A Taste of Texas Hill Country Wines

Texas winemaking began in the 1600s when Catholic priests settled Mexico and needed wine for the sacraments. This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the Texas Hill Country AVA and 20 years of winemaking in the Hill Country.

The 27 wineries located within an hour's drive from Austin afford wine lovers an opportunity for a scenic getaway. For those with limited time, following is a suggested half-day itinerary sampling some of Driftwood, Texas' offerings.

First, stop off at Salt Lick Cellars. Their tasting room features neighboring wines, so one can get a sampling of the different wines available throughout the Hill Country region. In particular, be sure to check out the Flat Creek Viognier 2009 . Also, with 35 acres planted, they hope to get their winery up and running within the next three years.

Then head over to the Salt Lick Bar-B-Que Restaurant that's located next to the tasting room. Check out their open pit where they've been smoking their meats for over forty years. Then either choose to sit down and enjoy their eats or order their food to and have a picnic at one of the neighboring wineries.

Next, drive over to the Duchman Family Winery for a taste of Italy. This small family owned winery produces wines from their own grapes grown on their 20-acre vineyard, as well as grapes cultivated by select vineyards on the Texas High Plains. Their "Mandola" Dolcetto 2008 was a Double Gold Medal winner at the San Francisco International Wine Competition. A few of their other specialty wines include 2009 Vermentino an d 2009 Orange Muscat. Their Italian themed picnic areas make a perfect spot to sip some wine and savor the scenery .

Conclude the afternoon at Driftwood Estate Winery, a 20-acre winery featuring Mediterranean style wines such as their 2007 Port, which received a gold medal at the Lone Star International Wine Competition. Also, be sure to taste their 2008 Viognier and Lone Star Cab. The scenic overview overlooking the vineyard marks the perfect spot to buy a glass of wine and enjoy the view until the winery closes at 6pm.

While one can tour the vineyards at any time, those looking for a fully immersive experience should check out the five special self-guided trail events held throughout the year. Here wineries will showcase newly released wines along with food and wine parings, demonstrations, seminars and winery tours. Also, musicians, crafters, chefs, musicians and other entertainment will showcase their talents at the wineries during these festivities.