Texas' Most Unique Wine Experience Offers The Ultimate Taste Of Hill Country Wine

It used to be a well-kept secret that Texas Hill Country was an enological hot spot. There are relaxing resorts that combine history and luxury, and there is even a nature trail where you can sip wine and stroll a charming Texas town. It's safe to say the secret is out. You could make multiple trips to the Hill Country over many years and never hit the same spots twice.

Perhaps the crown jewel of the Texas wine scene is Fredericksburg. Starting in the 1970s, this charming little town with its heavy German influence and limestone-rich soil started attracting winegrowers and wineries to the area. Thus began Fredericksburg's journey to become one of the best cities in the U.S. for wine tasting. Today, with all of the experiences Fredericksburg has to offer, it can seem daunting to plan an itinerary. But thanks to the Texas Wine Collective, you can sample a myriad of ever-changing wines from three different established wineries in one spot.

Established in 2010 under the name 4.0 Cellars, three winemakers (Pat Brennan of Brennan Vineyards, Gene Estes of Lost Oak Winery, and Kim McPherson of McPherson Cellars) joined forces to create a truly distinctive estate on the famous 290 Wine Trail just outside of Fredericksburg. Each winery brings its own fascinating history and unique contribution to the table.

Brennan Vineyards has been growing wine in Comanche, Texas, since 2001 and remains committed to authenticity and transparency. If it says Texas wine on the bottle, it's totally grown and produced in Texas. Lost Oak Winery unofficially started back in the 1950s when Gene Estes was actually making wine in his bathtub in Abilene (which was a dry town). After spending decades perfecting his winemaking techniques, Lost Oak Winery now has three locations in Texas, including the Fredericksburg location that's part of the Texas Wine Collective. McPherson Cellars was created in the Texas High Plains region in Lubbock as an homage to the founder's father. Dr. Clinton "Doc" McPherson is considered one of the pioneers of the modern wine industry in Texas due to his viticultural research at Texas Tech University. The most recent addition to the collective is Hye Cider Company, which specializes in craft cyser: a smooth blend of cider and mead. So for visitors who are a little fatigued by all the wineries, a nice cyser could be a welcome change.

A visit to Texas Wine Collective offers a myriad of experiences to choose from. Armed with years of hospitality experience and a library of winemaking knowledge, the friendly and helpful staff are there to guide you through each tasting to ensure you get the most out of each experience.

For just $25 per person for groups up to six, the Signature Tasting will give you an offering of three tasting menus featuring the currently available wines, with five wines on each menu. Although walk-ins are welcome, reservations are a good idea. If you happen to be visiting on a Saturday, you can make a reservation for the Elevated Tasting Experience at $55 per person. Spend a magical hour in the Wine Club Lounge sampling delicious pairings of Texas wines and cheeses, and then finish things off with a complimentary glass of wine in a signature wine glass that's yours to keep. For chocolate lovers, it's hard to go wrong with the Chocolate and Wine Pairing. Available daily, you and your friends can sample local chocolate with Texas wine in the stately Board Room for just $35 per person. Cider fans can sample five different ciders from Hye Cider Company for $25 per person. New and exciting food and wine pairing events pop up on the schedule all the time (did someone say Girl Scout Cookie and Wine Pairing?), so be sure to check the Texas Wine Collective website before your visit.