6 Best Wine-Country Towns In Texas

Texas has become one of the nation’s most active wine-producing regions, with vineyards stretching from its central Hill Country to the High Plains far out west. Dozens of small towns across the state now anchor a variety of wine trails, tasting rooms, and festivals celebrating regional varietals suited to Texas' soil and climate.

From the limestone-laden hills of Fredericksburg to the flat expanses around Brownfield, each town below contributes to the Lone Star State’s growing viticultural scene as well as its already longstanding rural heritage.

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg is perhaps the most well-known Texan wine town, with more than 60 different wineries and dozens more tasting rooms spread across the town and along the Wine Road 290 (on Highway 290). Barons Creek Vineyards, Grape Creek Vineyards, and Pontotoc Vineyard Weingarten are among the region’s most established producers, drawing visitors for tastings paired with idyllic Hill Country views. The town’s calendar is also filled with wine-centered festivals, including the popular Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival held each October.

Founded by German settlers in 1846, the town retains its Old World influence through its preserved stone buildings and traditional cuisine, mainly along Main Street, where many of said tasting rooms, wine stores, and wine bars can also be accessed. Beyond the vineyards, the National Museum of the Pacific War and nearby Enchanted Rock State Natural Area round out the area’s cultural and outdoor draws.

A short drive from both San Antonio and Austin, Fredericksburg is a top choice for wine enthusiasts and non-drinkers alike, with its mix of grape-themed and historic attractions, making it a truly standout destination.

Valley Mills

Valley Mills sits along the Bosque River in central Texas and has recently gained attention for its small but growing wine scene. The town is surrounded by an ocean of ranchland and rolling hills that create favorable conditions for grape cultivation. It also represents the quieter side of Texas winemaking, where small-scale producers exemplify the state's already well-known laid-back vibe. With that, the aptly named Valley Mills Vineyards, just outside town, produces wines from estate-grown varietals such as Tempranillo and Mourvèdre, drawing visitors for tastings in its deeply rural setting.

While wine is the main draw, the area also attracts travelers interested in its quiet countryside and proximity to the scenic drives that link Waco, Clifton, and Crawford. Moreover, the town’s cozy downtown area includes a handful of locally owned shops and cafes housed in an assortment of picturesque early 20th-century buildings, maintaining its agricultural roots while embracing its newer identity as another great Hill Country wine stop.

Johnson City

Johnson City lies at the crossroads of Texas's growing wine belt, offering both a rustic atmosphere and easy access to dozens of nearby vineyards. The town serves as the eastern gateway to the Wine Road 290, with wineries such as Lost Draw, Carter Creek, Ron Yates, and Westcave Cellars Winery & Brewery, drawing visitors for tastings with the surrounding forest-covered hills acting as the scenery.

Another hotspot to grab a drink in town is Pecan Street Brewing, a sizable spot downtown that serves food along with its rotating selection of locally made beers on tap. Johnson City is also famous for carrying strong historical ties, being the hometown of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The LBJ National Historical Park and the Johnson Settlement give more context to the area’s political legacy as well as a look into one of its most famous ranches.

Brownfield

Brownfield can be found on the high plains southwest of Lubbock and serves as a key center for grape growing in the Texas High Plains AVA, which actually supplies most of the state’s wine grapes (up to 85%). The elevation, steady wind, and wide temperature swings between day and night create an optimal setting that has made this small, out-of-the-way city such an important spot for the state's overall production.

Local producers, including Reddy Vineyards, Oswald Vineyard, and The Triple D Winery and Event Center, highlight how the plains’ sandy loam soil contributes to what are often described as concentrated flavors and consistent yields.

While the town itself remains agricultural at its core, the surrounding vineyards have given rise to tasting rooms and small festivals that celebrate regional viticulture, although the bulk of Brownfield’s wineries are less focused on tourism and more on production, supplying grapes to other wineries in the Hill Country and West Texas labels alike.

Hye

Hye, a tiny community near both Johnson City and Fredericksburg, plays a key role in the Texas "wine corridor." Though its population is quite small, the surrounding landscape is dotted with several respected wineries that have helped shape the region’s reputation for quality winemaking. The area’s rocky soils and steady sunlight make it particularly suitable for Mediterranean-style varietals like Mourvèdre and Viognier.

William Chris Vineyards, for one, is among the state's pioneering estate wineries, based locally and renowned for producing wines from 100% Texas-grown fruit. Nearby Hye Meadow Winery and nearby Coordinates Vineyards each add more to the town’s reputation, with tastings set among stands of oak trees and open farm fields.

Hye is also quite historic, including a longstanding post office once visited by President Lyndon B. Johnson to personally swear in the Postmaster General in 1965.

Burnet

Burnet, surrounded by lakes, granite outcrops, and a handful of emerging wineries, is just as scenic as it is famous for its vineyards. The dry climate and rocky soils suit varietals like Tempranillo, Sangiovese, and Viognier, which are produced at destinations such as Torr Na Lochs, known for its lofty hilltop tasting room overlooking Inks Lake. Perissos Vineyard and Winery and Uplift Vineyard are two more recommendations, all within a brief drive from each other, making it easy to do a self-guided tour should you wish to hit up multiple vineyards.

Visitors often pair winery tours with outdoor excursions to nearby Inks Lake State Park and Longhorn Cavern State Park, or a stop on the shores of Lake Buchanan, one of the biggest fresh bodies of water in the state, popular for its fishing and boating scenes.

The Lone Star State's Emerging Wine Scene

Each town above, from Fredericksburg’s established estates to Brownfield’s more low-key yet highly productive vineyards, displays just how Texas' diverse terrain, climate, and cultures all shape the state’s wines. Together, these communities show that winemaking in the Lone Star State is rooted in both tradition and experimentation, supported by adaptive growers and the region's sizable population.

Whether visiting for tastings or for the many other attractions to be found here, you too can trace your own adventure across this expanding landscape of towns known for their wines.