Wife and I are headed down for a last minute trip to wine country this weekend while she's on break. We typically stay closer to F'burg but decided to stay near Hye and experience more of the expanding JC area.

Any recommendations for wineries, eateries or places to visit along the Stonewall to JC area?

Looking forward to at least making it to 12 Fires this trip.

Stop into Pebble Rock Cellars. An old classmate of mine owns it with her husband.

We always stay in JC when we go to Fredericksburg.

Vinovium on Avenue G is a great afternoon stop. Good sandwiches and charcuterie boards, and they sell their own wine. I think they close early so it's best to check hours.

Farmhouse Vineyards on Main is also worth a visit. They are the tasting room for a west Texas vineyard that supplies a lot of wineries in FB, and they also make their own wines.

We love Siboney Cellars, which is just outside of JC on 290 about two miles before you reach 12 Fires. You don't have to do a tasting; they'll sell wine by the glass or bottle.

Foodwise, Bryan's on 290 is probably the best "fancy" restaurant. Been there twice and enjoyed it both times. We've also eaten at Pecan Street Brewing, Proof and Cooper and 290 Locale Pizza. All were fine. No doubt there are better options in FBurg but those are close by.

The Jittery Biscuit is a good breakfast/coffee place, as is Johnson City Coffee.

We've never been to Tatum Cellars tasting room in downtown JC, because it's always been closed when we've gone by. But I've read good things about their wine. Worth a try.

Untamed winery is great. Nice outdoor patio and fantastic pizza.

Bryan's on 290. William Chris and Calais wineries are our two favorites out that way.

stamper said:

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Untamed winery is great. Nice outdoor patio and fantastic pizza.

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Untamed is really nice. They had the best wine I tasted on a recent visit to Fburg.

hurleyag said:

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Stop into Pebble Rock Cellars. An old classmate of mine owns it with her husband.

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I second Pebble Rock. It is a great tasting experience that is intimate and not packed or rushed. It's been a minute since we've been there so I don't know if this is still the same but we went to a separate room that feels like you're sitting in your friends dining room for our tasting. (And I don't know Hurleyag or the owner, so this is a non-biased opinion.)

If you're looking for a later night option, Texas Hills Vineyard has opened a "speakeasy" type room and stays open late. They serve wine cocktails and their library wines. Full disclosure, the "speakeasy" is not in a basement but rather a cold storage room they have converted. If you're looking for something after 5pm, it fits the bill.

Hill Country Cupboard for chicken fried steak.

I'm a member of Lost Draw Winery. It's the first one on 290 after passing JC and Hye. Great wine, low key, and you can bring your own snacks.

Next door is William Chris winery

Check out Nice N Easy in downtown Johnson City. My old roommate at TAMUG is one of the owners and former brewer at Jester King. I don't think he's currently brewing his own beer under Yokefellow right now, but he will have a limited selection of fantastic beers and tasty craft cocktails. They do serve a limited amount of food as well. Also, they carry Lightsome Wines, which is made by his wife.



If you're looking for wine, check out Adega Vinho in Stonewall. Another old college friend operates this with his family. Even thought I helped plant some of the vines when they were initially starting, I'm ashamed I haven't made a visit yet. They are producing some award winning stuff though.

digging tunnels said:

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I'm a member of Lost Draw Winery. It's the first one on 290 after passing JC and Hye. Great wine, low key, and you can bring your own snacks.

Next door is William Chris winery

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Pretty sure William Chris is Aggie owned.

It is indeed, Chris a great Ag

B-1 83 said:

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Hill Country Cupboard for chicken fried steak.

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I must have gone on their worst day ever.

You musta been one of them in that 5th dozen when they got tired.

It was years ago. I much prefer the one at Hilltop Cafe in Fredericksburg.

I like Untamed as well. We are also fans of Grape Creek/Heath especially if you like bubbles.

On the road out of Fredericksburg toward llano (16) is a fantastic burger place called Pecan Grove Store. Live Music, very casual. The burgers are amazing.

We love the wine and vibe at 12 Fires (the owners were red pots that built 12 bonfires between them).

beavers8486 said:

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On the road out of Fredericksburg toward llano (16) is a fantastic burger place called Pecan Grove Store. Live Music, very casual. The burgers are amazing.

We love the wine and vibe at 12 Fires (the owners were red pots that built 12 bonfires between them).

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My buddy told me about Pecan Grove. Said the same about the burgers. Haven't made it there yet.

We really enjoyed our stay. We hit some of our normal places - Altstadt, Garrison, Narrow Path - spent a day exploring Johnson City down to Blanco and back and then a day of just wine tastings.
We really enjoyed Farmhouse, 12 Fires and Lost Draw. We stayed in the Casitas at Featherstone so we gave them a try - very hospitable but wasn't our favorite winery.

Our next visit, we'll likely plan to camp at Pedernales Falls and work our way around that area.