if you told someone you were going to wine country, they’d probably assume you meant napa or sonoma. little do they know that one of texas’ best kept secrets is buried in the hill country, fredericksburg. texas wine country.
C gifted me a fredericksburg weekend trip last christmas which was such a thoughtful gift since i had never been & was DYING to go. as many times as i’ve been to san antonio (& as much as i love wine), you’d think this wouldn’t have been my first visit.
i knew absolutely nothing about what to do, where to eat or how to tackle the dozens of wineries, and was conveniently in charge of planning our weekend. thank goodness i can always rely on y’all for any and all recommendations. if you find yourself in the same situation (or if your a TX wine country veteran and need some new places to try), worry no more! i’ve got your back. let’s get into it!
FREDERICKSBURG WEEKEND GUIDE
WHERE TO STAY
we had the hardest time finding a place to stay, and it wasn’t because of a lack of options. it was the exact opposite. there is an abundance of great airbnbs, VRBOS, B&Bs, and hotels in the fredericksburg area. we stayed at the Gladheart Henley house about 5 minutes outside of town. it’s the perfect tiny home for two! complete with hot tub AND firepit!
VINEYARDS & WINERIES
after talking to a bunch of friends who have been to fredericksburg, i’ve learned there’s really two ways to go about tackling the wineries.
1. schedule a wine bus tour – i didn’t look into this option much, but it seems like you’ll knock out A LOT of wineries during your tour. you’re also on a timed schedule.
2. go at your own pace – make reservations at your top winery picks and take your sweet time to enjoy what each has to offer.
we visited five wineries over the course of two and a half days and felt that we were plenty busy, but to each their own!
A NOTE ON VINEYARD TOURS: this may just be my own opinion, so take it with a grain of salt, but once you’ve been on one vineyard tour you’ve been on them all. needless to say, we didn’t waste any time (or money) on seeing the vineyards.
baron’s creek vineyards – our first stop and one of my favorites! we made tasting reservations and then each got an extra glass to sip on as we walked around the gorgeous property. BONUS: you can actually stay in the baron’s creek villas
safari winery – our second tasting stop. if you like sweeter wines, i think you’ll love safari winery! grab a glass upon entry and head to the bar for a tasting or a glass to enjoy out on the patio.
signor vineyards – another personal favorite! you know i’m a sucker for a cute aesthetic and signor checks all the boxes. we didn’t make a reservation in time and had a bit of a wait (it was fairly busy the weekend we went), but ended up getting a perfect little table for two on the porch of joanna’s market. we bought a bottle of ice cold pinot gris and enjoyed the views. – we will definitely be back!
grape creek vineyard – one of the best tastings we had all weekend! probably due to the fantastic wine & our insanely knowledgeable sommelier. the vineyard views are also stunning! BONUS: if you love sparkling wines, be sure to visit their sister winery, Heath Sparkling Wines, on the same property.
fat ass winery – i’ll keep it simple: skip the wine and go straight for the frozen sangria. fat ass is also a bachelorette hotspot, so steer clear if you want to avoid that vibe.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- perdenalas cellars – we had the tempranillo with our dinner at cabernet grill. delicious.
- pontotoc vineyard – the sangria was strongly recommended
- becker vineyards
- elk store winery & distillery
- garrison brothers distillery – highly recommended bourbon distillery
- aldstadt brewery
WHERE TO EAT
cabernet grill – we were recommended this steakhouse more times that i can count, so we splurged on dinner one night and it did NOT disappoint! we went all out from wine to dessert and everything was FANTASTIC. – PRO TIP: make reservations as far in advance as possible.
vaudeville – a luxury retail shop on the ground floor and the chicest little bistro in the basement. we stopped in for lunch one afternoon and had the yummiest sandwiches. be sure to give into that sweet tooth and try one of their “legendary cookies,” you won’t be sorry!
sunset grill – the perfect hole in the wall breakfast spot. be prepared to wait if you don’t get there early, but if you have a party of 2-3 and get the chance to sit at the bar, consider it! and i don’t mean a bar for drinks but the bar where the all the food comes out of the kitchen. you’ll be right in the middle of the hustle & bustle of a busy diner and still get 5 star service. – 10/10 recommend the banana french toast and any of the benedicts.
altdorf biergarten – stopped in for lunch and a beer on our way into town. they have a beautiful patio and porch for sunny days and an endless list of beer or wine if you haven’t had enough. 😉
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- emma & ollie – highly recommended brunch spot (closed on sundays)
- stouts at grape creek winery
- crossroads steakhouse
WHAT TO DO
downtown fredericksburg – main street is lined with dozens of shops, restaurants and wine bars. a perfect way to walk off some wine or work up an appetite for more. i swear we walked the length of main street at least 6 times! LOL
hike enchanted rock – if you decide you wanna work on your fitness, head outside of town to enchanted rock! be sure to reserve your arrival block online prior to going.
wildseed wildflower farm – the nation’s largest wildflower farm…need i say more?! they also grow their own vineyard and produce their own wine.
lost maples national park
nimitz musuem
fredericksburg trade days
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