Fredericksburg, Texas ~ The New Napa

Hello my fellow “locked down” travelers! I’m sorry it’s been so long since I’ve posted. The virus has sparked a variety of personal changes that required my time and attention. Most dramatically, a move from the chill of Minnesota to the warmth of Texas. Personal changes coupled with the obvious travel restrictions in and out of the country have limited my storylines. Hence, my blogging sabbatical. But at a certain point, to ensure sanity, one just needs to get out! So, rather than my typical international flights driven primarily by my work, I took to my car. A tourist at home if you will, and it’s been magical!

During the course of my move to Texas, I drove through the quaint town of Fredericksburg, Texas.  The city sign got my attention because my father’s name was Frederick and our last name has “burg” in it.  So, as I whizzed past the sign I thought to myself, “it’s DadsBurg” and it’s so cute! My schedule didn’t permit a stop but as I drove down main street and saw the shops, dining and people actually out and about, I knew I had to go back and explore.  (Bud picture is a special reference to my dad. He loved the King of Beers and this truck was waiting for me right after the sign! “Are you here dad?” In spirit for sure!)

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A few months later, I spontaneously booked a short trip back and I can’t stop talking about it with my friends and family. What I didn’t realize until just days before I left was, Fredericksburg is in the Hill Country of Texas and is the “hub” of what is considered the New Napa in the United States.  For my international readers, this is not just Texas wine country, it’s a region that is beginning to produce award winning wines with over 70 (yes SEVENTY) wineries.  

Upon my arrival, I checked into my hotel (next post) and I booked a wine tour with Creek Street Wine Tours and was greeted by Steven who picked me up at my hotel. I really like his approach to his tours in that, his first stop on your tour will help to define where you will go next to ensure that you will like what you taste on your next stop. That is, if you are in a group tour with strangers and this is what I did.  Having been to Napa a few times myself, I knew, by the end of the tour, they won’t be strangers anymore!  (Right Noah and Tina?) You can certainly hire his team to customize a tour if you know where you want to go.

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At our first stop I asked Steven how this region came to be the “New Napa”.  About 30 years ago, during some difficult farming years, the state of Texas recognized that the region’s soil and climate would be good for grape growing and offered “loans” to farmers to plant grapes.  If they actually did plant the grapes and began a vineyard, they would not have to pay the loan back over a period of years. Fast forward to today, over 70 vineyards are sprinkled across the region with the primary “strip” being HWY 290.

I have to be honest, having been to Napa many times and to vineyards in Italy, France and Spain my expectations where not very high. While I'm not good at the “wine talk” like my new friend Noah, I know what I like and have swished a few world class grapes in my day. So, I was secretly thinking, “Texas wine? Really?” Well...These Texans sure set me straight!

Rather than cover every winery I visited I’d like to share the two MUST GOs that I discovered on this, my first of many, future trips to Fredericksburg!  (Below, order does not imply importance or priority)

4.0 Cellars

The interesting thing about this winery is it’s actually 3 different wineries in one. Brennan Vineyards, McPherson Cellars and Lost Oak Winery. I did the mixed flight that included reds, whites and sparkling wines from all 3 wineries. Honestly, there was NOTHING in my flight I didn’t just like, but thought, WOW. The Holiday Red Blend is really special and sells out yearly. 

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Bingham Family Vineyards

I loved this tasting room and the detail our hostess shared regarding the vineyard history, the family and the wines themselves. I fell in love with three specific wines here. The award winning red blend named Dirt Farmer, the white blend named Cloudburst and the High Plains Sunset Rose.

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The wine country alone is worth a visit to Fredericksburg but there is sooo much more to the region and the town.  Up next, my accommodations, downtown “DadsBurg” and the Enchanted Rock.