Have you visited any Texas wineries lately? If you haven’t, you are missing out on some very good wines and some beautiful vineyards. Visits to several wineries around Austin lately reminded me of the gems right here in our own backyards.
How many of you knew that there are several wineries within an hour or so of Houston? Worth a short drive to Galveston County is Haak Vineyards & Winery at Santa Fe, www.haakwine.com. They are open daily for tours and tasting. They also have special events on most weekends featuring live music and/or food. Check the Events tab on their website for information on coming events.
Also, worth a visit is Circle S Vineyards in Sugar Land. Yes, no misprint! I said Sugar Land. They are located at the corner of Hwy 90A and Dairy Ashford. Check out their website at www.circlesvineyards.com for days and hours of operations. And don’t miss Colony Cellars in Waller County. They offer free tastings of their wines produced using the French method of Carbonic Maceration, also know as Whole Grape Fermentation, in which whole clusters of grapes are placed in a CO2 rich sealed tank to ferment. For you that are familiar with Beaujolais, you will recognize the method. For more information and location check out their website at www.colonycellars.com.
Don’t miss Bernhardt Winery in Plantersville, www.bernhardtwinery.com, which has a B&B, or Messina Hof Winery & Resort in Bryan, www.messinahof.com. Messina Hof features the Vintage House Restaurant, as well as the Villa B&B, all located on their estate. And if you’re from Houston, what a great way to spend a weekend in your own backyard.
As many of you know, I’ve returned to the Austin area to be near my kids and grandkids. Of course, not that it influenced my decision, but the Texas Hill County is a hotbed for Texas wineries. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve recently visited a few in the Austin area.
I’ve got to tell you, I’ve been impressed. Let’s start with the Duchman Family Winery, which original started out as the Mandola Estate Winery, and is located next to Trattoria Lisina in Driftwood, Texas. Many of you will recognize Damian Mandola from his Carrabba’s commercials with nephew Johnny Carrabba. Trattoria Lisina is one of Mandola’s finest restaurants in a beautiful building and setting. And did I mention that is in the middle of a vineyard next to a winery? How great is that?!! And the food...Il cibo è fantastico! Check them out at www.duchmanfamilywinery.com and www.trattorialisina.com. 
The Vineyard at Florence, www.thevineyardatflorence.com, is another unique winery in the Austin area. In addition to a beautifully designed tasting room, private tasting rooms, a light-menu cafe, and spa, they also have luxury villas for rent. And Inwood Estates Vineyards, www.inwoodwines.com, has a tasting room on the same property, so you will be able to visit two tasting rooms if you make the drive. Be sure and check out their websites for days and times they are open.
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And one of my new favorites is Flat Creek Estate Vineyard & Winery, www.flatcreekestate.com, located on the north side of Lake Travis near Marble Falls, Texas. What a pretty, pretty winery with some pretty darn good wines. They also have a bistro that’s open on weekends, which I anticipate |
will continue to extend their hours of operation, as the word gets out about this great dinning experience. I took my valentine out there for their four-course valentine dinner last Valentine's Day. And I must tell you, the food was scrumptious! Executive Chef Sean Fulford did a marvelous job preparing the courses and selecting the pairings. Bravo Chef Fulford!
They also have a covered pavilion used for special events and available for weddings, as well as private tastings rooms. The bistro is also available for weddings and other special events. If you are contemplating hosting a special event or looking for a venue for a wedding, you can’t go wrong giving Flat Creek Estate a call. |
