Eat, Drink, Explore Fredericksburg, Texas

Texas wines, seasonal fresh peaches and other fruits, fields of wildflowers and authentic Hill Country cooking are among the many delights to experience on a visit to Fredericksburg, Texas. Established in 1846, Fredericksburg is an authentic Texas-German community that is filled with historic charm blended with contemporary chic. Just over an hour’s drive northwest of San Antonio, it is a destination offering a small town feel with a giant dose of Texas hospitality. Many of the people we met were fifth generation Texans with German heritage or transplants from larger Texas cities who moved to Fredericksburg for a lifestyle change.

Fredericksburg’s walkable main street is filled with shops, galleries, bars, eateries and wine tasting rooms. Venture further outside the center of town to visit wineries, breweries, distilleries and numerous parks including President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Texas ranch, now a national park and historical monument. Next year The Meuse, a $180 million mixed-use curated shopping and dining complex anchored by a Kimpton Hotel, is scheduled for completion.

Here are some highlights from a visit in late May.

A Sense of History

One of our first stops when we visit a city or town is the main tourism and hospitality center. At Visit Fredericksburg, there are plenty of brochures on tours and attractions. Make sure to watch the short welcome film which tells the story of how Fredericksburg was established as a home for German immigrants seeking a new life in 1846. The initial grant was between a group of visionary aristocratic Germans and the Choctaw Indian tribe who owned the land. It was unique at that time. Location: 302 East Austin Street.

The Pioneer Museum:  Capture a feeling of old Fredericksburg at this open air collection of authentic structures preserved from the 19th century German Pioneer days. Sunday Houses are a unique type of structure in and around Fredericksburg that provided a resting place for farmers and family members to stay when they came to town shop or attend to church services. The Weber Sunday House at The Pioneer Museum is a good example. Location: 325 W Main St.

National Museum of the Pacific War:  This vast complex spread over three galleries on six acres is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. Fredericksburg is also the birthplace of U.S. Naval hero, Admiral Chester William Nimitz, who commanded the U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas in World War II. Location: 311 East Austin St.

Sipping Texas Wines

Fredericksburg and its surrounding area are home to over 100 wineries. Hill Country is the largest AVA in Texas and one of the largest in the United States. Situated in the Pedernales River Valley and surrounding hills, this region is blessed with fertile soils and what locals call “Luckenbach loam.”  – dense clay-based soils that drain slowly and provide good permeability – ideal for growing in the Texas heat. These soils and diurnal temperature variation (hot days, cool nights) are ideal for growing many wine grapes and other cash crops like the sweet Hill Country peaches. The region’s grape varieties can take the heat and draw from the Iberian Peninsula, southern Rhone and southern Italy. Standout reds we tasted included: Tempranillo, Alicante Bouschet, Aglianico, Garnacha, Mourvèdre, Malbec and Syrah. Whites included Vermentino, Viognier and Trebbiano.

Several companies offer private tours that allow someone else to do the driving. Find information at the Fredericksburg Visitors Center in town. We visited the following wineries:

Pedernales Cellars, Owned and operated by a sixth generation Texas family and established in the 1990s, Pedernales Cellars produces wines from 100% Texas fruit. Pedernales Cellars is named for  the Pedernales River which runs through the Texas Hill Country. The tasting room and outdoor patio offer a pleasant setting overlooking the river valley.

K Estate (Heath Family Vineyards) is a family-owned wine estate with five properties in Texas and a sister winery in Paso Robles. Join the K Estate Wine Club and enjoy access to the excellent on-site bistro menu and patio with scenic vineyard views of the Hill Country. The Heath Sparkling wines are not to be missed.

Meierstone Vineyards. Owner Krystal Patel established her winery on her family’s 555-acre fifth generation working farm and ranch in Stonewall, Texas. Meierstone Vineyards has picked up several accolades, including a Best in Show Saddle from the Houston Rodeo Wine Competition, the Texas winemaker’s holy grail. A flagship wine is the 2021 Airship red blend, created in homage Meierstone winemaker’s family descendant, Jacob Brodbeck, who built what is known to be the first powered flying machine in Texas.

Texas Wine Collective is a roadside tasting room and wine shop that offers different wine tasting experiences that spotlight selections from three family wineries: Brennan Vineyards, McPherson Cellars and Lost Oak Winery. There are also Texas ciders to try. Location: 10354 US 290 East.

Wildseed Farm is a grower-producer that supplies grapes to other wineries and makes some of its own award-winning wines which you can try in the on-site tasting room. With over 200 acres, Wildseed Farm is also the largest working wildflower farm in the United States. The delightful gift shop sells packets of wildflower seeds tailored to different growing regions of the United States.   Early Spring is peak time to view fields of Texas’s famous bluebonnets and poppies, but Wildseed Farms offers year-round natural beauty. Location: 100 Legacy Drive.

 

Hill Country Cooking: Where To Dine

Hill Country cooking blends the best of locally grown products with contemporary flavors. Naturally, the Texas beef is first rate, and portions are generous. Here are the restaurants we visited and recommend:

The Wellhouse at the Albert Hotel

The Wellhouse at the Albert Hotel is its farm-to-table restaurant located on the ground floor just past the large cocktail bar. The seared New York strip steak was the hands-down winning dish. The Albert Hotel offers 105 stylish rooms and a large swimming pool for colling off during the summer months. The hotel is named for local architect and preservationist, Albert Keidel, whose family members were among Fredericksburg’s early settlers. Location: 213 E. Austin St.

Hill and Vine This family-owned spot just off the main throughfare serves new southern/American fare and cocktails. Portions are generous and shareable. We were blown away by the charcuterie and cheese presentation alone! Every dish we tasted was terrific. Bonus on the well thought out wine list. The creative menu and attentive staff guaranteed our return. Location: 210 S. Adams St.

The Restaurant at Hill Country Herb Garden is located in a lush garden setting that is home to 154 unique botanical species including 60 native to Texas. Many items on the restaurant’s menu are sourced from the on-site culinary garden. The menu ranges from healthy salads to hearty sandwiches and burgers. Hill Country Herb Garden and Spa has individual artists cottages on site as well as a luxury spa located on-property. There is also an adorable gift shop.  Location: 405 Whitney St.

Six Twists is an elegant sparkling wine and caviar lounge owned by Melissa & Bobby Humphries. In addition to some impressive grower champagnes, the Humphries have thoughtfully curated fine cavas and other sparkling wines from around the world. The feel is clubby and intimate. A signature offering is the champagne and caviar pairing. The Humphries are also opening a wine bar next door, for those who don’t drink bubbles. Location: 425 E Main St.

Dot’s Bakery and Biergarten had just opened when we visited for coffee and fresh-made kolaches and cinnamon rolls. Owner Francis Money named the bakery after her grandmother, “Hot Dot” Colvin, who first taught her how to bake. Many of Dot’s handwritten recipes have found their way onto the menu. Back of the bakery is a biergarten and a distillery in development. Francis and her husband, Carl Money, also own Pontotoc Vineyards nearby in the northern Hill Country.  Location: 314 East Austin St.

For a Full-On Culinary Experience

Family- run Das Peach Haus is home to Fischer & Wieser, known for its award-winning condiments and sauces. In the store, you can try just about every product they produce. The on-site cooking studio offered classes and private events (advance reservations needed). Our dinner incorporated some of Fischer & Wieser’s products into flavorful dishes and was paired with Texas wines.

While onsite, sip cocktails next door at Dietz Distillery. Founder Dietz Fischer (same family) is making some terrific small batch brandies and a London style gin named Five Judges. The beautiful lake at Das Peach Haus offers relaxation time and a few Airstream trailers to rent for short stays. Location: 1406 South Highway 87.

Feeling Peachy?

Sweet, juicy Texas peaches come in many varieties. Summer is peak season to enjoy them at local farmstands. Year-round, you will find plenty of peach jam, peach butter, peach salsa, peach cobbler, and even a peach wine. Free sampling is encouraged. The family-run orchards we visited and recommend include Vogel Orchards, Jenschke Orchards and Burgs Corner.

Alternative Accommodations to Take in Nature

Fredericksburg is filled with accommodations from well-known brand hotels to bed and breakfasts, from casual to luxury. Here are two other options located just out of town with unique accommodations.

Odonata Escape a sustainably built retreat about a four-mile drive from town and a peaceful retreat situated near an open field. Each individually themed and thoughtfully decorated suite with a kitchenette is built inside repurposed shipping containers.  Odonata Escape is located in what is known as a “dark sky” area, ideal for stargazing. Enjoy evening sunsets and cook s’mores over the open firepit. You may see a few wild rabbits nibbling in the gardens. Odonata, which means “dragonfly,” is a great getaway for couples, families and small retreats. Location: 186 Grasshopper Lane.

HoneyTree is another retreat for nature lovers located about four miles from town. Accommodations include both hillside and treehouse cabins. The rooms have tree names. As an example, check out The Sapling at HoneyTree  Location: 7656 Ranch Rd 965.

The only thing we lacked in Fredericksburg was more time to explore and the chance to see the famous Texas Bluebonnets. But we will be back! Our trip was hosted by Visit Fredericksburg Texas and we are grateful for everyone’s hospitality.

Enjoy our show episode “Eat, Drink, Explore Fredericksburg” on The Connected Table Live TV on YouTube. Here is the link. Or listen on the podcast channel of your choice. Here is a stream on iHeart Radio.