Fredericksburg for Fall

2020 has continued to be crazy for all of us but a long weekend in Texas Wine Country, proved to be the perfect escape to welcome in fall!

Stay at Sky’s
in
Texas Wine Country

We stayed in a newly constructed farmhouse outside of Fredericksburg to make the most of our quiet, hill country stay. In a little town called Johnson City, TX – we found the most quaint Airbnb. 

Our host, Sky, was the nicest “good ol’ boy”. He personally welcomed us to his property wearing his well worn, croc cowboy boots. Sky and his ranch offer the most authentic oasis including the faint sounds of cows mooing, crickets chirping, and a babbling brook water feature. At night, the property lights up by the most perfect, unobstructed starry night sky. I could honestly get lost in the stars for hours.

Sky’s house also features a hot tub, ample parking and a fully furnished kitchen. His attention to detail is impressive! Inside and out, Sky fully decorated for the season. Including hay bales, pumpkins, and cute scarecrows. 🙂

My favorite touch was the personalized Welcome Letter!

Carter Creek Winery

We settled into our Airbnb, then headed off for dinner and drinks at Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa.
It was officially time to immerse ourselves into Texas Wine Country!
Just down the street, still in Johnson City, TX, this fabulous little winery also boasts a great selection for beer enthusiasts as well!

Their main hall, Old 290 Brewery, features Hill Country Craft Beer, Texas Wine, and a full menu to enjoy while you drink.

Old 290
Texas Wine Country Road

We were all in the mood for something different, but thats what makes Carter Creek perfect!
Mario stuck with his love of IPAs, while Erik enjoyed the beer tasting flight, to try a little of everything.
Ivonne enjoyed the Hyebiscus Summer Wheat and I played the wild card, ordering Sparkling Peach wine.

For dinner, the boys went with the Old 290 burgers and a side of sweet potato fries. They loved the big patty served on a brioche bun, fully dressed with a special house sauce! Ivonne tried out their little Mama Maui’s Pizza. Nothing like pizza and beer, am I right?! It was so tasty and is served table side in a box, making it easy to take home any leftovers. I went for the grilled Chicken Sandwich served on artisan bread with avocado, bacon, cheese and a rich Texas remoulade.
To start, we all shared some of the Angry Birds bites – and honestly – these are a must order! Such a unique sauce and so full of flavor, this appetizer is easily my favorite thing on the whole menu.

After a few more rounds over great conversation and the tunes pouring in from the live music pavilion / dance hall, we decided to grab a few bottle to enjoy back at the house!

Friday Night
Night Cap

The Sparkling Peach wine I ordered was such a hit – we bought a bottle of that to enjoy all together.
This wine is just sweet enough with a hint of bubbles that make it so refreshing!
As Carter Creek describes it “a blend of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat Canelli and Pinot Noir. Lightly Sweet, refreshingly crisp and unmistakably peach.”

Our second choice was a bottle of the 2017 Viognier/Roussanne. This wine continued on our fruit train but in a delightfully different way.
As Carter Creek describes it “these two Rhone varieties are blended to create a wine that is layered with complex stone fruit and candied lemon zest notes. Full bodied with a long silky, finish; a great alternative to Chardonnay.”

Our wine selections came in the cutest, re-usable wine tote with 4 shatterproof, stemless wineglasses. This touch was very much appreciated. Now we could all enjoy these delicious wines the right way, and not from mismatched coffee mugs back at the Airbnb!

First Night Notes

We stayed up talking and drinking, just laughing and enjoying each others company.
To recap our first Texas Wine Country experience, at Carter Creek Winery, here are the high notes:

– Great for large groups with varying palettes
– Drinks and dinner available, not just lite bites
– Live Music and Dancing in a large, outdoor pavilion
– Unique German Beer Hall aesthetic, playing into nearby Fredericksburg’s German roots!

As the night came to a close, it was time to hit the hay before our long first day in true Texas Wine Country
Continued on Day 2