5 Best Sights in Fredericksburg, The Hill Country

Reagan Meador began making wine in Long Island but decided to return to his native Texas to put down roots (literally). At Southold Farm + Cellar, he crafts unique, limited-release wines using very little intervention with the Texas grapes he currently sources as he waits for his estate-grown grapes to be ready for production. Visits to the tasting room are by reservation only, and guests can choose from several different options: an “Introduction” tasting of four wines, a “Prologue” featuring four wines plus a spread of dishes made with local ingredients, or an eight-course “Sunset Supper” set in the gorgeous, western-facing restaurant overlooking the vineyard. No matter which tasting you choose, be sure to get in some time on their cozy wooden porch swings that look out across the rolling hills.

Originally from Paso Robles, California, this is the first Texas outpost for the winery, featuring 100 percent organically grown grapes; an open, airy tasting room; and a restaurant that also offers outdoor seating in a beautiful park-like area out back on 32 acres, with a scattering of wandering sheep. Enjoy a leisurely lunch with your wine tasting—fish tacos, steak frites, and the Cubano sandwich are stellar. Browse the boutique offerings and make sure to try the delicious 2023 Texas rosé.

Formerly the Slate Mill Wine Collective, this lovely site just south of downtown Fredericksburg was bought by Heath Family Brands, the family that owns one of the largest vineyards in the Hill Country. It's now Invention Vineyards, and you can tour the 35-acre estate vineyards, taste the wine in a stylish, modern industrial tasting room, and simply relax, raise a glass, and enjoy delicious Texas wines.

Nikhila Narra Davis co-founded Narra Vineyards in the Texas High Plains AVA with her farming family, and, together with her husband, Greg Davis, they sustainably farm a 140-acre vineyard where they produce estate-grown wines. Nikhila, the winemaker and viticulturist, began experimenting with making her own wine and has now launched her own brand under the label Kalasi Cellars, with a vineyard, tasting room (where they offer a wine and chocolate tasting, inspired by Indian flavors like saffron and cardamom and a small-bites menu of Indian snacks), and boutique winery in northeast Fredericksburg. Sheep keep the grounds free from weeds, and Kalasi Cellars grapes are entirely estate grown, creating the unique distinction of Texas-fruit, single-vineyard wines.

Located just south of downtown Fredericksburg, this collaborative concept evolved from a family-operated boutique winery called 1851 Vineyards before restructuring as Slate Mill Collective. The collective expanded the vineyard, winery, and tasting room to include 35 planted acres and a state-of-the-art wine-making facility. It’s also a great place for visitors to come for a production tour (with plenty of samples along the way) to learn more about the Texas wine industry. Afterward, head to the tasting room to enjoy labels from multiple local producers, like Wine for the People, Tatum Cellars, and C.L. Butaud.