The Texas Hill Country is home to more than 100 wineries and vineyards, and Fredericksburg is the epicenter of it all. With more than 50 wineries, vineyards and tasting rooms located in Fredericksburg’s Gillespie County –– and dozens more located within an hour or two –– this charming German town is bursting with wines to sip on your next trip. If you’re wanting to sample the fruits of Fredericksburg, put these four wineries at the top of your list this fall.

Mauri Elbel sips a crisp white wine at Augusta Vin. Photo by Travis Albrecht

Kalasi Cellars

Kalasi Cellars’ tasting room has only been open for one year, but owners Greg and Nikhila Narra Davis have a farming history that runs much deeper. Five generations ago, Nikhila’s family began farming in India, cultivating crops of cocoa, coconuts, rice and turmeric. Today, this husband and wife duo continues to honor their family farming heritage by growing wine grapes and making 100 percent estate-grown and produced wine in Texas –– Kalasi Cellars solely utilizes estate grown grapes from their vineyards in the Texas High Plains as well as its tasting room’s onsite vineyard in Fredericksburg. Greg and Nikhila are truly doing some amazing things with Texas wine –– a few of our favorites included the Malvasia Bianca, and the 2017 Merlot and Tannat. If you’re hungry, order Indian snacks like savory vegetarian samosas or the tikka masala naan pizza to pair with your sips. More at https://www.kalasicellars.com/.

Mauri Elbel tries an up-and-coming blend at Kalasi. Photo by Travis Albrecht

Augusta Vin

Swirling a glass of wine in the early autumn breeze while gazing out on tidy rows of grapevines stretching as far as the eye can see, it’s hard to remember you’re just 90 minutes outside of Austin and not clinking glasses at a famous Napa winery. Reserve a 1-hour seated tasting ($20-$25 per tasting, which includes 1 ounce pours of four or five wines) while soaking in the stunning Hill Country panoramas. My favorite white was the Celeste Melange, a refreshingly crisp wine with notes of white pear, green apple and spice which was aptly described to us as a “patio pounder” for its easy sip-ability on hot, sunny days. We were also big fans of the Estate Malbec Reserve and we purchased a bottle of Giovanna Rosso to take home –– an Italian blend of Sangiovese, Aglianico and Montepulciano that was full, earthy and surprisingly smooth. More at https://augustavin.com/.

Augusta Vin offers guests 1-hour seated tasting reservations, ranging from $20 to $25 per tasting. Photo by Mauri Elbel

Signor Vineyards

Signor Vineyards is another beautiful Fredericksburg spot to stop and sip wine, nibble on a charcuterie board and wander around the impeccably landscaped French country gardens. Their estate vineyard in Fredericksburg is home to seven varietals –– Tannat, Montepulciano, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre, Tempranillo and Sangiovese –– planted across 17 acres. You can sample a tasting of four wines for $20, and a charcuterie board large enough to share is $30. More at https://www.signorvineyards.com/.

Sip wine on the picturesque grounds of Signor Vineyards. Photo by Tisha Shuffield

Heath Sparkling Wines

If you like bubbles, you must visit Heath Sparkling Wines –– the first winery in Texas dedicated exclusively to making sparkling wines. My favorite was the Adoration –– a Pinot Noir rose with vibrant fruit aromas like pomegranate and strawberry. But to be honest, all four sparking wines we tasted were delicious. We were so impressed with the sparkling wines that we purchased a membership and are already looking forward to our first shipment next month. More at https://www.heathsparkling.com/.

Heath Sparkling Wines is the first winery in Texas dedicated to exclusively making sparkling wines. Contributed by Heath Sparkling Wines

Be sure to check out my Fredericksburg feature coming out in October for more on these wineries, plus suggestions for other things to do while in town.