Best Wineries In and Around Austin

Discover Hill Country Wineries and Locally Produced Austin Wines

Just outside of Austin, the Texas Hill Country is home to more than 60 wineries. So, how do you choose where to stop? We compiled some of our favorites to get you started. Check out Texas Hill Country Wineries for a complete guide to map out your own wine trail road trip.

Austin Wine Scene

Austin’s winery scene is full of options to grab a glass, or a bottle, direct from the makers at unique urban wineries around Austin. These winemakers hit the road and compulsively search for the best grapes around the country, bringing the fruits of their labor back to Austin to craft some excellent wine.

The Austin Winery

Known for its friendly, knowledgeable staff, The Austin Winery strips away the pretense of wine, making it more approachable to drink and enjoy in the city’s only winery tasting room. Admire the gorgeous wine bottle labels, created by artist Nic Mathis, as you settle in and peruse the tasting menu. Start with a glass of Red-Nat, a fizzy red with hints of tart red cherries; the Mourvedre, a red blend with layers of plum, herbs and cedar; or the chilled red Lenoir, with notes of cola, rhubarb, vanilla and white chocolate. Savor each sip between bites of cheeses, meats and fresh bread on an artfully arranged charcuterie board.

Where to Try Hill Country Wines in Austin

Can’t make it out to the Texas Hill Country wineries? Not a problem. You can visit some Austin spots that pour their wines.

Try wine on tap at one of the coolest urban tasting rooms in the country. At its Barton Springs location — which includes a speakeasy wine cave, Airstream and wine bar — Wanderlust Wine Co. delivers a huge selection of wines, including their own house-produced wines and vintages from local vineyards.

The Southern-inspired Jack Allen's Kitchen serves farm-to-table fare alongside Texas wines like Becker's Tempranillo and William Chris' Mourvedre at three Austin locations.

Two local restaurants that earned MICHELIN Green Star and Bib Gourmand recognition curate inventive wine lists. Dai Due offers an extensive selection of Hill Country wines. Emmer & Rye’s list pairs with its farm-to-table fare and includes bottles from Texas makers.

Texas Hill Country Wineries

The Texas Wine Trail is a winding path of sipping and touring. More than 60 wineries proudly pour everything from Pinots to Chardonnays. Rolling landscapes, welcoming estates and acres of grapevines add to the appeal of a leisurely day spent discovering the region. Do call ahead to reserve your spot in the tasting rooms.

Wineries within 30 Minutes of Austin in Driftwood and Dripping Springs

Texas Wine Country is closer than you might think. Venture just beyond Austin to Driftwood and Dripping Springs, where local vintages and inviting places to sip make it easy to add a taste of the Hill Country to your getaway.

• Bell Springs Winery in Dripping Springs is known for its small-production wines sampled in the tasting room, chef-prepared dishes from a food truck and a patio with picture-perfect views.
• With breathtaking hilltop vistas overlooking the vineyard, Driftwood Estate Winery offers a great spot to enjoy a glass or bottle of wine, eat a bite from the bistro and watch the Texas sunset.
• Duchman Family Winery produces its wines, including the critically acclaimed Vermentino, using grapes from the Texas High Plains — sip samples in the lovely Italianate villa.
• Try a variety of wines made with Texas grapes and pair them with small bites in the Driftwood Tasting Room or on the patio at Fall Creek Vineyards, which has been in business for more than 50 years.
• Taste award-winning small-batch wines that are produced from vine to glass on the covered patio at Solaro Estate Vineyards & Winery, where you can also tour the vineyards. 
• Eat a picnic lunch on the patio or have dinner in the Cellar at Hawk’s Shadow Winery after sampling their handcrafted dry white, red and rosé wines during a tasting experience. 
• Salt Lick Cellars offers daily wine tastings of its farm-to-market wines, including Tempranillo, Mourvedre, Syrah and Granache, made with grapes grown on its 35-acre vineyard.

Wineries 30–60 Minutes from Austin in Burnet, Johnson City, Marble Falls and Spicewood

Venture a little farther into the Texas Hill Country, where the journey is part of the appeal. In Burnet, Johnson City, Marble Falls and Spicewood, pair locally produced wines with sweeping landscapes, vineyard strolls, leisurely meals and plenty of reasons to linger.

• Take a vineyard walk at Flat Creek Estate Winery, enjoy a wine flight paired with a meal at the on-site Bistro and stay the night at the Vintner’s Quarter.
• Bring a picnic to the family-run Spicewood Vineyards, where you can stroll the 32-acre vineyard and see how they turn out handcrafted red, white and rosé wines before tasting them.
• See grazing Texas longhorns on the way to Torr Na Lochs Vineyard & Winery, located on a working cattle ranch, then sample wines on the patio overlooking the Colorado River Valley.
• Hidden away down the road from the popular Hamilton Pool Preserve, Westcave Cellars Winery is known for its knowledgeable staff and award-winning wine, including a crisp Sauvignon Blanc.
• The Perissos Vineyard and Winery offers a relaxed tasting of five current-release wines, paired with small plates, in its cozy tasting room or outdoors amid stunning Hill Country views.
• Book an experience to taste whites, rosés and chilled reds made with 100% Texas-grown grapes at Lost Draw in Johnson City and at its new Fredericksburg location.

Wineries Just Over an Hour Away in Fredericksburg, Hye and Stonewall

Extend your outing to Fredericksburg, Hye and Stonewall, where producers showcase the diversity of Texas-grown grapes. Historic farmhouses, underground cellars and barrel tastings add plenty of character to your journey.

• Tour the grand Becker Vineyards winery, which crafts award-winning Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone-style wines and offers tastings in a German stone barn.
• Take a cellar tour at Grape Creek Vineyards’ romantic Tuscan-style villa and sample vintages right from the barrel — sip sparkling wines on the adjacent Heath Sparkling Wines property.
• Inwood Estates Vineyards, a pioneer in Tempranillo growing, takes pride in making its wine from Texas grapes and offers dry reds in their tasting room.
• The sixth-generation, family-run Pedernales Cellars specializes in Spanish and Rhone-style wines and offers tours of its underground wine-making cellar.
• Stop in William Chris Vineyards’ century-old farmhouse and sample wines straight from the barrel during a tour of the winemaking facility.
• Arrange for a tour at family-owned Slate Theory Winery + Vineyards and taste handcrafted wines made with Texas-grown fruit from their vineyards and regional growers. 
• Settle in at a 100-year-old barn to taste wines made at Singing Water Vineyards, where tours take you through the vine-to-barrel-to-glass process.

Sip Safely in Texas Wine Country

As you explore vineyards and tasting rooms in Texas Wine Country, don’t forget to pace yourself. Stay hydrated, enjoy light snacks between sips and space out tastings to fully savor each pour.

For a carefree and safe experience, consider booking a wine tour with companies like Austin Detours or Texas Tipsy Tours that offer round-trip transportation from the Austin Visitor Center. It’s the perfect way to relax, sample boldly and leave the driving to the pros.

Find more Hill Country wineries and vineyards and plan your own wine-focused Hill Country road trip.