Why you should visit wineries in Dripping Springs
This blog post covers the best wineries in Dripping Springs, Texas.
Dripping Springs is a small town just 25 miles west of downtown Austin.
Known as the gateway to the heart of Texas Hill Country, the Dripping Springs area is full of beautiful creeks and springs. And guess what else they have… wine!
These Dripping Springs wineries are a great place to grab a glass of wine, a bottle, or a tasting. Several of the wineries on this list are family-owned businesses known for their small-production wines. These local wineries typically use Texas grapes grown in their own Hill Country vineyards.
These wineries in Dripping Springs, Texas are great local gems just waiting to be explored. Let’s get started!
How to access wineries in Dripping Springs in Texas Hill Country
Wineries in Dripping Springs, Texas are relatively easy to access. But you will need a car in order to reach this Central Texas town.
Dripping Springs is within easy driving distance of two major cities: Austin and San Antonio.
It’s 25 miles from San Antonio, Texas to the heart of historic Dripping Springs. The drive should take about 75 minutes. Austin is even closer. Dripping Springs is 25 miles west of downtown Austin, which is a roughly 35 minute drive.
If you already live within driving distance of the Dripping Springs area, then great! You can easily hop in your car and drive to the wineries on this list.
But if you live out of state then you’ll need to fly into a nearby airport, rent a car, and drive from the airport to the following Dripping Springs wineries. It would make most sense to fly directly into the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).
Once you reach the heart of the historic downtown of Dripping Springs you will still need a car in order to visit the wineries on this list. The safest choice would be to hire a driver to chauffeur you. One option is Hello Sunshine Transportation Services, which offers hourly personal driver services so you can visit Central Texas wineries safely and comfortably.
The best wineries in Dripping Springs for a wine tasting
Solaro Estate Winery
Solaro Estate Winery makes limited production wines from Texas grapes.
Their own estate vineyard is built on an ancient fossil bed in the Texas Hill Country AVA. This special soil is the perfect environment for growing grapes.
The grapes may be from Texas Hill Country, but the owners have Italian heritage. This appears in their choice of Italian grape varietals such as Barbera, Sangiovese, and Montepulciano. Solaro Estate Winery also works with a variety of French and Spanish varietals including Albariño, Tempranillo, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir), Mourvèdre, Zinfandel, and Ruby Cabernet (a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan).
You can sample Solaro’s award-winning high quality wines at their tasting room near Dripping Springs. The tasting room hours are Sunday, Monday and Thursday from 11 AM to 5 PM. Friday and Saturday they’re open from 11 AM to 6 PM. On Tuesday and Wednesday they’re open by appointment only.
Solaro Estate Winery currently offers three wine experiences with reasonable tasting fees. The Educational Wine Tasting costs $20 per guest and includes four wines. It’ll take about 30 minutes. The Sommelier-Led Wine Tasting will take between 45 to 60 minutes. This experience includes five of their best wines and a small charcuterie board for $45 per guest. There’s also a Table Reservation for Bottle Service. This 90 minute option will cost $10 per person.
Bell Springs Winery
Bell Springs Winery makes local handcrafted Texas wine.
They focus on Spanish, French and Italian varietals including Merlot, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Montepulciano, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Nebbiolo, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chenin Blanc. Unusual varieties such as Alicante Bouschet – which is among the few red grapes with both red flesh and red skin – also make an appearance.
The typical wine tasting experience at Bell Springs costs $20 per person (plus tax and tip). The wine tasting room doesn’t require reservations so you can walk right in.
A seated one-hour wine or beer tasting will cost $30 per person. The fee includes a charcuterie board. Guests can sit inside or outside for guided tastings. You will need to make a reservation for guided tastings
If you’re looking for a more involved wine experience then check out this list of guest experiences at Bell Springs Winery.
And if you’re hungry, you’re in luck! The winery offers a menu of wine and beer friendly foods like burgers, nachos, and tacos.
P.S. The owners of Bell Springs Winery also run Sidecar Tasting Room. This Prohibition-style wine bar serves wine, beer, food, and live music every week. They’re temporarily closed but they should reopen in a new space soon.
Hawk’s Shadow Estate Winery
Hawk’s Shadow Estate Winery ages their small batch hand-crafted wines in an underground limestone cellar.
The winery is named after Hawk, the family’s beloved horse. The bottle label artwork shows Hawk peering through the glass of their front door.
Hawk’s Shadow Estate Winery uses grapes grown in the Texas High Plains. They work with Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, Syrah, Malbec, and Petit Verdot to create single varietal wines and red wine blends. Orange Muscat, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Roussanne make up their white wines.
Hawk’s Shadow Winery offers three unique wine tastings. The “Classic Experience” includes four current release wines for $15 per person. This tasting lasts about 45 minutes. The “Tailored” tasting includes two whites, one rosé, and three reds for $25 per guest. It’ll take about 90 minutes.
The “Winemaker Experience” is the most formal tasting. It begins with a seated tasting of five great wines and continues into the cellar where you’ll sample three wines directly from the barrel. This experience costs $70 per person and lasts about 120 minutes.
Hamilton Pool Vineyards & Farms
Hamilton Pool Vineyards makes French-style hand-crafted Texas wines.
This family-owned winery in Texas Hill Country sources most of their fruit from their own 9-acre estate vineyard.
Hamilton Pool Vineyards works with grapes such as Merlot, Mourvèdre, Montepulciano, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Viognier, and Pinot Grigio. If you can try to sample their sparkling brut rosé made from Gewürztraminer and Grenache.
In addition to a winery, Hamilton Pool also has a regenerative farm and farm school. They host fun events for kids like Farm Camp, which teaches sustainable farming practices in a kid-friendly way.
The Hamilton Pool Vineyards tasting room is located 31 miles from downtown Austin. It’s important to note that different sources list different hours of operation. The winery’s homepage says the tasting room is open from 12–6 PM on Thursday and 11 AM to 6 PM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Their website’s menu page lists tasting room hours as Thursday through Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM. Their Instagram account lists the same information. However the winery’s Facebook page says they’ll be open from 11 AM to 7 PM Thursday through Sunday. Google search results list say the winery will be open from 11 AM to 6 PM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and closed the rest of the week. As you can see, there are some differences. It would be a good idea to call ahead before you drive there in person.
But one thing’s for certain: there will be live music from 2–5 PM every Sunday. The winery also offers a short but sweet menu of charcuterie, hummus, and pizza. According to the winery website, the kitchen will close at 5:30 PM.
Other Texas wine country destinations
If you’re going to visit Dripping Springs you should check out other gorgeous Texas Hill Country towns.
Boerne is a small town known for its German heritage. The best Boerne wineries are both inviting and conveniently located a reasonable 90 minute drive from Austin.
Comfort, Texas is a short 18 minute drive from Boerne. Comfort is a charming small town known for its German heritage, large ranches, and wineries. These Comfort wineries present award-winning wines in a relaxed country atmosphere.
One of the most famous Texas wine country destinations is Fredericksburg. Our list of the best wineries in Fredericksburg offers more than one serene Hill Country winery. Whether you’re a new wine lover or a well-seasoned pro, Fredericksburg makes for the perfect weekend getaway in Texas Hill Country.
Salado is another Texas wine country town located just 50 miles north of downtown Austin. It’s the perfect distance for a mini road trip. These Salado wineries are situated along Main Street, which means you can easily walk between tasting rooms.
Georgetown is located a short drive (25 minutes) south of Salado. These Georgetown wineries are situated around the stately Williamson County Courthouse. They’re walkable and they pour delicious wine. Sign me up!
Granbury is another Texas town with an historic main square. The best wine bars and wineries in Granbury TX are conveniently located near the center of town.
The towns of Wimberley and Driftwood are just 20 minutes by car from one another. We’ve compiled a list of the best places in Wimberley, Texas for a relaxing afternoon.
