One Of Texas Hill Country's Prettiest Destinations Is A Small Town With Award-Winning Wine

The Texas Hill Country encompasses the Lone Star State's central and southern regions. It's one of the country's best-kept geographic secrets and a road trip is the perfect way to uncover the hidden gems around this destination. Covering large parts of Austin and San Antonio, the Hill Country is characterized by its many caverns, aquifers, and eponymous rolling hills. One of the prettiest destinations in the Hill Country is Dripping Springs, a small town with a population of just under 10,000 whose nickname is the "Gateway to the Hill Country." (And for those whose love burns as hot as the Texas sun, it's referred to as the "Wedding Capital of Texas.") 

Here, you'll find no shortage of things to do — there's breweries, beautiful swimming spots, BBQ, live music and unforgettable award-winning wine. Any upcoming Texas vacation would be incomplete without a visit to the very charming and lively town that is Dripping Springs. A great place to avoid the crowds — the best part is that Dripping Springs is a short drive away from Austin!

Dripping Springs is home to seven wineries, making it an important region in Texas for sommeliers and foodies alike. Viator offers wine tours that bring you to many of the region's best wineries and restaurants for a culinary vacation. One recommended tour is the Hill Country BBQ and Wine Shuttle that leaves from Austin. This half-day adventure fills you up with some of the best barbecue in America and several incredible wines. 

The tour features a round-trip air-conditioned shuttle ride, making sure you don't get trapped in that Texas heat and can sample wines safely without getting behind the wheel. Starting with a hearty lunch at The Salt Lick BBQ, the shuttle then heads to Fall Creek Vineyard, which specializes in chenin blanc, tempranillo, chardonnay, and grenache. The winery has produced several award-winning wines, including its 2021 tempranillo and chardonnay which both won bronze medals in the 2023 TEXSOM Awards.

The final stop on the Hill Country BBQ and Wine Shuttle Tour is Duchman Family Winery. Noting the similarities in climate between Texas and Italy, this winery specializes in Italian grapes. The beautiful estate is shrouded in oak trees, and Duchman offers a variety of different wines to enjoy under them. Four of this winery's vintages appeared in the 2023 TEXSOM Awards, bringing home bronze, silver, and platinum medals. The wines may be award-winning, but the views from the vineyard are just as deserving of a trophy.

The Texas Hill Country is also home to a thriving olive harvesting industry. The Texas Hill Country Olive Co. is a family-owned and operated olive orchard. Visitors can learn how the Italian-style mill plants, harvests, and presses olives and enjoy samples of delicious olive oils and balsamic vinegars produced on site. 

For more fun in the sun, make sure you visit the Hamilton Pool Reserve. This swimming hole in Dripping Springs is fed by Hamilton Creek and runs through limestone, creating an awe-inspiring 50-foot waterfall. For the more adventurous traveler, Pedernales Falls State Park gives visitors the opportunity to go canoeing, kayaking, hiking, and mountain biking.

Lastly, there's no way to visit the Texas Hill Country without enjoying some live music. While Austin is regularly referred to as the live music capital of the world, Dripping Springs holds its own, with nearly two dozen live music venues. In particular, the Mercer Dancehall, only open on weekends, has one of the biggest dancefloors in the region, giving you more than enough space to enjoy some honky tonk, two-stepping, or bluegrass.