11 Kid-Friendly Texas Hill Country Wineries To Visit

Photo courtesy of Messina Hof Winery
Photo courtesy of Messina Hof Winery
1/20/21 - By Ashley Jones

From Houston, you can drive just a few hours outside of the city and find yourself surrounded by the majestic landscape and pristine fields of wildflowers in the Texas Hill Country. This beautiful scenery combined with lakes, rivers, campsites, and historic towns makes a quick getaway completely worth the time and energy. While you're in the Hill Country, taking some time to visit some of Texas' phenomenal wineries is almost a rite of passage on any weekend getaway... even with kids in tow!

The Texas wine scene has exploded in popularity in recent years and sampling some of the delicious wines made right in our own state is a must. These family-friendly Hill Country wineries and vineyards are a fantastic choice for your next family trip—and all of the locations below are taking precautions for COVID-19.

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While we are trying to promote safer activities that occur outdoors or with social distancing guidelines in place, please keep your family and others safe by always wearing a mask and maintaining appropriate distance. If you are traveling outside of your local area, check if COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the area, and respect any travel restrictions, advisories, or quarantine orders.

During the pandemic, most wineries are operating at 50 percent capacity, and many require a food purchase along with the tasting, in compliance with new regulations from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.​

Wineries in and around Fredericksburg

1. Messina Hof Hill Country

9996 U.S. 290 East, Fredericksburg
830-990-4653

At Messina Hof Hill Country, children are welcome on winery tours and in the tasting room, and grape juice is provided in lieu of wine for underage visitors. In August, the annual Harvest Festival is a family-friendly event featuring a grape stomp for all to enjoy. The winery is attached to an adults-only bed and breakfast, but because it is located in Fredericksburg there are plenty of nearby kid-friendly lodging options.

Winter 2021 Update: Messina Hof is still operating, but with limited services and hours. You can enjoy curbside tastings during the week, but on weekends reservations are required to visit the property. Food purchases are also required. The Sip Survival Kits are a fun alternative where you can enjoy wine and cheese pairings from the comfort of your hotel or vacation rental!

2. Blue Lotus Winery

Two locations: 8500 Hwy 290, Hye
5151 FM 20, Seguin

830-379-9463
With a large outdoor area with plenty of room to play, kids have a blast at Blue Lotus Winery while parents sample the Texas-made wines. Board games, puzzles, oversized Jenga, and chess games keep kids entertained for hours. Plus the entire tasting room is shaped like a wine barrel, which is just stunning to look at.

Winter 2021 Update: Both locations of Blue Lotus are open with limited capacity, and food orders are required along with tastings. Masks are required when not eating and drinking.

3. Chisolm Trail Winery

2367 Usener Road, Fredericksburg
830-990-2675

Supervised kiddos are welcome in the Chisolm Trail Winery tasting room, but the crown jewel of a trip to this Fredericksburg spot is the pizzeria where kids can nosh on wood-fired pizzas. There is also plenty of space for kids to sprawl out in outdoor areas, and checkers and horseshoes are available to play.

Winter 2021 Update: The kitchen is currently only serving meat and cheese plates—no hot meals. 

Messina Hof Hill Country
Participating in the grape stomp at Messina Hof Hill Country/ Photo courtesy Messina Hof Hill Country via Facebook

Wineries near Austin & San Marcos 

4. Bell Springs Winery

3700 Bell Springs Road, Dripping Springs
512-643-7398

The onsite food truck at Bell Springs Winery make kids hot dogs and quesadillas and make parents brunchy favorites on the weekends. Live music by local Austin-area musicians can be enjoyed free of charge every Saturday and Sunday from 3pm-5pm. The outdoor area is a stellar place for taking in Hill country views and sipping some vino while the kids run amock.

Winter 2021 Update: Reservations are required for wine tastings. The good news is the staple food trucks typically parked on-site remain present and open during the pandemic. Food cannot be purchased currently in the tasting room, however.

5. Perissos Vineyards

7214 Park Road 4 West, Burnet
512-820-2950

Perissos Vineyards is located in the quaint lakeside town of Burnet and features a modern tasting room and expansive patio with gorgeous vineyard views. Kids are welcome both in the tasting room and the patio, as well as on vineyard tours and at special events throughout the year like harvests and grape stomps.

Winter 2021 Update: Reservations are required for some tastings and tours, but the vineyards' hours remain the same and the food menu remains unchanged.

Sister Creek Vineyards
Kids will enjoy learning the history of this gorgeous vineyard. Photo courtesy Sister Creek Vineyards

6. El Gaucho Winery

21301 Kathy Lane, Spicewood
512-382-0620

El Gaucho's website states that the winery is not only pet friendly but "kid enthusiastic" as well. When you take kids with you to tour El Gaucho Winery, you're met with sweeping views and authentic Argentinian food and hospitality. Special events are held throughout the year for the entire family to enjoy.

Winter 2021 Update: El Gaucho remains open with slightly reduced hours. Social distancing and mask requirements are in place, and groups are limited to a maximum of 10 individuals.

7. Fall Creek Vineyards

Two locations - Tow and Driftwood
325-379-5361 
512-858-4050 

I grew up visiting Fall Creek Vineyards in Tow on Lake Buchanan as a kid, and it is just as family friendly now as it was all those years ago. A family owned and operated vineyard, Fall Creek has now expanded its winery to include a location in Driftwood that has picturesque views and is just a short drive from Austin. Both locations are just breathtaking, and the staff is ultra-friendly.

Winter 2021 Update: The tasting room is open at both locations, and it's best to make a reservation beforehand. Social distancing practices are enforced.

8. Duchman Family Winery

13308 FM 150 West, Driftwood
512-858-1470

Parents can sip wine made with 100 percent Texas-grown grapes while kids play a game of cornhole, run around in wide open spaces, or head next door to play on the playground at adjacent restaurant Trattoria Lisina, where wood-fired pizzas are also served.

Winter 2021 Update: Enjoy wine and food on site or by curbside pickup, but the indoor tasting room is currently closed. The winery has plenty of outdoor space under the shade of Texas oak Trees, however, where bottle service is offered.

Blue Lotus Winery
Kids can roam free on the gigantic patio area at Blue Lotus Winery. Photo courtesy Blue Lotus Winery 

Wineries near San Antonio and New Braunfels

9. Sister Creek Vineyards

1142 Sisterdale Road, Boerne
830-324-6704

You can bring your kids and your pets (under 25 lbs and on a leash) to the tasting room and ample outdoor space at Sister Creek Vineyards. This rustic winery is built in what used to be a working cotton gin and cotton field turned vineyard. Reviews say this venue is off the beaten path, but in the best way outside of the typical tourist finds and rich with historical significance.

Winter 2021 Update: The tasting room is currently closed, but Sister Creek is offering curbside sales of bottles every day from noon to 5pm.

10. Singing Water Vineyards

316 Mill Dam Road, Comfort
830-995-2246

With two tasting rooms, a deck, and a treehouse that overlooks a creek where kids can play, there is plenty of space for the entire family to enjoy at Singing Water Vineyards in Comfort. The grill serves quesadillas, grilled cheese, and other kid-friendly bites. Live music is on offer on the weekends, as well as llamas and goats to visit on site. 

Winter 2021 Update: The restaurant remains open with a full food and wine menu, and masks are required when not eating or drinking. 

11. Dry Comal Creek Vineyards

1741 Herbelin Road, New Braunfels
830-885-4076

Kids can enjoy exploring ample outdoor spaces under a covered pavilion or shady oak trees at Dry Comal Creek Vineyards. If you thought New Braunfels was already extra kid-friendly, a visit to Dry Comal Creek Vineyards where you can drink Texas-made wines while your kids play is like icing on the cake.

Winter 2021 Update: Dry Comal changed its policy so that all visitors must be ages 21 and up, and only outdoor spaces are being utilized. These are temporary changes in response to the pandemic. Reservations are required to enjoy food and wine.

Singing Waters Vineyards
Kids can enjoy meeting goats and llamas at Singing Water Vineyards. Photo courtesy Singing Waters Vineyards via Facebook

 

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