The New Napa : Texas' Best Kept Secret

Every year, Napa California draws in ~3.5 million tourists on the promise of tasting some of the finest grapes in America. California produces 85% of America's wine (3 out of every 5 bottles purchased in the US hail from Cali). These statistics come at no surprise to any wine lover, so let me divulge a small Texas secret.

Rumor has it...Texas wines have started drawing in a significant number of visitors. Well. NOT A RUMOR. The Texas Hill Country's best kept secret is Fredericksburg and the 290 Wine Trail. Also not a rumor: Texans have started referring to the Texas Hill Country as the New Napa. 

For all you wine lover wanderers: if you're ready to experience a new wine scene, look no further. Fredericksburg pulls in thousands of tourists, most of whom are lured on the weekends by the plethora of wineries available. 

Here are 5 reasons you need to RUN not walk to Texas' favorite wine scene getaway. 

1. Fredericksburg, Texas. The town itself! Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 by German immigrants and have since kept it's German roots alive. German food, German phrases, German festivals (AKA Oktoberfest). You'll come for the wine and stay for the shopping on Main Street. So much shopping. So little time. It's that small-town-cute you'll think was only found in Hallmark movies.

2. Variety. There are over a dozen registered wineries in the Texas Hill Country! (And that number seems to constantly be growing). Sweet wines, red wines, dry wines, sparkling wines, oh my! Whatever your taste buds desire, you'll find it. Each tasting room/winery also has it's unique vibe. They range from classic Italian chateau to a true Texan ranch. 

3. Wine Stomps. The late summer months have been dubbed (unofficially) as wine-stomping season. Many of the wineries along the 290 Wine Trail will host an event where you can stomp grapes whilst sipping on their wines (don't worry - you won't be drinking what's stomped) and listening to live music. 

4. Texas Hospitality. Texans aren't shy about welcoming new faces! All of my tasting experiences have been done by a local wine lover who was happy to share their unique vino story with a smile. Additionally, a couple of wineries actually offer on-site housing, if you'd like to experience living on a winery for a weekend (The Parent Trap comes alive). 

5. New! Hipster wine lovers, rejoice! The Texas wine scene is just starting to take off, so you're ahead of the curve on visiting a new destination. A couple of wineries have been on the scene since the 1990s, but there are constantly new tasting rooms popping up. Each has a unique story to tell and a unique wine to highlight.