While I was surprised to learn that Texas has a wine region, I was even more surprised when I visited and was impressed with the region. Rolling green hills, vineyards stretched out as far as the eye could see. Chateaus sitting on hillsides welcoming visitors in. Located 70+ miles west of Austin lies the small and intimate town of Fredericksburg, best known for their wine. While I visited the best wineries in Fredericksburg, it quickly struck me that Texas wine country is an underrated gem still waiting to be discovered. If you find yourself visiting Southern Texas, don’t miss your chance to visit this region.
Visiting Fredericksburg from Austin
One of the best ways to visit Fredericksburg is by way of Austin. A quick hour and a half drive will bring you to wine country while being able to spend time in the lively, hip, and fast-growing city of Texas’s most thrilling city – Austin. If you come by way of Austin I’d recommend hiring a private driver. While the price tag is steep, the best way to enjoy Fredericksburg wine tasting at your leisure, while still being safe is by having a sober driver. Austin Private Car Service offers hourly rates which you can find on their website.
If you do choose to drive yourself know that the vineyards are spread out and not within walking distance. However, if you base yourself in downtown, the downtown area of Fredericksburg is made up of restaurants, breweries, shopping, and eight different tasting rooms: Andreucci Wines, Becker Vineyards, Fat Ass Ranch & Winery on Main, Fiesta Winery on Main Street, Fredericksburg Winery, Grape Creek on Main, Narrow Path Winery, Pontotoc Vineyard.
If you’re planning on making Fredericksburg a day trip from Austin, make sure to read my Weekend Guide to Austin, Texas
Best Wineries in Fredericksburg
1. Becker Vineyards
Out of the best vineyards in Fredericksburg, Becker Vineyards comes in high on the list. A top choice for its tucked-away location in the rolling Texas hillside, their crisp, and complex wine, and mainly the phenomenal service. Becker sits on 42 acres of land, has a spacious indoor area, and a big outdoor patio. The entire property is perfectly set up for wine tasting and learning about wine. Becker is open Monday-Thursday 10 am-5 pm; Friday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm; and Sunday 12 pm-5 pm.
2. Grape Creek Vineyards
Set in an Italian-esque chateau, Grape Creek is located three-miles around the corner from Becker. Out of the top wineries in Fredericksburg, Grape Creek is the place to go if you’re wanting to buy a bottle of wine and settle in outside. While there is both an indoor and outdoor bar for pouring wine, I’d still recommend opting out of the tasting here and instead choose to buy a bottle so you can sit amongst the vineyards and enjoy. Grape Creek is open Sunday-Saturday 11 am-5:30 pm.
3. Fat Ass Ranch & Winery
While this winery wouldn’t qualify for having quality wine in Fredericksburg, instead Fat Ass brings a fun flair to wine tasting in the heart of Texas. Fat Ass focuses heavily on fruit-forward wines such as watermelon and strawberry flavored. It’s located across the street from Becker and is a good place to stop last before heading back to Austin. Fat Ass is open Sunday-Saturday 11 am-5 pm.
4. Driftwood Estate Winery
Driftwood Estate Winery offers more of a laid back atmosphere compared to some of the other Fredericksburg vineyards. As you drive up to this tasting room, you’ll feel a sense of seclusion. Head inside, grab your wine, and head outback to appreciate the serenity of Texas wine country. It’s here that you appreciate that Fredericksburg is lesser known than the likes of Sonoma and Napa. You realize that you can still taste quality wine, in an intimate setting. Driftwood Estate is open 11 am-6 pm.
Please note that Driftwood Estate Winery is located only 30-minutes from Austin in Driftwood, TX. It is in between Austin and Fredericksburg and a good location to begin or end wine tasting.
5. Barons Creek Vineyards
While Barons Creek doesn’t stick out to me for its wine, it does stick out to me for its atmosphere. Set up in a gorgeous chateau, Barons Creek is unique for offering villas for guests to spend the night. It’s more than just a winery, which makes it a unique stop in Fredericksburg. Barons Creek is open Sunday-Saturday 12 pm-5 pm.
Texas hill country is home to over 100 wineries, and Fredericksburg houses 50+ of them. The vineyards listed above, the best wineries in Fredericksburg, stand out for their service, atmosphere, wine, and overall ambiance. Fredericksburg is one of the few places left that seems to be void of crowds. But I wouldn’t count on that for much longer. If you like wine, or you’re visiting Austin, don’t miss your chance to spend time in Texas wine country, Fredericksburg.
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Kylee is a Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) nurse passionate about making travel affordable and accessible to nurses. Inspiring nurses to travel both near and far, Kylee began Passports and Preemies in 2017 while volunteering in Skopje, North Macedonia as a way to reach nurses and advocate for the prevention of nurse burnout by traveling. Kylee is the original creator of the “8 Day Vacay” – a vacation geared towards nurses who aim to take advantage of the potentially 8 days off between work weeks with no need to use PTO.
