The Hill Country is an American Viticultural Area, or AVA, a wine-growing area designated by U.S. Department ofTreasury The location was designated in 1991 and functions as a tourist center forTexas The grapes grown in this location are usually collected in early summer season due to being not able to make it through the Texas heat. Geographically, the location is identified by its hills, which include limestone and sandstone outcrops, numerous kinds of soil and moderate rains.
The very first vineyard planted in the Texas Hill Country was Fall Creek Vineyards in 1975, according to the winery. However, grapes were very first grown in Texas in 1682, planted by Spanish missionaries near El Paso about a century prior to California.
To identify what is a Texas red wine, there are 4 classifications that a bottle can be identified with. For the AVA label to be noted on the bottle, it should have utilized a minimum of 85% of regional grapes. For a vineyard to utilize its own label, 95% of grapes should have originated from the vineyard. To label the bottle as a Texas red wine needs 75% of the grapes to be from Texas.
A guide to Texas grapes:
Pinot grigio
- White red wine grape
- Typically grayish-blue color
- Wines produced differ in color
Blanc du Bois
- American hybrid mostly grown in Southeast Texas
- Typically utilized to make white table red wine
Trebbiano
- White red wine grape
- Dry
- One of the most commonly planted grapes on the planet
Mustang
- Native to Southern U.S., consisting of Texas
- Red or rosé
Mourv èdre
- Red red wine
- Contains tannins
- High in alcohol
Tempranillo
- Spicy, berry seasoned
- Red red wine grape
- Originated in Spain
- Dry red white wine
Cabernet franc
- Grows finest in South Plains and North Texas
- Red red wine
- Lighter than cabernet sauvignon
Cabernet sauvignon
- Red red wine grape
- Dry
- Originated in France
A noncomprehensive list of wineries in Driftwood, Dripping Springs and South Austin:
Driftwood:
Address: 4001 Elder Hill Road, Driftwood
Daily hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Established: 1998
Address: 13308 FM 150 W., Driftwood
Hours:Mon noon-6 p.m., Tue.-Thu noon-7 p.m., Fri.-Sat noon-8 p.m.,Sun noon-7 p.m., closed Wed.
Established: 2004
Address: 18059-A FM 1826, Driftwood
Hours: Mon-Sat 11 a.m.-7 p.m.,
Sun noon-5 p.m.
Established: 1975
Address: 2825 Lone Man Mountain Road, Driftwood
Hours: day-to-day 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Established: 2010
Dripping Springs:
Address: 3700 Bell Springs Road, Dripping Springs
Hours: Wed.-Sun 11 a.m.-6 p.m.,
closed. Mon.-Tue
Established: 2010
Address: 25711 Hamilton Pool Road, Dripping Springs
Hours: Thu.-Sun 11 a.m.-6 p.m.,
closed Mon.-Wed
Established: 1999
Hawk’s Shadow Estate Winery and Vineyards
Address: 7500 McGregor Lane, Dripping Springs
Hours: Thu.-Sun 11 a.m.-6 p.m.,
closed Mon.-Wed
Established: 2010
Address: 1171 Windy Hills Road, Dripping Springs
Hours:Sat 11 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Sun.-Fri
Established: 2012
Address: 13111 Silver Creek Road, Dripping Springs
Hours:Sun 11 a.m.-5 p.m.,Mon 11 a.m.-5 p.m.,
Thu 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri.-Sat 11 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Tue.-Wed
Established: 2009
Address: 665 W.Hwy 290, Dripping Springs
Hours: day-to-day noon-7 p.m.
Established: 2022
South Austin:
Address: 12345 Pauls Valley Road,Ste 2, Austin
Hours:Fri 1-7 p.m., Sat-Sun noon-6 p.m., closed. Mon.-Thu
Established: 2014
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