We see many wine enthusiasts looking for wineries near San Antonio so thought we’d put together a day-long outing to hit two fabulous wineries where you will want to spend some time.
Head out I-10 and Highway 87 toward Comfort and within 45 minutes, you will travel down a windy, rural road and arrive at Bending Branch Winery, named Best Winery for the 7th year in a row from the San Antonio Express-News YourSA Readers’ Choice Awards. Reservations are recommended, but not required. Dogs on leash are welcome outside.
From there, go to Fredericksburg for lunch and then drive about 15 minutes to Pedernales Cellars with a gorgeous Hill Country view. Reservations are required for tasting experiences; however, you can stop in for a bottle and sit out on the patio or lawn. Dogs on leash are welcome outside.
Spend the night at the Cotton Gin Village, Stonewall Motor Lodge or the Rose Hill Retreat. If headed home, we highly recommend taking the scenic Highway 1376 – with vistas galore.
BENDING BRANCH WINERY
Bending Branch Winery, the Tannat House of Texas, lives up to its name with award-winning Tannat wines. Its popular sparkling Tannat rosé is a crowd pleaser with notes of strawberry, white peach and pear – perfect for summer sipping. Known for big reds, Bending Branch Winery offers several Tannat wines from different vineyards, including the Tannat, Newsom Vineyards, that just won Double Gold at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and its Tannat, Tallent Vineyards, that won Double Gold/Texas Reserve Class Champion at the 2022 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo competition. It also offers Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Sagrantino.
Grab a seat at the outdoor patio (or if you’re a Wine Club member, sit under one of the cabanas overlooking the vineyard) and enjoy a tasting flight. Bending Branch is known for its events, including its annual Derby Extravaganza that celebrates owners Dr. Bob Young and his wife Brenda’s Kentucky roots. You can also find Bending Branch every weekend at Pearl Farmers Market in San Antonio.
For lunch in Comfort, stop by High’s Cafe and Comfort Pizza. In Fredericksburg, check out Hill and Vine, Emma + Ollie or Vaudeville.
PEDERNALES CELLARS
After lunch, head down Highway 290 to Stonewall and turn right on 1623 to Pedernales Cellars, which boasts a stunning view of the Texas Hill Country. Its owners are sixth-generation Texans dedicated to sustainable practices and handcrafted fine wines made from 100% Texas grapes. The estate vineyard, Kuhlken Vineyards, was planted in 1995 in Texas’ oldest AVA, Bell Mountain, which is within the Texas Hill Country AVA.
Pedernales Cellars specializes in Spanish and Rhone-style wines, including Viognier, Albariño, Tempranillo, Graciano, Mourvèdre, and GSM blends. Its popular Kyla (pronounced shoola, Swedish for “chill”) is a delicious Pet-Nat sparkling wine that pairs with a cheese plate from the winery. It’s always a good choice to try one of Pedernales flagship Viognier or Tempranillo wines. For a special tasting, check out the Barrel Tour & Tasting or a Reserve Tasting of limited library wines.
Go to the winery’s events calendar for all the goings-on such as the spring Wine & Wildflower Dinner in April!
Cheers!
