Vintner’s Hideaway: This Should be Your Next Stop in Fredericksburg, Texas Wine Country
Recently, I was trying to link back up with Texas winemaker and consultant John Rivenburgh when I asked him where could I find his wines. John said, “Well, have you been to Vintner’s Hideaway in Fredericksbugh?” I had to admit that I hadn’t been there.
After that, I made a point for my wife and me to stop into Vinter’s Hideaway (207 S Llano St, Fredericksburg, TX) in an unassuming square building just a few blocks away from our HEB store in town on the south side. Once inside, it was a captivating experience complete with many 100% Texas wines you can’t readily find. They are made by many new winemakers, growers and winemaker consultants like Rivenburgh.
We were greeted by tasting room manager Dana Carter and Jim Mills, the owner of both Rustic Spur Vineyards and Vintner’s Hideaway. Immediately after meeting and visiting with these two and casting eyes on their tasting menu, I was impressed. This is a visitor friendly and seriously good Fredericksbugh wine tasting venue that many visitors (and even locals) do not know is there. Proof of this was gained the following day when at dinner with friends (including locals and frequent visitors of Fredericksburg and all wine aficionados), I asked them if they had been to Vintner’s Hideaway and all answered just as I did in my conversation with Rivenburgh.
Best of all, at Vintner’s Hideaway visitors get a chance to experience what 100% Texas wine really taste like. Also, all wines poured there are small-batch, artisanal wines made with a hefty dose of personal passion.
When I asked if they had a process that precedes adding new wines to their menu, Jim said that all wines are blind tasted and critically scored on multiple points. Jim stressed that he knew the process was legit because his wife Ranae, a non-wine drinker herself, blinds all the wines before the tasting/judging to make sure that none of the tasters know their origin.
Another side benefit of going to Vintner’s Hideaway is that you never know who you will see there. It might be someone like Rae Wilson (Austin-based wine marketing consultant and Dandy Wines winemaker), John Rivenburgh (vineyard/wine consultant and winemaker from Comfort), and Brock Estes (The “terroirist” and winemaking-owner of Fly Gap Wines in Mason). The night we were at Vintner’s Hideaway, a contingent from Andrew Sides’ Lost Draw Cellars was holding court in a corner of the tasting room.
My recommendation is that you stop by for a visit and a few tastes of wine selections from Rivenburgh Wines, Fly Gap Wines, Dandy Wines, The Source Wines – The Grower’s Project, Valley Mills wines (Bagnasco family) and Buena Suerte Vineyards (Day family).
Vintner’s Hideaway Tasting Room:
207 South Llano
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Tele | (830) 992-3370
Email | info@vintnershideaway.com
Hours: Th-Sa 11-6, Su 12-5
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