3 Top Texas Wineries

The Great State of Texas; known for Angus beef, salsa, barbeque, sheet cake and those fabulous Texas sweet onions. But there's a little known secret, Texas also has some really great wineries and the numbers are growing every year. These wineries don't just claim to be great, they're proving it in competition and Texas is winning a reputation for producing excellent vintages both nationally and internationally.

Mesina Hof Winery and Resort, located in Bryan, Texas, was founded in 1977. The name refers to the heritages of the couple that started it, Messina, Sicily and Hof, Germany. Their 2006 Gewürztraminer was recently selected as a Top Ten wine for barbeque by the publishers of the Gayot and Gault Millau Food Guide (available online). With many awards in different categories, their year is off to a good start with 15 winners at this year's 2010 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The winery, nestled in the heart of the Brazos Valley, also offers a bed and breakfast, and a wonderful restaurant complete with chef's table for an unforgettable winery experience. With a full calendar of events this is one stop you don't want to skip.

Another award winning winery is Grape Creek Winery and Vineyards located in Fredricksburg, Texas. Under new management since 2006 the winery has been expanding in all directions. With a new tasting room, event center, Italian market, and a substantial investment in equipment and improvements to the landscape, the winery has taken off. 2009 was another record winning year with over 45 medals from all over the country. Special experiences include Cellar and Barrel Tasting Tours as well as stay in the "Villa on the Vineyards."

A third winery you don't want to miss is Haak Vineyards and Winery, located in Santa Fe, TX. With a 12 acre estate, they host events, including weddings, have private tours and tastings, you can event rent out the wine cellar. The first, and currently only, winery in Galveston County, they have started their year off with a win as the "American Example of Greatness" at the Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition.

These are just a few of the fabulous wineries you'll find in Texas. There are a wide number of microclimates and several different wine trails all across the state. With spring just around the corner here in Texas be sure to put a winery tour on your to-do list.

Note: Wine, drunk in moderation, is known to be good for you. Studies show that resveratrol (one of the phytochemicals in wine) can prevent cardiovascular disease by changing lipid, or fat, profiles (it raises HDL or "good" cholesterol), it also prevents arterial placque formation. The National Cancer Institute is looking into the beneficial effects of resveratrol for cancer patients. There is more resveratrol in red wine than in white because it is primarily concentrated in the skin which is left on during processing of red wines.