By Kate McDermott
The West Coast isn’t the only wine game in town! The Southeast Texas wine region is home to 11 charming wineries and vineyards, each with its own unique flair. Together, they make up the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail, a must-visit destination for any wine lover.
Gather your friends and plan a road trip through the scenic Texas countryside with a glass at every stop!
Pro tip: Purchase a Wine Trail Passport to get three 1.5-oz pours at every winery on the trail! Passport tickets are just $30, and they’re available each spring and fall.Â
Fayetteville to Plantersville
About halfway between Austin and Houston, Fayetteville’s Blue Mule Winery combines a welcoming vineyard with a family farm. Enjoy a tasting of five wines like their Summer Days Dry Viognier to Paint the Town Red – a pinot noir with hints of black cherry. Or cool off with one of their refreshing frozen wine slushes.Â
There’s more to do here than sample the wines. Tour the grounds, feed the donkeys, pet the alpacas, and watch the 60+ chickens cluck and preen. And check their social media for special events like trivia, vendor markets, and music around the fire pits.Â
Texas Star Winery in Chappell Hill focuses on small-batch production and Texas-inspired flavors. Try the Prickly Pear Cactus wine, made with 100% prickly pear fruit, for a Southwestern treat. Or, sample the Wild Mustang wine made from the hardy mustang grapes that grow wild across Texas. Tastings include five wines of your choice, including white, red, and fruit options.
With plenty of shade and live music on the spacious deck, there’s no wrong time to visit. But mid-March to mid-April is a particularly pretty season when the bluebonnets are in full bloom.
Family-owned and operated Threshold Vineyards was once a Christmas tree farm. But they traded in the pine trees for rows of blanc du bois grapes. Their award-winning wines, including the 2022 Viognier and 2022 Blanc du Bois, are a Wine Trail highlight. Sample three reds or whites with a wine flight, or dive deeper into each bottle with a Guided Wine Tasting. Be sure to explore the vineyard and learn more about the operations (including a peek into the cellar) with the Wine & Vine Tour.Â
With lawn games, board games, and beautiful tree-lined views, this is a place to relax. Grab an Adirondack chair and let the afternoon slip away over a frozen sangria.Â
At Bernhardt Winery in Plantersville, try a wide spectrum of wines from their bright Blanc du Bois Estate to their rich Port Reserve. Taste your choice of five dry and sweet wines with the Classic Wine Tasting, or take a Patio Flight out to the breezy terrace for self-guided sips. Groups of 10 to 20 can also book a Private Tour & Tasting for a VIP experience!Â
Turn your visit into a weekend getaway at the Tuscan-style bed & breakfast on the property (wine and continental breakfast included!). The winery hosts an Artisan Market on select Saturdays with handmade goods like jewelry, woodcrafts, and pottery. Enjoy frequent concerts from the outdoor stage overlooking the shady lawn.
College Station to Calvert
Perrine Winery in College Station has won over 80 medals around the country for its crisp whites, big reds, and creative fruit wines. Visit their cozy, unfussy tasting room to sample a flight and chat with owners Rick and Beth about all things vino.Â
Look for familiar favorites like their zesty pinot noir or lightly oaked chardonnay, plus some surprises. The white blend Zombie Walk is made with coconut and natural fruit—like a wine piña colada. Check their events page for fun, like the monthly wine and barbecue every third Saturday. Sausage and brisket pair beautifully with a rich red!
Once a one-acre experiment, Messina Hof Winery & Resort is now one of the largest producers of 100% Texas wines and the most award-winning winery in the state. Visit their original location in Bryan, complete with a tasting room, onsite farm-to-table restaurant, and luxurious B&B.Â
On their Public Tour, you can explore the vineyard, production spaces, and barrel room while sipping award-winning wines like their full-bodied Paolo Tempranillo. Or try the Cellar Tour for an in-depth look at the wine-making process and taste wine directly from the barrel. At The Vintage House Restaurant, enjoy upscale dining with a wine focus. Think of a bacon-wrapped filet with a cabernet sauvignon demi-glace. Yum!
Set among the charming shops of historic Calvert, Texas, the tasting room at En Gedi Vineyards & Winery is a perfect rest from a day of small-town exploration. Inside, you’ll find rustic plaster walls and a warm welcome. Sample the Texas Tornado, a blanc du bois infused with jalapeño, or their full-bodied Port Sullivan dessert wine. A tasting comes with five options, so feel free to mix and match!Â
Richards to Livingston
On the edge of Sam Houston National Forest in Richards, Texas, West Sandy Creek Winery is a sprawling 360-acre ranch with 15 acres of planted grapes. Visit the tasting bar to sample six top wines, or choose a flight of four dry reds or sweet whites. Their award-winning Blanc du Bois Dry Estate Wine and Bounty Land Crossings red blend are stand-outs.Â
The large paved patio buzzes with live music most weekends, and their bingo nights are always a hit. Purchase carrots to feed the animals, including a white dromedary camel, rescue horses, donkeys, and a zebronkey (donkey/zebra mix). Love it here? Extend your stay in a luxurious log cabin with a private deck for relaxing evenings.
Named for the golden oak trees that dot the property, Golden Oak Micro Cellar in New Waverly is a 13-acre small-batch winery and countryside retreat. Choose four wines from their dry whites, dry reds, and sweets for a tasting under the sprawling canopies. Award-winners include Setarosa RosĂ© with stone fruit and berry flavors and a medium-bodied Montepulciano with fresh cherry and plum. Snack on a meat and cheese plate while you sip!Â
Wine club members enjoy exclusive perks like game nights and wine pick-up parties. And everyone is welcome to wine brunches and craft days in the homey tasting room.
Get a taste of two distinct Texas wine regions at Teysha Vineyard in Huntsville. They create a diverse selection using their own estate-grown blanc du bois and lenoir, as well as viognier, tempranillo, pinot noir, and more from the Texas High Plains. Try reds, whites, and sparklings like the Frizzante Pink GewĂĽrztraminer with hints of tropical fruit.Â
Sit inside the spacious wood-lined tasting room, or bring your flight out to the wrap-around deck, where you can sip overlooking the vines and East Texas pine trees.
Wine is seriously fun at Tempe Creek Vineyards & Farms in Livingston. This family-owned business combines a boutique tasting room, event venue, vineyard, and working farm on 23 creekside acres.Â
Fans of sweeter wines will love Grandpa’s Sipping Wine, a moscato with flavors of pineapple, peach, and tropical fruit. With a glass in one hand, the other will be free to pet the ranch’s longhorns! Plan a visit during one of their fun events like cupcake and wine pairings, Sunday Funday with light brunch and mimosas, or the Festival of Dionysus Fruit & Wine Pairing to celebrate spring.
