Insite Magazine MayJune 2016 | Page 18

FREDERICKSBURG Wine Road 290 Compiled By KATIE CANALES H ighway 290 cruises through the heart of the Texas Hill Country. A winding road with rolling hills of field and sky on either side, it is the corridor where Fredericksburg Wine Road 290 links an association of Texas wineries on either side of Fredericksburg. Beginning at Chisholm Trail Winery east of Fredericksburg and finishing at Texas Hills Vineyard in Johnson City, Wine Road 290 spans 45 miles offering stops at 15 member wineries for the perfect weekend road trip. The member wineries sponsor shared events, including pairings by local restaurants. Cheers to the road trip! Chisholm Trail Winery 2367 Usener Rd., Fredericksburg T he first winery on the trail started producing wine for the public in 1999 and has a 15,000-gallon capacity of wine tank space. With expansion plans in the works, Chisholm Trail offers a variety of wines, including their 2014 Ghost Rider Sweet Red Wine and their 2013 Captured - Dry Rose, which won silver and bronze medals in the 2015 Lone Star International. Captured contains tastes of apple, pear, and persimmon with a hint of nutmeg. chisholmtrailwinery.com Fredericksburg Winery 247 West Main Street, Fredericksburg D eep in the heart of the Texas Hill Country lies a winery named one of the top three producers in Texas by USA Today. Operated by the Switzer Family, Fredericksburg Winery produces its wine in a 10,600-square-foot facility on Main Street. So far, it has bought production grapes exclusively from Texas vineyards. Wines offered include a 1996 Der Keller, a Texas White Wine, and a 2009 Rain Lilly, also a white wine. fbgwinery.com 18 INSITE May/June 2016 Lost Draw Cellars 113 E Park St., Fredricksburg O perated by Andy Timmons and his team, Lost Draw Cellars opened in 2014, eight years after the establishment of Lost Draw Vineyards. The tasting room is located a few blocks off Main Street in Fredericksburg. Lost Draw Cellars wine selections include a 2012 Tempranillo, a Texas red with notes of leather, cherry, and vanilla, and a 2014 Arroyo Rose. lostdrawcellars.com Rancho Ponte 315 Ranch Road 1376, Fredericksburg R ancho Ponte’s owners moved to Texas from California and established the 20-acre winery five miles east of Fredericksburg. Among the wine selections include a 2014 Dolcetto, with hints of dried plums and white pepper, and a 2014 Montepulciano. ranchoponte.com Fiesta Winery 18727 W FM 580, Lometa F iesta Winery operates along the Colorado River on a ranch that has been in the family for six generations. For 2016, the winery has planted five acres of Viognier, Montepulciano, and Marsanne grapes. fiestawinery.com 4.0 Cellars 10354 E. US Highway 290, Fredericksburg T he Four Point O Cellars is a Fredericksburg winery born from the collaboration of three different Texas winemakers: Brennan Vineyards; Lost Oak Winery; and McPherson Cellars. It opened in 2012 and offers signature tastings such as The Texas Wine Experience and the Texas Cheese & Wine Experience. fourpointwine.com Grape Creek Vineyards 10587 East US Highway 290, Fredericksburg T his Fredericksburg winery incorporates Tuscan elements into their wine experience, adorning its tasting room with rustic vibes and a tile roof. The vineyard features Stout’s at Grape Creek Vineyards Trattoria, a restaurant offering casual Italian cuisine paired with Grape Creek wine. Wine choices include a 2012 Cabernet/Syrah and a 2013 Merlot. grapecreek.com