Exploring Austin's Hill Country was one of the best decisions we made when visiting friends in…read moreTexas. There was not enough time to go on a wine tour, so I had to figure out which winery to visit. I wasn't familiar with the area and randomly chose Driftwood Estates, which was a surprising highlight of the weekend! Was this real life?! Was I dreaming?! Standing on top of the hill, I was in deep admiration of the panoramic, gorgeous, and breathtaking views! It made me forget about busy city life and I only wanted to appreciate the beauty of nature and all its glory on such a perfect day (while sipping on a glass of wine)! I really did feel like I was in another world - filled with serenity, solitude and relaxation! We did a tasting and enjoyed the reds, which were more on the dry side, but I didn't mind because I prefer dry red wines. I definitely recommend the Sangiovese and Alamo Red. The bar area was a little crowded that day, so we didn't get to interact too much with the staff to learn more about their other wine offerings. There is a store next to the bar area. You can buy cute wine themed souvenirs for family and friends back home. They also have a small cafe - you can get some light bites and head outside, find your perfect cozy spot, and enjoy those breathtaking views! (Caution: There is plenty of parking at the winery, but please be careful and drive slow because of the bumpy gravel road).

As an Austin Tour Guide I take people out to the Hill Country all the time for wine, beer,…read moredistillery tastings, and barbecue. I've got my favorites and I generally stick with them. Occasionally I'll stop into a new (to me) place and see what they have to offer. On a recent trip, the clients requested Driftwood Estate Winery because they had read a review and wanted to try it. Personally, I am not a fan of their wine but I made a reservation for the 6 of them at 11am and we drove out there on a quiet Thursday. There was only one other car in the parking lot. We walked along the path to the main entrance, admiring the views of the Hill Country from their beautiful and expansive patio. When we approached the desk, one of the more enthusiastic women in our group said, "We're here to taste some wine!" An exceedingly unfriendly elderly lady who looked like the most miserable person on the planet, scowled, "You need a reservation! You can't just come here without a reservation!" (Really? And there's only 1 other car in the parking lot?) Everybody was a little surprised by her attitude and there was a brief uncomfortable pause before I stepped in and assured her that the group had a reservation and gave her the name. They were whisked off to a table by another woman as the first woman muttered something unpleasant under her breath. Long story short-- my guests were less than impressed (with the greeting, the tasting room and the wine) and I can assure Driftwood Vineyards that they've lost at least a couple thousand dollars in any future business from my company. If they haven't already noticed, new wineries are thick on the ground in Driftwood/Dripping Springs. Driftwood Estates is a hard pass. My guests enjoy Fall Creek and Bell Springs much much more.

I've passed by this place a couple of times, and since we were glamping in Blanco over the weekend,…read morewe decided to give it a shot. Glad we did! Arrived on a rainy Saturday to a very welcoming bunch. Peggy met us at the door and said to sit wherever and they would come to us. Made our way to a cozy table and Connie came over with bottled water, a tasting menu, and a great smile. She went over options, asked about what we like, and we settled on a nice bottle that we could both drink and enjoy. By then, the owner, Pat, was set up and started playing guitar...he's a pretty good picker...and he sings about as well as I do...but still very entertaining. Great guy to talk with... Peggy did take me on a mini tour of their production facility...would classify this place as a nano winery...small batches done in a not so traditional way...mostly West Coast grapes and made in single batches and aged in carboys. The results speak for themselves...damn good wine at fair prices. Great venue...too bad it was dumping down rain...they have a couple of pergolas out back as well as lots of open seating..next time. When we finally had to go...2.5 hours later, we felt like they were family...very genuine people who love what they do and have a passion about their products.

We had such an amazing time at Pontita! Peggy welcomed our huge bachelorette group with open arms,…read moreand Pat took us through an AMAZING wine tasting. We had the best time and learned so much - thank you so much, Pontita, for this amazing experience!

This spot is one of many wineries in the Hill County, and it's worth a visit if ever in the area…read more Nice wine selection, chill outdoor seating and pleasant staff.

Charming distillery in Wimberley! The staff is friendly and attentive, and they offer a great…read moreselection of curated cocktails, wine, and beer, catering to a variety of tastes!

Comal County is a delightful escape, combining fantastic wines with a laid-back atmosphere…read more Knowledgeable sommelier, make new connections and you'll leave with a newfound appreciation for Texas wines--and maybe a few bottles to take home. Cheers!

Lovely spot in the hill country. This was our second visit. The wines are organic. The sommelier is…read moreknowledgeable. The ambiance is comfortable and inviting. We spent the afternoon doing the wine tasting and went home with a few bottles.

Jodi gave us the absolute best wine tour from start to finish! From the moment she picked us up to…read morethe drop-off, everything was seamless and so much fun. We booked a private tour and had full control of the music, so we were able to jam out and enjoy the ride together. Jodi went above and beyond by providing cold water and a beautiful, delicious charcuterie board during our second stop. All of our tastings were included in the package, and at every winery we visited it felt like we were VIPs. Everyone knew Jodi, and the wine pours started right away when we arrived! She kept us perfectly on schedule while still letting us relax and enjoy the experience. Jodi also doubled as our group photographer and captured some great snapshots from our trip. She truly made our girls trip so memorable and fun. Thank you, Jodi! We love you and will definitely be back!

We loved this spot so much we went back two days in a row. Everything we ordered was great…read more Sitting outside was much nicer than indoors. The tables inside are pretty close together.

This was our second visit to Kai-Simone Winery. My husband did a 6 wine flight tasting (also…read moreavailable in a 4 wine flight), but I decided to give their pear mimosa a try. The Asian pear mimosa was a great balance of homemade pear syrup mixed with moscato wine. It was not super sweet like most traditional mimosas and had a unique flavor to it. My husband enjoyed his flight and our favorite was the semi-dry rose. They have friendly, attentive staff and a beautiful outdoor patio with live music events (check calendar). We are also glad that we could support this veteran owned winery.

We decided to return to Kai Simone as part of a month-long birthday celebration…read more It is still a great place to spend a few hours on a Sunday afternoon. It was really quiet when we arrived so we decided to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Our server was nice and had us all ordering and eating very quickly. We shared the Italian cheese and meat tray and did the wine tastings. The food was delicious and we all had a very relaxing time just talking and laughing and getting away from it all.

If you're in Blanco or just passing through our small town, you HAVE to stop into Esparanza Winery!…read moreIt's a cozy place to grab a great glass (or bottle) of wine and you'll absolutely LOVE chatting with Owner, Judith. She'll provide you with personalized service and will share the history of her winery, vineyard, and event center (Spring Branch). Esparanza Blanco even has some cute gift items and books to "take one, share one" inside. Gift a bottle of wine to friends and family! Give this cute spot a visit!

Friendly and very knowledgeable about the product.. Read…read moreall the reviews before coming in and I must say they are very accurate ..got us some wine to go and a free taste of all other wines. Thank you

As a Californian who frequently visits Napa and Paso Robles, I didn't have the highest expectations…read moregoing into wine tasting at Dry Comal Creek Vineyards, and wow was I entirely wrong. Came in for a tasting Saturday morning with a friend who lives locally and had the most wonderful time! Sheila helped us out and she was so fun to talk to and so knowledgeable, she really made the experience amazing. Other people also stopped by to help and chat and everyone was so so lovely and friendly. I loved the Alegria, Blanc de blanc, and the Riesling. Bummed they can't currently ship to California but will definitely be having our friends bring us a case when they next road trip (and they also gave me hope that shipping to CA will be an option next year). I would be so happy to return on our next trip out; thank you so much Sheila for such a great experience!

All of the employees here are incredibly kind and give great recommendations. They let us try a few…read morewines before deciding on a glass. When we arrived at 1:30 on a Saturday, they had a special for $7 glasses of wine from 12-2. They have a singer named Devin Baize, who was fantastic, playing on the patio. It was the perfect day for sipping wine and patio sitting. We enjoyed two glasses of the Tempranillo.

Had been wanting to try this winery for awhile since it is close to where we vacation on Canyon…read moreLake. The gal that runs it is very sweet and hospital. The inside tasting room is a tad bit shabby and small. We went outside on the deck and they have lovely views but only one side is shaded, the other side has a retractable awning but they did not open it so it was roasting hot. While there we tried their Cabernet Sauvignon and unfortunately it was not memorable. I was going to give this winery a two-star but the views and the staff are sweet, so I bumped it up a star.

Detour and come see 20+ years in the making! The couple that runs the vineyard are the kindest and…read morewarmest souls you'll come across. They're remarkably acknowledgeable of wines, you won't regret it! One of the best stops I've ever made!

We had an amazing time at this little winery. The service was great. Our kids enjoyed playing…read morearound the grounds while we did a couple of tastings. Their Christmas Cuvée? Was delicious. Definitely coming back!

Parking - plenty and a private lot. But a bit off road (lol don't bring a low car unless you get…read morelucky with paved parking). Service - we have been here about 4-5 times, but service has never been too great or too friendly. The bar on the beer side is always pleasant but the tasting bar side always has a bit of a tiny rude vibe - and I don't mention it ever but I'm in the wine industry and we don't see this normally. Also tonight we were asked to move to a different table as they didn't prepare for a Harry Potter event ahead of time just as we settled in after a rough day (and our young pup finally chilled out). It felt we were being pushed out and the other table was by the window/door that was glass so I was cold. My senior mom was cold after we had found a great spot that was warm for her. Live music tonight was also quite off - I wouldn't suggest this place anymore. I'm not sure if in the last year it has gone down hill but it's no longer worth the drive for a mediocre experience. They gave many potential beautiful spaces but they don't utilize them, nor update them, so the vibe is just outdated. No music on the speakers can be heard when there isn't live music. So sorry to not write the best review here but it's honest.