Y’all, I have found my new favorite place in Texas and luckily you don’t have to travel far.

My mother visited from California last week, and we wanted to go somewhere that was driving distance but felt like worlds away. I live in downtown Austin so cities didn’t interest us, and we wanted to head to the country. In comes Fredericksburg and Texas Wine Country. My mom and I love wine tasting, small towns, good cuisine… this was going to be our dream trip!

See below the perfect itinerary for a day or two trip to Fredericksburg and the Texas Wine Trail. Just warning you, there will be lots of wine involved.

CONTACT ME TO BOOK YOUR NEXT GETAWAY TO FREDERICKSBURG & TEXAS HILL COUNTRY!

Stop at Hye Market for a Picnic Lunch

Hye Market is not only absolutely darling, but also delicious. It is the perfect stop for a sandwich on the go as you enter the Texas Wine Trail from Austin.

We ordered the Hye Brown Local Veggie (vegetable medley, olive oil + red wine vinegar) with turkey on sourdough and a side of Sweet Potato Salad. The sweet potato salad was smoky with bacon bits, and the sandwich was perfect fuel for the wine tasting day ahead! They also have gluten-free options.

Not wanting to leave so soon? They have plenty of seating including seating areas in the adjoining converted post office.

Located at 10261 W. Hwy. 290, Hye, Texas 78635

Check-In to Hoffman Haus

If you’re looking for the most precious bed and breakfast in Fredericksburg, look no further than Hoffman Haus. It is located in a quiet neighborhood just a block from all of the action of downtown Fredericksburg and is composed of rooms, suites, and small houses. Each room is unique but all have the same comfortable feeling of home with a mixture of new and old. Each room also has a kitchenette with coffee maker, mini-fridge, microwave & tea kettle, as well as free WiFi, cable television and DVD players to enhance your feeling of home. Hoffman Haus is luxury in a bed & breakfast.

We stayed in the Cottonwood Suite, which is a stand-alone cottage and one of the newest additions to Hoffman Haus. We fell in love with the farmhouse style soaking tub, front porch with rocking chairs, the comfiest massive bed, and shabby chic decor. They even delivered vegan chocolate chip cookies at night as they knew I am lactose intolerant!

Rates at Hoffman Haus are $150 to $485 per night, depending if you get a room, a suite or a house.

Located at 608 East Creek Street, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Wine Tasting Experience with Texas Wine Tours

Make your wine tasting experience stress-free and organize a wine tour! We went with Texas Wine Tours, and they made our wine tasting day seamless and enjoyable.

Texas Wine Tours offers weekday specials and competitive rates on the weekends, with all of your tastings included in the price. They will pick you up and drop you off directly from your accommodations, stock the bus up with snacks and water, and offer the best service – so what do you have to lose?

Our guide Lee was an absolute doll and really made the experience. Also, the quality of wineries they chose for us and their relationships there were top notch.

Check out our experience at all of the wineries below!

1st Winery Stop: Compass Rose Cellars

I have been wanting to check out Compass Rose for awhile now, so I was excited to start our wine tasting day here. We cozied up in the tasting room, although there is ample space outside to kick back with a good glass of wine. My favorite was the Cab Franc, but he even gave us an extra two tastes of a Sangiovese-style wine and a Madeira Port-style!

2nd Winery Stop: William Chris Vineyards

William Chris is one of my favorite wineries and a necessary stop on any Texas Hill Country visit. The property is gorgeous with a large grass area and back patio begging to host the perfect wedding or event. The best part though? The wines! Their wines are amongst the absolute best in Texas and always a crowd pleaser. I loved the 2015 Malbec Rosé (one of the best rosés in my opinion) and the 2015 Hunter red wine the best!

3rd Winery Stop: 4.0 Cellars

One thing I loved about 4.0 Cellars is that they have 3 different tasting menus, so there really is something for everyone. You can choose from either Cellar Select (3 dry whites + 3 bold reds), Light & Sweet (Moscatos, Rosés, and Ports), or All Red (6 dry reds). They have a wide selection of wines from Brennan Vineyards, Lost Oak Winery, and McPherson Cellars (all vineyards throughout Texas).

Dinner at Otto’s German Bistro

End your wine tasting day with cocktails and an incredible dinner at a foodie’s paradise, Otto’s German Bistro. This farm-to-table style, upscale, German bistro has an inviting patio and even better menu. Come for their strong cocktail program and sustainable, comforting food, but stay for the ambience and good people you are sure to meet dining around you.

So what should  you order? Start with the Gravlax (gin cured salmon, rösti, dill, pickled red onions, capers, horseradish crème fraiche) and Flammkuchen (flatbread with crème fraiche, gorgonzola, kale, caramelized onions, seasonal greens, bacon lardons, sherry gastrique). For entrees they are known for their Duck Schnitzel (hand-breaded duck breast, spätzle, rotkohl, huckleberry demi-glace, duck cracklins), but I was immediately drawn towards the Petrale Sole (celery root purée, farro, kale). Make sure to save room for dessert and indulge in the “Peanut Butter & Jelly” (flourless chocolate torte with coconut white chocolate ganache, kirsch).

Located at 316 East Austin Street, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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DAY 2

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Grab a Morning Coffee at Java Ranch

Take a nice morning walk into town to grab a cup of joe at Java Ranch. This classic, charming coffee shop is filled with locals and visitors alike looking to ease into their day in the best way.

Located at 114 East Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Picnic Basket Delivered for Breakfast on the Porch at Hoffman Haus

One of the best parts of staying at Hoffman Haus is the freshly cooked breakfast served via picnic basket to your doorstep promptly at 9am each morning. The menu changes daily, but can vary from Mushroom Quiche to French Toast to Eggs Florentine to Blueberry Bake and more.

They were able to accommodate my dietary needs by making my meal dairy-free, complete with a veggie omelet and even a lemon poppyseed muffin! I rarely have the chance to eat pastries on vacation, so this was such a treat.

Shop & Explore Downtown Fredericksburg

The charming, German-inspired town of Fredericksburg could be perused for hours with the numerous quirky and well-curated shops lining Main Street and beyond. Make sure to make a stop into Rustlin’ Rob’s Tasting Place to try a variety of hot sauces, salsas, nut butters, and more. The street is also lined with tasting rooms if you still want to wine taste but don’t want to make the trip out to the vineyards. Over wine? There are plenty of German restaurants and biergartens to satisfy your beer and bratwurst desires. You can even shop around Main Street with a drink in your hand, so take one to-go!

Eat a Tacos Lunch at Tubby’s

For a casual, affordable lunch that doesn’t skimp on quality head to Tubby’s. Tacos range from $3 to $4.50 and is owned by the same owners of Otto’s next door, so you know it will be good.

My two favorites were the Black Bean & Kale (roasted garlic + black bean puree, grilled kale, queso fresco, pickled onion) and the Curry Shrimp (red curry & coconut shrimp, carrot slaw, herb salad, peanuts). Wash it all down with Frosé (frozen rosé – you gotta try it)!

Sit on the patio and enjoy the sunshine. The tacos were so good we went twice in one day!

Located at 318 East Austin Street, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Enjoy the Rest of Your Time in Hill Country

We made a stop at Hye Meadow Winery on our way back to Austin, and I was immediately impressed with the gorgeous grounds filled with activities (cornhole, anyone?) and varied selection of wine. I even joined the wine club at Hye Meadow Winery, because why not?

We perused around the property, sat in the swinging chair, and frolicked amongst the wildflowers.

 

SHOP MY SUITCASE

 

Safe travels y’all!

Chelsea Rose Martin