Tom & Marlene Didn’t Plan on Owning a Wine Fridge
They moved to the Hill Country for the views. The porch. The peace.
What didn’t they expect?
Pinot. Rosé. Tempranillo. Viognier.
And a string of wineries just minutes from their front door that rivaled anything they’d tasted in Napa.
It started with a weekend drive through Startzville.
Then, a tasting room in Spring Branch.
A late lunch under the trees in Gruene.
A scenic loop toward Driftwood “just to stretch the legs.”
Before long, Tom was keeping a list. And Marlene was holding a wine club subscription.
They weren’t wine snobs.
They just liked good grapes, good views, and the idea that something this special had been growing here all along, right in front of everyone, but quietly, humbly, without the fuss.
Texas Hill Country Wineries: A Surprise Worth Sipping
- Local vineyards have put towns like Spring Branch, Cranes Mill, and Gruene on the tasting map
- Hill Country wines now compete—and win—against California blends
- Weekends offer tastings with live music, hilltop views, and farm-to-table bites
- You don’t need to dress up. But you might want to bring an extra bottle home.
Tom eventually did get that wine fridge.
Not because he wanted to show it off.
But because it turns out, sipping a chilled glass of Hill Country rosé with the sun setting over Canyon Lake…
Is a whole lifestyle of its own.
