Yes, you read that correctly! If you’re like me, you’d be surprised to learn that Texas produces really good wine. Sure, many states and places surprisingly produce wine but in Fredericksburg, Texas, the wine is mighty fine. OK, enough with the kitsch.
I went to San Antonio for a “girlfriends weekend”, a friend of mine who is by-state lives there. I had heard many wonderful things about San Antonio and always wanted to visit and it certainly lived up to my expectations. It’s actually a great “getaway” and “girlfriends getaway” for the following reasons:
- Easy to get to
- Quaint airport
- Riverwalk
- Farmers market at The Pearl
- Many dining experiences
- Fantastic lake experiences in nearby places (about an hours drive)
- Friendly people with southern charm
- Lastly and the reason for this blog, a short distance to wonderful wine and a “Wine Shuttle” to help you experience the wineries.
A little under an hour drive from San Antonio is Fredericksburg, TX and the Route 290 Wine Shuttle.
When my friend said she made arrangements for us to go and take the 290 Wine Shuttle, we all said, “sounds like fun”. We had little expectation on the wine itself and just thought it would be fun to shuttle from winery to winery. Little did we know we would find some gems and wines we couldn’t leave Texas without. We are actually making plans to return sometime in the future.
The drive itself is lovely. I love short road trips. Just when you tire of being in the car, you arrive. Just long enough to enjoy the road and short enough to not tire of it.
The shuttle itself is parked in a lot adjacent to a hotel but you can’t miss it.
We gleefully exited the car and headed to check-in, donning our “Champagne Weekend” and “Namaste at home and drink wine” tees. We came prepared to have fun! There are several shuttles in rotation, all arriving and departing 10 minutes apart to and from the 17 wineries on the route. Their guide and route is accessible by the QR code but the order sometimes changes. Also, there are a couple of wineries that require reservations for tasting and/or lunch so plan ahead for them. We didn’t have reservations but understood the rules. Fortunately, we went early in the day and during the week so, we were able to get in without a reservation. The drivers are adamant about advising you of the necessary reservations and may say they can’t let you off at that stop if you don’t have one. We were convincing 😉
Since we had to get back to San Antonio, often referred to as San Antone, we wanted to target 3 wineries, having lunch at one. We googled reviews for the most favorable ones, used a recommendation from a friend, and chose them for our stops in addition to the first one on the route, Texas Heritage. The name alone suggests it’s a good place to start. When I return to Texas and do the 290 Wine Shuttle again, I’ll try more of them.
The two most favorable and recommended ones, Barons Creek Vineyards, and Grape Creek Vineyards not only, did not disappoint, but also exceeded our expectations. How so? We all signed up for the wine club at Grape Creek Vineyards. May have something to do with Ashley, who was very persuasive and a joy to have a tasting with. We also bought wines from Texas Heritage and Barons Creek Vineyards, where we also had lunch. When you go to Barons Creek Vineyards, stay for lunch and have the Mediterranean Pizza. It’s divine and goes perfectly with the tasting.
Texas Heritage
What we loved: The Time Traveler, a Gold Medal Winner – 2021 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo International Wine Competition. It’s a blend of two French Rhone grapes, both grown in Texas High Plains in the Reddy Vineyard. I immediately enjoyed this wine and could imagine it with scallops, blue crab, and my favorite snack, popcorn. It’s summer in a bottle.
The porch and store certainly remind you of Texas and the patio in the back overlooks the vineyards. While there was no entertainment during our visit, there’s a stage for performances and ambiance.
Barons Creek Vineyards
What we loved: We immediately noticed their villas. There are 12 villas set in a Tuscan village design. “GIRLS TRIP”!!! That’s the first thing that came to mind. Staying overnight on our next visit! By the time we arrived there we were hungry so, we took a peek at their menu and realized our second love of Barons Creek Vineyards, the food, and the outdoor setting were a perfect pair. Many things on the menu piqued our interest but we settled on the Mediterranean Pizza. Basil pesto, mozzarella, feta, artichoke, and sun-dried tomatoes. Delish! I was a bit concerned about the artichoke because it can be a tastebud killer when it comes to wine but, the other flavors mellowed it out.
Back to the wine. We each bought 4 wines of we tasted. I believe some were the same but a few were different. I purchased 2 reds (Crazy Train, a Cabernet Sauvignon that is a Gold Medal winner at the 2020 Lone Star International Wine Competition. Steak please! and, Barbera, a super lush wine that begs for a lamb ragu), their 2019 Chardonnay, as they call it, a California blonde and their Rosé. It is summer after all. The Rosé went nicely with the Mediterranean Pizza. Maybe because of the salty Feta that balanced the fruitiness of the Rosé.
Taste, eat, purchase, and back on the shuttle and on to the next vineyard.
Grape Creeks Vineyards/Heath Sparkling Wines
This was “our” last stop on the 290 Wine Shuttle! Remember, there are 17 wineries/vineyards on the route. Unfortunately, we had to head back to San Antonio but, at this point, we were wishing we had more time and possibly stayed overnight at one of the fabulous villas at Barons Creek Vineyards.
What we loved: Of course we loved the wines but I’m taking a moment to give a shout-out to Ashley, our tasting expert at Grape Creeks Vineyard. Having tasted about 8 wines by this point, we were feeling pretty good. Ashley greeted us just outside and joined our party. Really, we were having a private party. LOL. And, Ashely jumped right in! In the tasting room, which was in a big open space with air conditioning, a welcomed necessity in the Texas heat and humidity, the tasting began. Pinot Grigio was out first. I’m not a huge fan of Pinot Grigio but I really liked this one and considered it for my summer eats! Light, crisp, and mellow. I like to call it Mellow Yellow. My other favorite was the Rendezvouz, a blend of Rhoné Valley reds – Cinsault, Mourvedre, Syrah, and Grenache. I like the name too.
We made our purchases, joined the wine club at Ashley’s suggestion, and walked over to Heath Sparkling Wines to take a peek inside. Crunched for time, we perused their shop and gorgeous crystals quickly. Really wished we had time to shop and taste here! We were hoping to buy one glass of bubbly to put an exclamation point on our tasting tour and the 290 Wine Shuttle but, unfortunately, they only allow tastings, which we didn’t have time for. I’m actually regretting not doing the tasting here.
What a pleasant surprise the 290 Wine Shuttle was. I had little expectation and was blown away by the quality of the wine and the fun of the shuttle. Operating every 10 minutes, the minibuses are on time, frequent, and clean. Never once were we stressed about waiting for the next one and the distance between each vineyard is short as well so, I never felt like I was on the shuttle for too long. Part of the fun is meeting others who are on the shuttle as well. Most fellow shuttle passengers are friendly and polite, especially towards the end of their journey, LOL!
Can’t wait to go back!
I must mention that we did not drink and drive. Our lovely sister friend and host for the weekend drove and was the designated driver. Thanks, girl! The next time, we’re staying overnight!
Yours truly,
