I have noticed a theme in my blogs….eating and drinking…and how to save money on eating and drinking. So I am going to stick with that theme and discuss Texas wineries. I have been extremely impressed not only with the number of wineries in Central Texas (well over 30) but also the quality and diversity of the wine.
Dan and I have sampled reds and whites and the occasional port or blush at over 20 Central Texas wineries so I now consider myself an expert…and here are my expert suggestions for enjoying a day out “wining”.
Map it out. Go north, go south, you can head in almost any direction and find wineries around Killeen, but it’s best to go with a plan and a good GPS. We like to pick 4 or 5 wineries within a certain area and make a day of it.
Budget for it. Tastings at wineries in Texas are not free, most cost around $5 for a tasting of 5 or 6 wines. You can do the math: driving to and from, tastings for you and your co-winer at multiple wineries, lunch or dinner out…it can get pricey!
Look for special events. Many of the wineries have special events like live music on the patio, a wine pairing or wine dinner, or they partner with other wineries for a themed “wine trail” day. One of my favorite events last year is coming up again February 25….the Fredericksburg Wine Trail Ragin’ Cajun’ event. All the wineries participating have a Mardi Gras theme and free samples from local restaurants. That’s right, one of my favorite things….free food.
Ask questions. When you are at the winery, ask questions about the wine…where are the grapes from (you might be surprised!), how long have you been making wine, what is your most popular wine? The person pouring the wine may simply be an employee or you may be talking with the owner, head grape guru and chief bottler. I have found everyone I’ve encountered to be extremely knowledgeable and I have learned a lot…remember, I am now an expert.
Here are some websites to help you plan for your Central Texas winery tour:
Comments
Tiffany
I love going out to The Vineyard at Florence (25mi south of here) to spend the afternoon sitting on their back porch, having a glass of their blend! They used to have a Farmer’s Market, too, in the summertime. Wonder if they’re going to bring it back again this year??
January 12, 2012 at 7:14 pm
Lauren
Great article! My husband and I really enjoyed going to Salado and tasting the wines. I don’t think he appreciated me dragging him in all the stores though. At some of the wineries you may get the tasting fees waived if you buy a certain number of bottles too.
January 12, 2012 at 9:51 pm
Shay Miller
Lauren, I love Salado and the fact that you can walk from winery to winery and all the cute stores in between! We try to go on days or nights when we know one or two of the wineries will have live music, which happens often. And great point about getting the tasting fees waived with a purchase at some of the wineries!
Tiffany, if they do a farmers market at the Vineyard at Florence, sign me up! I am going to have to keep my eyes peeled for that!
January 12, 2012 at 10:09 pm
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