Sometimes people mistake Texas for being all about craft breweries and liquor. Texans do indeed love a pint and a shot, but there is also room at the table for a glass of wine. Even in the warmer months, a saucy red wine can be just what the doctor ordered. Seriously, red wine is good for your health. Check out resveratrol and thank me later. In the meantime, check out these fine wineries in and around Liberty Texas, where you can grab a glass or a bottle, or both, and enjoy the rest of your day.
Thirsty Mule Winery and Vineyard
Featuring an underground wine tasting bar, Thirsty Mule is known for its California grapes made into wine in Texas. The most famous wines from the Mule are your classic Chardonnay and Merlot. However, there is a winemaker’s select blend of Cabernet that gets the attention of sommeliers and regular wine enthusiasts. Two house specialties that people request again and again are the Sweet Mule, a traditional port, and the Sassy Mule, a sparkling muscadine.
Grape Creek Winery
Grape Creek has three locations for tasting, so if you need to investigate for yourself, there are plenty of ways to do so. In the meantime, the most popular Grape Creek offering right now is the 2018 Mosaic, though their whites are also a standard purchase. This red is a blend of grapes Petite Verdot, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. Tasters can expect to enjoy a balanced and juicy red that leaves behind notes of chocolate and violet.
Bruno and George Winery
Bruno and George is known for aperitif and dessert wines. Since this selection of wine is relatively particular to personal taste, you should consider visiting their tasting room by appointment. You can schedule a trip with friends, learn more about the story of the recipes and enjoy a variety of sips. Their most popular wine is raisin wine. This after-dinner cordial is similar to tawny but with a heavy focus on raisins rather than other varieties.
Yepez Vineyard
Wine in Liberty Texas isn’t just made from grapes grown on huge vineyards. Yepez uses just a 20-acre tract to grow the Black Spanish grapes they sell to larger wineries to combine with other varieties. At their vineyard, however, they also offer the black Spanish grape for several different tasting flights in addition to a selection of the combined varietals from other vineyards. Other than their small-batch black grape wine, the most popular choice that people make at Yepez is the Reisling. The Reisling they offer has their black grapes blended with Vitis Vinifera varietals for a drier and less sweet Riesling.
Cotton Creek Winery
All wines are made in-house at Cotton Creek and are available in tasting flights, by the glass, or by the bottle. This winery offers a large selection of gifts and accessories in addition to their signature wine-a-rita drink.
Rollins Vine 2 Wine Vineyard and Winery
A husband and wife-owned vineyard and winery offer high-quality views and wines to Texas. Their most popular wines are a Blanc du Bois and a Dry Blanc du Bois. The du Bois grapes are hybrid grapes that have hints of lemon, citrus, and honey. This white varietal is a crisp, clean offering for seafood and pasta dishes.
Haak Vineyards and Winery
Haak Vineyards is located in an impressive stone building and is famous for hosting renaissance fairs and festivals. Interestingly enough, their most famous wine is a honey floral wine, mead. Their Haak Mjod is a deep and syrupy sweet honey wine with floral notes and a touch of dryness on the back of the palate. You can enjoy this wine by the bottle or grab a ticket for the renaissance festival tasting experience that Haak runs every so often for the public.
Teysha Vineyard
Rosé is the name of the game at Teysha. People rave far and wide for their selection of this flavorful pink drink. Right now, they have three selections. A Frizzante Gewürztraminer sparkles with rose and a nose for your next vacation. A standard Rosé wine pleases with light tannins and big tart fruit flavors. The Frizzante Lenoir Rosé has a more lightweight sparkle but still shines with a hint of strawberry on the finish. You can enjoy these delicate yet juicy drinks in the sunshine on their patio or yours.
Frascone Winery
Destroyed by Hurricane Ike in 2004, this winery has since rebuilt and is back in the wine-making business stronger than ever. They offer a selection of red, white, fruit, and meads for purchase. If you’re up for some educational fun, you can swing by for a tasting or a tour and sign up for the grape stomp they have. One of the most recognizable aspects of Frascone wines is that they are all-natural. People enjoy all their wines but seem to flock to their fruit selection more than anything else they offer. Frascone makes blackberry, blueberry, cranberry, peach, cranapple, strawberry, and persimmon wines. Often, these wines are seasonal, and when they sell out, they aren’t available until the next growing season, so order ahead.
Sable Gate
Couple-owned winery Sable Gate prides itself on having tried wines from all over the world. They use their knowledge to bring those tasting notes, expertise, and flavors right back here to the great state of Texas. They make over 50 different kinds of wines from grape-growing regions all over the world. The menu and offerings frequently change to keep up with their tasting experiments, but a Sangiovese is one of the most popular rotations. Tuscan grapes bring on the leathery goodness, while tart fruits pull on the salivary glands to create a palate tug of war that will leave your taste buds energized. This wine is good with savory and rich foods but is just as good to drink alone if you’re feeling decadent.
Zipps Liquor has a bountiful selection of fine wines for you to choose from for a special evening, a housewarming gift, or just a regular weekday night.
