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of the best wines in the U.S. In fact, Wine Enthusiast magazine recently as a convent. The deck and lake behind the winery provide a perfect
named Texas Hill Country one of the 10 Best Wine Travel Destnatons setng for a relaxing picnic with a vineyard view, or you can opt for the
in the world, a list that includes locales in Germany, France, Argentna, Vintage House Restaurant, serving cuisine accented by fresh herbs and
Italy and Australia. vegetables from the estate vineyard garden. For an extended stay, the
A number of companies in the area ofer wine tours that can winery’s Manor Haus B&B ofers four individually-themed bungalows
accommodate groups and take care of all the necessary logistcs, or that include a private entrance, living room and kitchenete.
you can put together an itnerary on your own with as few (or as many)
stops as you wish – a great way to spend the day or the weekend f course, wineries aren’t the only thing to do in and around
enjoying the unsurpassed scenery of vineyards, rolling hills and, in late Fredericksburg. There are a number of places and spaces
Spring, acres of wildfowers as far as the eye can see. And let’s not Othat warrant a visit, startng with the square in the center
forget the wine… of town – the Marktplatz, as it’s known – which surrounds one of
the most revered treasures of Fredericksburg, the Vereins Kirche.
ur abbreviated tour begins at Grape Creek Winery & Vineyards, This 80-year-old octagonal building is a metculous recreaton of
whose romantc Villa tastng room and event center is billed as the original structure built soon afer the arrival of the frst German
Oa litle slice of “Tuscany in Texas” – a sentment you’ll quickly setlers in the mid-1800s – the frst public building in town, serving as
embrace as you relax on one of the many terraces, in the shade of tall town hall, school, fort and a church for all denominatons. Marktplatz
oaks overlooking fve estate vineyard blocks that currently produce hosts festvals, concerts and an ice skatng rink in the holiday season,
award-winning Montepulciano, Aglianico and Chenin Blanc. ofering three pavilions (Adelsverein Halle, Ocktoberfest Halle and
The tour contnues at Becker Vineyards, with its impressive Kinder Halle), as well as a playground, gardens and restrooms. And
and imposing main building, a 10,000-square-foot reproducton of a when they’re not being used for one of the numerous local festvals
late 19th-century German stone barn where the winery and tastng or events downtown, the pavilions at Marktplatz can be reserved for
room are housed. The 46-acre estate also includes the Lavender private partes.
Haus recepton hall, an 1,800-square-foot facility available for wine nd speaking of pavilions, let’s not forget that one of the most
dinners, corporate retreats, receptons, weddings and other events famous pavilions in the U.S. is just a stone’s throw down the
involving up to 120 people. The tmber frame vaulted ceiling, natve Aroad from Fredericksburg – the intmate-yet-infamous Hill
cypress walls, wrought iron chandeliers and large limestone freplace Country hamlet of Luckenbach, made famous in the 1977 song by
add to the Texas-meets-Provence-style ambience. For more intmate Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Just two main buildings and a
gatherings there’s the Reserve Wine Library in the barrel cellar, where parking lot down a dirt road, Luckenbach is comprised of a general
groups of up to 20 can gather around the hand-hewn mesquite table store, post ofce, beer joint and 3,000-square-foot, wooden-foored
afer a behind-the-scenes tour of the producton area, sampling wines dance hall. When big names like Jerry Jef Walker, Billie Joe Shaver,
via tank and barrel tastngs and culminatng with a frst-rate wine and Lyle Lovet, Robert Earl Keen and Willie Nelson aren’t packing ‘em
cheese pairing. in at the main hall, you can bet the tny beer joint in the back of the
Pedernales Cellars, owned and operated by the Kuhlken
and Osterberg families, is next. This boutque winery is located in general store is hostng a Picking Circle of local musicians just about
any afernoon or evening. A real once-in-a-lifetme opportunity
Stonewall, just 15 minutes east of Fredericksburg, and its Tastng Room to experience a unique American insttuton – there’s nothing like
features an invitng great room with three diferent tastng statons. Luckenbach anywhere, anyhow, anyway.
The building is fanked by an outdoor wood pato, and the whole
thing sits atop a unique 4,000-square-foot underground winemaking ack downtown you’ll fnd two other unique venues among the
facility that uses natural limestone insulaton and a state-of-the-art German restaurants, beer halls, specialty stores, boutques
geothermal cooling system to maintain an ideal cellar temperature Band galleries that dot Main Street. The frst is Vaudeville, a self-
year-round. Back above ground, the winery’s Reserve Room ofers described “mult-faceted venture” that encompasses an upscale home
small groups a top-ter tastng experience led by a sommelier or wine furnishings store, gallery, restaurant, bistro/gourmet shop and event
professional with a detailed knowledge of wines. Tastngs are limited space that can seat up to 70 or handle cocktail receptons for even
to six people per 50-minute session. larger groups – the food, ambience and hospitality are top-ter.
Nearby, Messina Hof Hill Country Winery & Resort holds its The second is Carol Hicks Bolton Antquités, a vast 14,000-square-
own with a 200-year history of award-winning wines. Although the foot warehouse explosion of antques and collectbles sourced from
winery itself was ofcially established with its frst vintage release in Europe and beyond where you can meander through crooked aisles of
1983, founder Paul Bonarrigo’s winemaking pedigree dates back six one-of-a-kind beds and furniture, French cabinets & curiosites, huge
generatons to Messina, Sicily, and his wife Merrill’s family is from Hof, farm tables, antquarian books, postcards and ephemera, interestng
Germany. The traditon of Messina Hof is refected in the Guest Center, fabrics, upholstery and bed linens, industrial objects, repurposed
where visitors can tour the 19th-century estate home originally built wrought iron and tons more stuf. The thousands of items on exhibit

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