Wine Trail Escape

The Ultimate Exploration of Texas’ Wine Region

En Gedi Vineyards & Winery

Did you know that Texas, with more than 500 wineries, is the fifth-largest wine-producing state in the U.S.? Texas is also the site of the first vineyard established in North America by Franciscan priests around 1662. If you are a wine lover, don’t miss the opportunity to visit some of the wineries not far from the heart of Houston, between I-45 and U.S. Highway 290. They offer spectacular views over the state’s beautiful landscape and award-winning wines.

You can visit these wineries any time of the year, but if you want to save, we recommend the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail, the ultimate exploration of Southeast Texas’ wine region! They offer Wine Trail Passport twice a year, March through April and October through November. Ticket prices are $30/individual or $54/couple (plus tax and fees). The Wine Trail Passport ticket purchase includes three 1.5 oz pours of select or featured wines at each participating winery.

Winery hours vary, so check out the individual websites before planning your final route! Mix and match your destinations on the wine trail escape: go by yourself, bring the family, bring the pets, or go with friends! Ticket holders have two months to visit each participating winery during the Wine Trail Passport event. Here is how to cover the trail in three days, consecutive or not.

DAY ONE

• Blue Mule Winery
• Texas Star Winery
• Threshold Vineyards
• Bernhardt Winery

These wineries are approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from Houston, making for the perfect day trip with many options. Start by venturing west to Fayetteville to Blue Mule Winery. Come taste five unique wines made on the premises! Blue Mule says, "Come for the wine, stay for the experiences, and make lasting memories with friends and family." Their calendar is full of a broad spectrum of activities, including dancing to live music, attending a painting class, learning about the art of bread making, or relaxing during a yoga session. Fur babies are allowed on the property but not in the tasting room. Be aware that chickens, donkeys, alpacas, and various animals are on the farm by the tasting room. Notably, you can create your own wine blend at a wine blending class to take home with you!

Then head on over to the northeast and check out Texas Star Winery to enjoy handmade wines in the heart of Bluebonnet Country in Chappell Hill. All of their wine is small-batch made with Texas-inspired ingredients. With Chisholm Cellars Wines, the focus is on high-end, artisan-crafted, and barrel-aged wines. Or try something unique, such as a blueberry wine, a cranberry wine, or a hibiscus flower wine.

Next, make your way over to Threshold Vineyards, located in Navasota. Founded in 2010, Threshold Vineyards crafts Texas wines from fruit grown across Texas, specializing in hybrid grape varieties grown in the Texas Gulf Coast. Enjoy a wine tasting, a tour, and a sunset concert.

Finally, head to Plantersville-based Bernhardt Winery. The small mom-and-pop operation produces approximately 6,000 gallons of wine each year. Settle in at Bernhardt’s Tuscan-style tasting room, which sits atop a beautiful hill overlooking endless hills and valleys, much like Tuscany. The winery carries traditional wine merchandise, along with fine jellies, jams, and sauces.

Next time you’re nearby, plan to stay overnight in Bernhardt’s Loft, the cozy Bed & Breakfast above the winery and enjoy a lawn concert, offered Sunday evenings from mid-April through mid-November. Rest up, hydrate, and save some energy for Day Two!

DAY TWO

• En Gedi Vineyards & Winery
• Messina Hof Winery & Resort
• Perrine Winery

There are three stops on today’s wine exploration. Back on the road, head to En Gedi Vineyards & Winery in Calvert. Taking its inspiration from an oasis located in the Dead Sea, come enjoy the three acres of this vineyard planted with grapes following sustainable farming practices that limit the impact to the environment, and per this winery, produce better tasting grapes. Come find out for yourself by checking out the wine tastings along with a light lunch.  

Next, head to Messina Hof Winery & Resort, the 100-acre estate in Bryan, Texas, of which 42 host the vineyard. Take a tour and sample selections from Messina Hof’s portfolio, or even sign up for one of the vineyard’s special events. Their calendar is packed with cooking classes, wine appreciation classes, food and wine pairing seminars, murder mysteries, and winemaker dinners.

The last stop of the day in College Station is Perrine Winery. They have something for everyone, from smooth, dry reds to light, crisp, dry whites, as well as semi-sweet fruit-infused wines, wine freezes, and dessert wines. Check out the BBQ event, or if you need a place to stay, check out their sponsored Airbnb, a 4-bedroom house with a pool that sleeps eight and is centrally located in College Station. Rest up and make your way to Day Three!

DAY THREE

• West Sandy Creek Winery
• Golden Oak Micro Cellar
• Teysha Vineyard
• Tempe Creek Vineyards & Farms

Ah, Day Three of Texas wine exploration! Four satisfying stops are planned for today. Start your day at West Sandy Creek Winery (WSCW) in Richards, near Huntsville, at this family-owned and operated business. Check out the tasting room, a live music event, or the Sam Houston National Forest nearby. Relax in a cabin located on the 360-acre ranch, which is also home to various animals, including a camel, a zebra, a zebronkey, and more. If you are in need of an alternate place to stay, these cabins include a fully furnished kitchen, big screen TV with premium movie channels, and views of the forest from the back deck as well as a private bridge to a field that is a nice walk up to the winery.

Find your way to Golden Oak Micro Cellar in New Waverly for unique tea-activated wine tasting, a new tasting experience that combines millennial Western Tradition in Wine Culture with millennial Eastern Tradition of Tea Culture. The combination of both the tealeaf activation and wine infusion allows one to appreciate the contrast of the impact of various tea choices in the wine. Founded in 2016, this 13-acre parcel of land is named after the golden oaks that attract bees and migrating birds. It also serves as an excellent spot for stargazing enthusiasts, away from the brights of big Texas cities.

After, head on over to Teysha Vineyard in Huntsville. This vineyard grows wines typical of Southeast Texas, Blanc du Bois and Lenoir, with all other wines served in the tasting room made from fruit from the Texas High Plains.  Located just east of Huntsville, TX, the vineyard and tasting room are tucked among the tall East Texas pine trees off Highway 190 via an easy and scenic drive from I-45.

Finally, as your last and eleventh stop on this marvelous journey, make your way to Livingston for Tempe Creek Vineyards & Farms for a Sunday Funday mimosa or brunch light bites. Come for a tasting, a glass, or even a bottle, along with a charcuterie board with friends. This 23-acre property is also proud to advertise itself as an accessible wedding venue for those wanting a festive and beautiful celebration, so take notes for future reference.

Plan your next trip to check out some of Texas's beautiful landscapes with these wineries and vineyards. Check out the trail map for websites and further details.

Photos: Courtesy of wineries mentioned on this page.