📍 51 Elgin Behrends Rd, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Fredericksburg Texas Wine FAQ
Now that you’ve read our favorite Fredericksburg Winery list. Let’s tackle some of the most common questions regarding wine tastings, visiting the best wineries in Fredericksburg, and how much you can expect to spend in these estates.
How many wineries does Fredericksburg have?
There are over 50 wineries and grape growers in Fredericksburg, at the heart of the Texas Hill Country wine region, but many others are around the area. There is 200+ wineries in the entire state — the Texas wine industry is as big as the state’s reputation for big things; however, Texas is massive, and winemaking regions are far away from each other. And although there’s excellent wine from every corner of the state, the best wineries in Fredericksburg have no comparison in terms of quality and prestige.
Do you need reservations for wineries in Fredericksburg?
The best way to experience the Texas high plains is by taking a wine tour. Over thirty companies offer tours and shuttles to the region’s best estates, including wine tastings and vineyard visits. Go from one tasting room to the next without having to make reservations.
Of course, if you want to explore the area on your own, call your favorite estates ahead and let them know you’re coming, especially during the low season. Although some estates are better equipped to receive visitors, most, if not all, offer at least a wine tasting, and sometimes, that’s all you need to learn more about the exciting Texas wine.
How much do wine tastings cost in Fredericksburg?
Traveling to Fredericksburg is not expensive. Once there, most wine experiences are also adequately priced. Some estates are much more developed than others, especially those who have invested in a sound tasting room; therefore, wine tastings at higher-end wineries are more expensive than in good old farms — they’re both lovely.
Expect to pay around $25-35 per person for a wine tasting of five wines or so. Tasting premium wines and sparkling wine might be more expensive. The region is gaining a reputation for its fine sparkling winemaking.
Food and wine experiences can cost around $75 per person for a multi-course dinner. But this also depends on whether you’re enjoying a curated picnic in the estate’s gardens or being pampered by the chef in a wine cave.
How to Enjoy Texan Wine Year-round?
Many wineries in Texas have created interesting and reasonably priced programs for their customers. Since Texan wine is hard to find outside the state, a wine club can be the only way to enjoy Texas’ finest without visiting the area. The best wineries have sophisticated wine club programs, in which wine club members not only get to enjoy their favorite wine but also have benefits on the estate, including exclusive wine tasting experiences and access to private dinners.
Final Thoughts
The best thing about Fredericksburg, Texas? It’s near the state’s largest cities, and its production has been growing non-stop, so expect to see the region’s award-winning wines in your favorite wine shops soon.
If you want to enjoy what the region’s best wineries have to offer year-round without traveling, join a wine club. However, you’ll want to return once you experience the famous Texas high plains hospitality. Fredericksburg, Texas, will be waiting for you with open arms and plenty of Texas wine made with the finest Texas grapes.
Have you visited the area? We’d love to know the best wineries in Fredericksburg for you. If you haven’t, we hope you’re ready to go wine tasting Texas-style!
