Read Where Grapes Grew
Texas Hill Country, Texas High Plains, or plain Texas on the label tells you the fruit's source.
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Wine Regions
Limestone hills, peach orchards, and winding country roads lined with tasting rooms. Here is what Texas Hill Country pours, why it chose heat-loving grapes, and how to visit.
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The Texas Hill Country is a rolling region of limestone hills, live oaks, and spring-fed rivers west of Austin and north of San Antonio. Its wine area is one of the largest AVAs in the country, with the town of Fredericksburg at its heart. Smaller AVAs inside it include Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country and Bell Mountain. The climate is warm to hot, with long summers, mild winters, and sudden storms. Growers face real challenges: late spring frosts, hail, humidity, and Pierce’s disease, a bacterial vine disease spread by insects. Soils are mostly thin layers over limestone, with sandy and granite pockets in some areas, so drainage is good. That is why Texas Hill Country wine has moved away from cool-climate grapes toward varieties that thrive in Mediterranean heat.
Here is a surprise for many visitors: a lot of wine poured in the Hill Country is made from grapes grown several hours’ drive to the northwest, on the Texas High Plains around Lubbock. The High Plains sit at higher elevation, with cooler nights, lower humidity, and fewer disease problems, so they grow most of the state’s wine grapes. Hill Country wineries often make wine from both their own estate vineyards and High Plains fruit. The label tells you which. “Texas Hill Country” means at least 85 percent of the grapes came from that AVA; “Texas High Plains” points to the northern region; and plain “Texas” means the grapes can come from anywhere in the state. None of these is better by definition, but reading the label helps you understand what you are tasting. Our guide to reading a wine label covers these rules.
Tempranillo, the grape of Spain’s Rioja, has become an unofficial Texas favorite, with cherry, plum, leather, and dusty, savory notes. Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Syrah make spicy, earthy reds and blends in the style of southern France. Tannat gives inky, powerful reds, and Italian and Portuguese grapes such as Aglianico, Montepulciano, Sangiovese, and Touriga Nacional are increasingly common. For whites, Viognier and Roussanne are rich and floral, while Vermentino and Albariño stay crisp in the heat. Blanc du Bois, a disease-resistant hybrid, makes fresh, aromatic whites in humid areas. Rosé is popular, and sweet Muscat and port-style wines are made too.
Start with a Texas Tempranillo. It is the grape many locals point to as the state’s signature red, and it shows savory red fruit with moderate tannins. Next, try a Rhône-style red blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Syrah, or a single-variety Mourvèdre, for spice and earth. If you love big reds, a Tannat or Aglianico will deliver deep color and grippy structure. On the white side, Viognier shows peach and honeysuckle, and Vermentino is a bright, zesty choice for hot afternoons. A dry Texas rosé is a great patio wine. Prices vary widely; most bottles at Hill Country tasting rooms fall in the $25 to $50 range, reflecting small production. Compare an estate Hill Country wine with a High Plains bottle from the same winery to taste the difference in where the grapes grew.
Texas food and Texas wine belong together. Smoked brisket, ribs, and sausage from Central Texas barbecue joints pair beautifully with Tempranillo and Mourvèdre, whose savory fruit and moderate tannins stand up to smoke without clashing with spice; see our guide to wine with BBQ. Tex-Mex enchiladas and fajitas love juicy reds and dry rosé, and our tips on wine with Mexican food and wine with tacos go deeper. Fredericksburg’s German heritage shows in sausages and schnitzel, which suit Viognier or a lighter red; see wine with sausage. Vermentino and Albariño work with Gulf shrimp and ceviche. In summer, local peaches and a glass of sweet Muscat make an easy dessert. In hot weather, serve reds a little cool, around 60°F.
Fredericksburg is the main base, with a historic Main Street of shops, restaurants, and tasting rooms. U.S. Highway 290, running east from Fredericksburg toward Johnson City, is lined with wineries and is the region’s busiest wine route. Weekends can be crowded, so go on a weekday or book reservations, especially for groups. Spring brings wildflowers, including fields of bluebonnets, and is the prettiest season; early summer is peach season, but midsummer heat can be intense. Harvest in Texas starts early, often in late July or August. Distances between wineries can be long, so plan three or four stops, drink plenty of water, and use a designated driver or a local wine shuttle.
| Grape or Style | Character | Try It With |
|---|---|---|
| Tempranillo | Cherry, plum, leather, savory, moderate tannins | Smoked brisket or chorizo |
| Mourvèdre or Rhône-style blend | Dark fruit, spice, earthy, warm | Pork ribs or grilled sausage |
| Tannat | Inky, blackberry, powerful tannins | Grilled steak or beef fajitas |
| Viognier | Peach, apricot, honeysuckle, rich | Roast chicken or schnitzel |
| Vermentino | Lemon, green apple, crisp, saline | Gulf shrimp or ceviche |
| Dry rosé | Strawberry, watermelon, refreshing | Tex-Mex or patio snacks |
Texas Hill Country, Texas High Plains, or plain Texas on the label tells you the fruit's source.
Wildflower season brings the best weather and scenery before summer heat arrives.
Many Texans consider Tempranillo the state's signature red, and it loves barbecue.
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Take the Wine QuizHeat-loving grapes, especially Tempranillo, Mourvèdre, Tannat, and Rhône-style red blends, plus whites like Viognier, Roussanne, and Vermentino. Many wineries also make wine from Texas High Plains grapes grown farther north.
Yes, and it keeps improving. Texas winemakers have shifted toward grapes suited to the hot climate, such as Tempranillo and Mourvèdre, and the best bottles are balanced and characterful. Quality varies, so taste widely and read labels for grape origin.
Sometimes. Many Hill Country wineries grow estate grapes, but much of their wine uses fruit from the Texas High Plains near Lubbock, where most of the state's grapes are grown. A Texas Hill Country label means at least 85 percent local fruit.
Spring, from March through May, offers wildflowers and comfortable weather. Fall is also pleasant after the summer heat breaks. Summer is very hot, though early summer peach season is popular, and weekends year-round can be busy.
It is the popular nickname for the stretch of U.S. Highway 290 between Fredericksburg and Johnson City, lined with wineries and tasting rooms. It is the busiest wine route in Texas Hill Country, especially on weekends.
Grapes from warm Mediterranean climates do best, including Tempranillo, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Tannat, Aglianico, Viognier, Roussanne, and Vermentino. Disease-resistant hybrids such as Blanc du Bois also grow well in humid parts of the state.
