Texas Wine Trail's Wine Lovers Celebration

Here in Texas, we know a little something about our wine. There are roughly 400 wineries scattered across the state, and the Hill Country boasts the third-largest viticulture (grape cultivation) area in the United States, covering nearly 15,000 square miles with 1,000 acres of planted vineyards.

Whether you're a wine aficionado or you don't know the difference between a Cabernet and a Chardonnay, the Wine Lovers Celebration is one of the Texas Wine Trail's signature passport events that allows you to sample the region's wine and learn as you go.

Grab your passport ticket... then from Jan. 31 to Feb. 25, you can experience 40+ Texas Hill Country wineries for complimentary wine tastings and discounts on bottle purchases.

It's a self-guided trail, so you can set your own pace and may stop in as many as four wineries on any given day. Some of the wineries do require reservations and have varying hours of operation. So be sure to check out their websites or give them a call when mapping out your wine trail plans.

With love in the air and Valentine's Day around the corner, the Wine Lovers Celebration is a great way to fill up your glass, relax, and say hello to a new year with a loved one while discovering Texas wine and all that our wine country has to offer. We suggest starting with these four wineries.

Start at Comfort's own Bending Branch Winery. This boutique winery offers award-winning Tannat, Petite Sirah, Picpoul Blanc, and more. Bending Branch features live music on weekends at its main winery location, plus fun events like potluck dinners and wine and chocolate pairings at its Ursa at Branch on High tasting room.

Next, travel north of Comfort to Kerrville Hills Winery, situated at the top of a hill high above Kerrville and the Guadalupe River Valley. Owner John Rivenburgh purchased Kerrville Hills to establish a wine incubator: a communal space for educated winemaking and accelerating boutique operations. This makes Kerrville Hills a great place to learn about Texas wines!

Then head south to Boerne, where you'll find Saint Tryphon Farm and Winery. The tasting room and vineyard at Saint Tryphon sit adjacent to their 1890s homestead. Named for an ancient Christian saint of wine growers, gardeners and birds, Saint Tryphon offers a five-sample tasting that gives you insight into their elegant yet wild and authentic Texas wines.

Finally, hop on over to Sister Creek Vineyards and visit their tasting room, located in a restored 1855 cotton gin. Specializing Bordeaux and Burgundy style wines, oak barrel aging and minimal filtration methods help Sister Creek's wine retain their fullest flavors.

“Wine and friends are a great blend.” – Ernest Hemingway