By: Allen Shaw

So, you have decided to take a weekend wine tasting trip through the Lone Star State. What better place to start than the Texas Hill Country…known across the United States as the Napa Valley of the Southwest. With more than 35 wineries in the Texas Hill Country, tourists can "taste" and "feel" what real wine should taste like without having to travel to western United States or the rolling hills of Europe.

THE MOST POPULAR TEXAS WINE TOURS

Let's take a look at why Texas holds a place in the wine making industry along the distinguished sides of Italy and the Napa Valley.

Highland Trail – North Hill Country Wine Tour

One of the most popular wine tasting tours in the Texas Hill Country is along the Highland Trail, just a few hours north of Austin. This one-day trip encompasses four wineries, including, Fall Creek Vineyards, Lost Creek Vineyards, Spicewood Vineyards and the Texas Hills Vineyards. During the tour, you will experience every type of wine from homegrown recipes to Texas-styled wines concocted with old style Italian recipes.

Enchanted Trail – South Hill Country Wine Tour

The South Hill Country tour along Enchanted Trail includes stops at four wineries, including Fredericksburg Winery, the premiere winery in the state of Texas. After a stop at the Fredericksburg Winery, the tour makes the rounds through the Grape Creek Winery followed by stops at Becker Vineyards and Texas Hills Vineyards.

You can end the day back in Austin with dinner at one of the state capitals fine dining establishments. From Italian food at Buca di Beppo to homegrown Tex-Mex at Pattons on Main, there is no cuisine out of the realm of Austin's eclectic restaurant district.

OTHER TOURS FOR THE WINE-TASTING CONNOISSEUR

For the wine tasting connoisseur with a little country in their soul, the Luckenbach Wine Tasting Tour should not be missed. Just 50 miles north of San Antonio, Willie Nelson made historic Luckenbach, Texas famous when he sang of the city in a song by the same name. The tour starts with a 1 ½-hour drive through the Texas Hill Country and stops off at the Texas Hills Vineyards. The next stop on the your is the city of Luckenbach itself with a stop at the historic Luckenbach Bar where visitors can experience live music everyday. The next stop on the tour is the Sister Creek Vineyards, housed in an old-fashioned cotton gin built in 1885. The tour ends at the Beeker Vineyards, winner of numerous state and national awards.