Texas’s Finest Wines And Wineries

Grab a glass and read all about Texas’s finest wines and wineries.

Texas may not be the first state you think of when asked about where the best wine in the U.S. is. But with about 200+ wineries, the Lone Star state’s wine history dates back to the late 1800s. Producing more than 4,000 tons of wine annually, Texas ranks as the fifth-largest wine-producing state. Here’s a Sampling of Texas’s finest wines and wineries with that in mind.

Related: Texas Wine Trail: Wineries Included

A Sampling Of Texas Finest Wines And Wineries

The Texan wine industry is growing steadily and has gained a reputation as an established wine-growing region in the United States. Visiting wineries and wine tastings have become attractive activities when traveling.

Related: Texas Wine Festivals And Events

Texas South Wind Vineyard and Winery

Since 2009, Texas South Wind Vineyard and Winery has created some of Texas’s best white, red, and fruit wine. The vineyard is on 145 acres of farmland between two historic towns, Refugio and Goliad, a 45-minute drive north of Corpus Christi. The vineyard primarily uses Lenoir grapes to create its tasty spirits. They were offering about 20 varieties of wines ranging from peach fruit to Chardonnay and a black rose. Guests can order flights or sample six to eight wines for less than $10 per person.

Messina Hof Grapevine during the holidays

Messina Hof Winery – Bryan, Grapevine, Fredericksburg

What started with an experimental acre of grapes in 1977 exploded into an operation producing more than 130,000 gallons of wine a year as one of Texas’s top vineyards and wineries. Winning a medal at the 1981 Texas State Fair for its Black Spanish-Cabernet blend, Messina Hof Winery took off on its way to challenge other wineries statewide. Messina Hof has a winery in Bryan, Fredericksburg, and Grapevine more than four decades after that first acre. Each offers flights to sample the award-winning wines such as the dry cabernet sauvignon, Chardonnay, and sparkling rose.

Val Verde Winery – Mexico Border

In Big Bend Country, Val Verde Winery sits as the oldest continuously operating winery in Texas and has called Del Rio home for more than 137 years. The winery and vineyard near the Mexican border are about a 2.5-hour drive west of San Antonio. Frank Qualia was an Italian winemaker who immigrated to the United States in 1883 and quickly realized Texas soil was suitable for raising Lenoir grapes. Since then, the family-owned winery has grown the grapes to create more than a dozen wine varieties. Some wines are produced using grapes from other Texas vineyards. The red and white spirits can be sampled via flights, such as the Sierra Madre Dry White and Merlot.

Grape Creek Vineyards – Fredericksburg & Georgetown

Taking a tour of the vineyards’ 100 acres is only part of a great experience when visiting Grape Creek Cellars. The Fredericksburg winery’s original owners planted cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay grapes, creating some of the best-tasting wines from the Texas Hill Country. The nearly-37-year-old winery became the state’s first underground commercial barrel cellar in the region. Offering guided tastings of five of Grape Creek Cellar’s finest wines, guests can combine them with vineyard tours or pay a special fee for private tastings. Don’t forget to take home one of the winery’s white, red, rose, or sweet selections. Grape Creek has two wineries in Fredericksburg and one in Georgetown Town Square.

Duchman Family Winery – Driftwood

With vine-covered Italian-style buildings, visiting Duchman Family Winery near Austin is like taking a Tuscany trip. It’s named one of the top 20 most picturesque wineries in the country by HGTV. Duchman Family Winery uses 100% Texas-grown grapes to create some of the tastiest wines in the state. Opened in 2004, founders Lisa and Stan Duchman sought to create world-class wines in central Texas. The Dutchman’s also created one of Texas’s most popular wineries with that achievement.

Pro Tip: It’s one of many wedding venues in the area.

Becker Vineyards – Stonewall

What started as a venture to find a log cabin for weekend getaways has grown into Texas’ third-largest vineyard and winery. The Becker family found its log cabin and almost 50 acres of land with it. Today, Becker Vineyards in the Texas Hill Country consists of more than 300 acres and produces about 100,000 world-class wine cases. Becker Vineyards has seen its wine served in prominent locations, including the White House. The Beckers sought to visit the winery to be considered a special occasion, so they built a stone bridge for people to cross as they visited the winery. Add special hosted tastings, and the Beckers achieved their dream. Becker has a new location on Main Street in Fredericksburg.

Good to know: Becker Vineyards in Stonewall was named the Top Texas Winery at the 2022 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition held Nov. 12-14, 2021.

Pro Tip: Becker also has a lavender farm that you can visit.

Grapevine Grapefest

As Texas wineries have grown over the past few decades, the quality of wines has improved. Since using Texas-grown grapes, the state’s wineries have been challenged to compete with Napa Valley’s likes in California, the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York, and Washington’s apple-based wines to produce some of the best-tasting wines in the United States. Raise a glass and enjoy some Lone Star wine.

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