Texas? No, not Texaxs?  LOL!  That is great, love the photos.  Sounds like a great trip and great wine!

Tom, this is news to me too.  I didn't think Texas had wineries either.  Roadrunners YES but wine.  Thanks for this update on my home state.  Great post and pics!

Don R.

I had an Arkansas wine tour and found some great wines so I believe TX could produce wine.  You should try NC also.

Well you've made me take note. I plan to make this a stop in the not too far off future for myself. Looks and sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks for posting this.

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the info, I'll remember that the next time I'm in Texas.  Have a great day.  Michael A. Caruso

Sounds like fun!  Sightseeing, wine, food, beer - what a good day that was.  I expect to see many more posts.

I was told you were not allowed to whine in Texas!

Howdy Tom

Judi sure is a very nice lady, thats for sure.

That there Texas T shirt you took a photo of is a real hoot.

I also like all the other fine photo's that ya took Tom.

Texas has some very fine wineries.

Have ya read the post that Carl wrote about the Texas wineries ?

It's a really good one also.

Great post Tom.  Great local piece on your area.  We have an area close by us that we all head down to for the wine tasting, great way to spend a Saturday or any day.

Excellent post, Tom   Glad you were able to spend the day in Fredericksburg.  It is a lovely town.  We love the peaches in the summer and we make a lot of trips back and forth.  Wine is big in Texas too esp in Fredericksburg.  You could have left off the T-shirt picture though.  That is not exactly representative of this area.  Looking forward to your next visit!  :)

Beautiful photos, Tom.  It sounds and looks like Texas is a very wonderful and enjoyable place to visit.

((-:

Jo 

Tom ~ Love the way you threw that T-shirt picture in there with all the architecture and beauty of Texas!  As always, thanks for sharing your journeys with us!

Tom - Just had to stop by and take a look around. Your #1 pic is my favorite. I may have to borrow that pic from you. I end many of my blogs with GOD BLESS TEXAS. Yes, they do have some good wine here in Texas, getting to be big business. Wish you would have had an opportunity to stop by t Sisterdale winery, lots of history. I'll have to find the blog I did several weeks ago on the winetrail and Sisterdale and the Sister Creek Winery. If you get lonesome for Texas you know you will always have a place to stay. Enjoyed the opportunity to meet you at the First AR Gathering in Bandera, Texas. GOD BLESS TEXAS

Tome- Great pics! I had no idea TX had wineries! Hmmm...learn something new every blog!

Hey Tom, I've been watching for this post!  Great pictures -- pretty sneaky, Tom, how you slipped that one in though!  LOL  We really enjoyed showing you around Fredericksburg and the wineries. Good thing you & Don finally fed me after tasting all that wine!!!   :)  

Carl, we had planned to go to the Sisterdale Winery too, but after tasting wine at 3 wineries, I had to eat something.  We're saving it for Tom's next trip down -- which may be in August -- during the next Wine Trail.

Hi Tom, I'm so glad you got to visit one of our wineries here in Texas. You have now experienced what most of us Texans don't get to do. You know how it is. If you live there it's no big deal so it's difficult to take time out of your day to see where you are? I fall into that catagory. I really am glad you enjoyed yourself here in our great state and I'm counting on seeing you again real soon. You take care. Later in the rain~Deb

BTW,where is this coastline? Is it California or Mexico?

Tom,  Texas has been in the wine business as long as there has been a Texas.  The native grape stock known as the Muscadine, Muscadinia or as Texans call it the "Mustang" Grape is the base stock for French wines.  France had a grape plant disease that destroyed most all of  their plants sometime in the 1800's and replaced their root stock with the Texas native grape plant. 

We so much enjoyed your visit to our part of Texas, please return when you can.  I added a new picture of Tom on The Floor.  The California blog and pictures were great.

These pictures are absolutely beautiful!

Tom, Texas is just chock full of surprises, isn't it?  Love the T-shirt!

Tom, I haven't thought about Texas as being a wine producing state. I would have thought it was too hot and dry. Great photo's!

Texas has everything!  There is a brewery in the San Antonio area and for the life of me I can't remember the name but its pretty good beer.  Greune, which is just outside the San Antonio-Austin area is a fun place to visit as well.  They have the oldest saloon in Texas - Greune Hall (and I'm probably spelling it wrong).  Its built like an ice house where the walls open up and it is open air.  They have cold beer, live music and fun atmosphere.  I haven't been there in years but the last time I was there I rode the mechanical bull at the Comel County Fair.  Fun times!

Tom, I didn't know that Texas has wineries -- I bet almost every state has at least a winery or two.  Virginia has over a hundred, and some very good ones!

Tom,
I did not know there were wineries in Texas but I'm not surprised as many states have them.  I know there are located throughout North Carolina. 
Now a day of touring wineries is a good day.

Audrey - Thanks Audrey. It was a great trip and I look forward to returning.

Don - Check them out. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Dick - I've never been to the Carolinas. It's high on my list of places I want to visit.

Wendy - My pleasure. Thanks for reading.

Michael - You have a great day, too. 

Georgina - I have at least one, maybe two more TX posts in the pipeline ;-)

Matthew - You're right... no whining, but wining is just fine!

Dale - Glad you liked the t-shirt. I got a good chuckle from it!

Kim - I agree. Wine tasting is a wonderful way to spend the day.

Ricki - I saw all the peach stands and want to come back when they're in season. Sorry about the t-shirt. I couldn't resist!

Tom looks like you had a lot of fun down in Texas. I am not much of a wine drinker myself but if I was I am sure this would have been quite a time!

Tom- great photos!!! I had no idea that they produced anything in Texas =) I visited Virginia and they had a lot of wineries in fact they are in the top 5 in the country in wine production. Now that was a surprise! Looks like you had a great time in Texas.

Best,

Scott 

THIS IS GREAT!  Who Knew???  Seems like your traveling - meeting new people - and having fun.  Can't ask for more than that!  (love the tshirt!  Did you get one??)

Jo - So glad you liked the photos. Thanks!

Kathy - Like I told Ricki, I couldn't resist ;-) What a great visit I had.

Carl - Thanks for the kind words. The feeling is mutual. I'll email you that photo. It was a sticker on a car window.

Vanessa - I had no idea either. Tasty wine, too.

Judi - You and Don are excellent hosts. We'll visit Sisterdale and Sister Creek next time!

Debra - Me, too. I love having company here so I can visit places I never go. That's the west coast of Costa Rica.

Don - Thanks for the history lesson... fascinating. I'm coming to Austin in August  and hope to return to the wine country.

Lindsay - Thanks so much.

Pat - That doesn't surprise me ;-)

Debbie - I was very pleasantly surprised. Thanks for the compliment.

Bonnie - I've been to Gruene Hall and had a great time. Such a lovely area.

Brian - Maybe we'll go wine tasting next time I'm out your way.

Cynthia - As I said, I've never visited the Carolinas, but I am inspired to do so.

Bill - Even if you don't like wine, a wine tour is always fun.

Scott - Many thanks. I really did have a great time.

Eleanor - No I didn't get one. The photo was enough... Meeting fellow rainers is so much fun. I look forward to our paths crossing one of these days.

Tom - did you say 'Whiners' in Texas?....hehe

Tom, you're NOT going to let Rich get away with that comment are you???  :)

Hi Tom...If you haven't been to Fredericksburg, VA come and compare.

We'll show you Virginia hospitality.  Then perhaps you'll send me the picture that's hiding underneath.  It looked beautiful but a hardly got a glimpse.

Cheers,

Kathleen

P.S.  Sounds like your had a great time in Texas.  Lived there a long time ago.

Rich - That was a response to Matthew's comment, Mr. Smarty Pants.

Judi - No I'm not.

Kathleen - I'll take you up on your offer someday. The picture that's hiding underneath? You've lost me there!

Tom - You sure do enjoy life and travel!!! Thanks for sharing with us!

Sneaky Tom - always good to hear from you, and would love to have you visit.  In fact Ricki is here right now for her training :), and we're playing on AR!  I'm going to start ARA...Active Rain Anonymous :)  Really pretty pictures too. Liz

Tom,

I'm with Dale on the T-shirt!  Didn't know that farting was a competitive sport in Texas.  LOL

Mike in Tucson

 p.s. Arizona makes wine, too.  Not too tasty, though. (IMHO)

Barbara-Jo - I do love to travel and I enjoy sharing my journeys. Thanks.

Liz - I'll join your new group. I'm coming to Austin in August. Maybe we can meet up then.

Mike - They take everything seriously in Texas! ;-) Thanks for your comment.

Wow, that's awesome, I had no idea. I'm going to have to try some out!

Cindy - Let me know what you think. I'm hoping to go back in August.

Hey, Tom, glad you enjoyed your visit to Texas! There are additional wineries scattered in various parts of Texas.  Messina Hof in Bryan, Llano Estacado in Lubbock, San Martino in Rockwall (East of Dallas), and Delany in Grapevine (West of D/FW Airport) - just to name a few. 

Nancy - Thanks! I'm coming back in August and hoppe to sample some more.

Tom-Here are 2 more to add to the Texas Wine Tour on your next adventure:

•  Driftwood Vineyards  www.driftwoodvineyards.com
• Mandola Estate Winery  www.mandolawines.com

They are located in the Dripping Springs, Tx area...cheers!

Hey Tom -- we might need "several" days to visit all of the wineries here in South Central Texas!!!   Have you finalized your trip itinerary yet???   We're looking forward to your visit -- and meeting Ms. Laura!!!!    :)

"dancing in the rain!!!"

Jennifer - Thanks so much! I'll definitely tey to squeeze those in. I'm sure Judi knows where Dripping Sprrings is.

Judi - I'll call you ASAP with our itinerary. We're working on it!~

Tom, Ok, looking forward to your call.  Yes, we know where Dripping Springs is.   :)

Stop by Bryan, Texas some day and sample some of our great wine!  Our little winery, Messina Hoff, is a wonderful thing in our community!  Excellent tours, fine dining and a great little B&B!  If you come by let me know, first toast is on me!

Judi - Thanks. Happy 4th. How far away is Bryan?

Chris - If I come by I promise to let you know. Have a happy 4th!

Hi Tom!  Its amazing to me how few people know about our growing Wine Industry. For the last several years it has been my pleasure to be one of the Auctioneers for the Annual Rare & Fine Wine Auction in Austin Texas. 2009 will be our 22nd year! I invite all of you to visit  www.winefoodfoundation.org and learn more about the industry. Feel free to come to the Auction in April next year!!  Here is some information on the Foundtation:

The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas began as part of the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival, now the second largest wine and food festival in the country. The Festival was created to give the Texas Hill Country the opportunity to experience the growth and development of the Texas wine industry and explore the wide variety of culinary offerings. One of the annual hallmark events held during the Festival was the Rare and Fine Wine Auction that benefited local charities.

The success of the Auction created the need for an organization to distribute the proceeds toward educational grants and scholarships in the areas of wine and food, and The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas was born. With a mission of recognizing and developing creativity, professionalism and state of the science research in all areas of the culinary and viticulture arts, The Foundation began awarding educational grants, scholarship and fellowships to outstanding individuals and other entities who achieve excellence in these areas. Today, The Foundation has expanded to host several annual community-wide wine and food events, such as the Stephan Pyles Celebrity Chef Dinner, Big Reds & Bubbles fine wine tasting and Tour de Vin cuisine and wine tasting from around the world, to support its educational scholarships and Grant Awards Program.

Mike - Thanks for the informative comment! I'm coming to Austin next month and look forward to visiting more wineries.