Texas is the home of longhorn steers and 10-gallon hats, but it’s also home to a flourishing wine scene that’s gaining national and international recognition.
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By Dave Nershi, CSW
Texas Hill Country, in central Texas, nestled between Austin and San Antonio, boasts more than 100 wineries scattered across limestone hills and pastoral landscapes. The region offers wines that are as bold and inviting as the people who craft them. From Italian varietals nurtured in the High Plains to creative blends made with innovative hybrid grapes, Hill Country winemakers are proving that Texas wine is no longer a curiosity—it’s a destination.
On a recent trip, using Austin as our home base, we visited three standout wineries that showcase the region's diversity and charm. Each is located in the Texas Hill Country AVA, the third-largest in the country. The AVA encompasses nine million acres.
Carter Creek Winery Resort and Spa – Where Innovation Meets Elegance
Our first stop was Carter Creek Winery, where winemaker Jon McPherson leads the charge not only here, but also at South Coast Winery in Temecula, California. (Fun fact: Jon will be a panelist at the upcoming International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association conference.)
Tasting room manager Katie welcomed us with a refreshing Texas High Plains Brut and a sparkling Tempranillo rosé. The Brut has a touch of fruitiness and is 85% Chenin Blanc with smaller amounts of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.
Among the whites, the smooth 2023 Roussanne is a classic Texas favorite, but it was the 2023 Chenin Blanc—with lively citrus and green fruit notes—that stole the show for me.
A fascinating side-by-side tasting of Sangiovese blends (one from Temecula, one from Carter Creek) showcased how terroir influences style. Carter Creek’s flagship red, Maverick, impressed with crushed cherry and plum. Like many of the wines in the region, the grapes are grown in the Texas High Plains AVA. Mourvedre and Carignan share the spotlight at 27% each, with Syrah, Cinsaut, and Counoise making this blend dance with red and black fruit and leather and smoke accents.
As we wrapped up, GM Derek Stutz dropped in—and after a brief chat, gave Katie the nod to pour a limited gem: the 2023 Estate Red. Made from two disease-resistant hybrids, Errante Noir and Paseante Noir, the wine evoked bold, deep flavors reminiscent of Petite Sirah and Zinfandel. Carter Creek was among the first to plant these vines, and the result was remarkable.
Driftwood Estate Winery – Hilltop Hospitality with a View
Driftwood Estate Winery proved to be warm and welcoming. Family-run and veteran-owned since its founding in 1998, the winery sits on a bluff with sweeping views of its 18-acre estate vineyard.
I first discovered Driftwood back in 2011 while ordering wine for a board dinner in Austin. The Moonshine Grill restaurant had a nice assortment from the Lone Star State. That bottle of Longhorn Red changed my perspective on Texas wine, and tasting the 2019 vintage on this trip was a full-circle moment. This Syrah and Cabernet Franc blend remains smooth and easy to love.
Other standouts included the Cuvee Blanc—a refreshing blend of Trebbiano, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and Viognier—and the bold 2019 Newsom Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon with notes of cherry, vanilla, and baking spice. Newsome Vineyards is a standout grower in the Texas High Plains. Nineteen grape varieties are grown, and the vineyard supplies grapes to more than 10 top Texas wineries.
While Longhorn holds sentimental value, we couldn’t leave without the 2019 Sangiovese, a full-bodied delight brimming with dark cherry, plum, and herbal accents, finishing silky smooth.
Driftwood is ideal for lounging under shade trees, wine glass in hand, charcuterie on the side, and the quiet magic of Hill Country all around.
Duchman Family Winery – A Tuscan Escape in the Lone Star State
No trip to Hill Country is complete without a visit to Duchman Family Winery, one of Texas’s top wine destinations and certainly one of the prettiest. With its Tuscan-style tasting room and picturesque grounds, it’s a place that feels like a European escape—yet every wine is 100% Texan.
GM Tommy Wellford curated a superb tasting for us featuring grapes sourced from the Texas High Plains AVA, ideal for Italian varietals thanks to its elevation and climate. Their top-seller, Vermentino, delivered crisp lemon and lime—perfect on a sizzling hot Texas day.
We tasted layered expressions of Rhone grapes, including a 2023 Viognier and stainless steel-aged Roussanne. Texas is on the way to becoming one of the largest producers of Roussanne outside France. Roussanne can be complex and is also heat-tolerant, which is important in this sun-drenched state.
Their 2023 rosé, a blend of Dolcetto and Montepulciano, is summer in a glass. The light-bodied Sangiovese felt tailor-made for the season, while the 2019 Montepulciano, with blackberry, plum, and a hint of pepper, made it clear why it’s a multi-award winner.
My personal favorite? The bold and beautifully structured 2018 Aglianico, offering dark cherry, cooked fruit, and dried herbs—a wine that lingers long after the last sip.
Final Thoughts
We started our Texas getaway with blues at Antone’s in Austin with Eddie 9 Volt, and we continued rocking in Texas Hill Country – a thriving wine region with passionate winemakers, bold varietals, and unforgettable hospitality. From hybrid reds at Carter Creek to hilltop views at Driftwood and Italian elegance at Duchman, this journey captured the unbridled spirit driving the Texas climb to wine excellence.
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