Marty, our Operations Director (and wine expert), gives us his Top 5 Winery Day Trips to check out around the Austin area. Believe us when we say to trust his opinion on this, he’s studied under the Court of Master Sommeliers and holds a level 1 certification.
- Torr Na Lochs Winery – Nestled under Inks Lake in the Marble Falls area, this winery has a beautiful view paired with a sturdy wine list. It’s about a 1.5 hour drive from Austin so best to pair with another activity. My ideal day is to head out mid morning, arrive before lunch for a tasting with a curated charcuterie board. Before you leave, select your favorite bold red (mine is the syrah) and head to Krause springs for a summer dip followed by BBQ at Opie’s. Torr Na Lochs wine is a match made in heaven
- Bending Branch Winery. – The king of Tannat! This Comfort, Texas winery has a bounty of great offerings, but the signature varietal is a little known grape called Tannat. Bending Branch has officially put this diamond in the rough on the Texas map. The wines are honest, rugged, yet elegant. DO NOT just take I-35 to get there. You can easily route through Fredericksburg for other tasting/shopping, or take the scenic drive through Blanco.
- Sibonney Cellars – This one is on the road to Fredericksburg right past Hye, Texas. The vineyards are expansive and the tasting room and seating area are well designed. Not only are the wines all excellent, but the staff here was beyond knowledgeable. I personally am not a fan of most Texas Rosés but the Provence style Rosé was worth taking home with us.
- Duchman Family Winery– Just a quick little drive from the city, Duchman brings to the table the best Tuscan Varietals in Texas. The tasting room and facility are in Driftwood but the majority of the grapes are harvested in the high plains of Texas. The facility is beautiful like an Italian Villa and the wines are gorgeous to pair. A bonus is the ability to look at the production facility! My top picks are the crisp Vermentino on a hot summer day and the Montepulciano on ANY day.
- Wanderlust Wine Co – Okay sure, this isn’t a winery but it’s worth making the list. Are you not able to get out of the city? Well let the world of wine come to you. Owners Sammy and Margaret Lam have brought the first “pour your own” wine bar to Texas. With selections from Texas to all over the world, this is the best venue to taste small offerings from all over in pursuit of finding what you love. There are three locations and a full list of events (fun and educational) on their calendar. Don’t sleep on this spot!
You can explore wineries around Austin on our Hill Country Wine Shuttle or on our Hill Country Shuttle BBQ and Wine Tour, winner of TripAdvisor’s 2023 Top World Culinary Experiences.