This winery is the only Texas winery to be listed among the World's 50 Best Vineyards, recently published by William Reed (the long-established organizer of wine-industry ranking) and compiled by a global academy of more than 700 wine and travel experts. So it's the real deal. After you make your online reservation (which is extremely easy to do), you're greeted at the entry gate a hostess / staff member, who comes wine-in-hand to give you a welcome beverage and offer you a greeting that excites Texas Hospitality. You're briefly shown thegrounds, walked over to your tasting room, and introduced to your server. The grounds are absolutely lovely. This time of year the vineyards are lush and green. The property overlooks a lovely valley that reminds me of California. Walk around and you'll discover a lovely Monarch butterfly garden teaming with life. We saw over a dozen butterflies and a hummingbird. And the colors of the garden are so vibrant. We had a lovely tasting, bought a bottle of wine to take back to our VRBO, and before leaving, we ordered some food from their cafe and ate in one of their patios. The food was expensive but everything was of the highest quality and had to be made from scratch. The tacos came in beef (an amazing smoked beef cheek) or chicken (adequately spiced with Hatch green chillies) and homemade flour tortillas, homemade chips, and amazing salsa that I would have bought a bottle of if they sold it. Today's tasting was all red. But they switch things out seasonally and you may get whites or roses. But here's what you should know. Only 3% of Texas wineries only ever use Texas grapes. Some offer estate wines and many bring grapes in from the Texas High Plains but those are most often then blended with grapes from California, Washington or elsewhere. This place only works withTexas grapes. So... you're going to get the purest expressions of what the Texas soil and climate produces. This includes Tennat (tons of tannin) and Mourvedre (a small grape with thick skin that also delivers high tannin and is earthy, smokey, peppery... very savory). These grapes are celebrated in Spain, France and Uruguay. So you may be quite familiar with them. But they are very different from the far fruitier wines you may be most familiar with. They are certainly not California Napa cabs or pinots, Sonoma chards or Lodi zins. So know what you're getting into. Since they rotate their tastings, we'll come back and try more of their offerings. I really respect what they are doing here, and wineries like this are part of what makes Texas great. read more

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Overall, I really enjoyed our experience at William Chris and had a wonderful time! We were greeted with a welcome wine (Mary Ruth) which is one of the flagship whites. This ended up being my favorite wine, not only of the whole tasting, but of the multiple vineyards we visited that day. We were brought to our tasting station which allowed for standing only and our guide was very knowledgable about the wines. I especially liked that he was purposefully reluctant to share the wine notes so that we could judge for ourselves (however, as someone who only tastes notes of wine and nothing else, it made it a little difficult). We ended up with a lineup of reds which was not what I expecting. Despite not being a huge fan of red wine, I still fully enjoyed myself and the wine that we tried. Our guide even gave us another tasting to try that was a off menu. I will be back and hopefully, I can try some more whites at that time! My biggest regret is not buying a bottle of the Mama Ruth. What in the world was I thinking? read more

This was our first time trying this vineyard. It's not too far from Fredericksburg, so I'd suggest making it one of the first stops of the day. It does get very busy though, so plan accordingly. Rather large grounds with multiple tasting rooms and an outdoor seating area where live music is played. The wine was pretty good; I'm not a big red drinker, but I got the appeal. My husband (who did enjoy red) really enjoyed the wine. A few friends had a tasting here as well and enjoyed it. Overall, a nice place, with a simple tasting menu for many to enjoy. read more

William Chris Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Hye, Texas

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Amazing wine tasting experience here! This was our first tasting on my first trip to Fredericksburg. I was very impressed! The grounds and tasting room are beautiful, and we didn't even explore some of the other areas including the big patio where we saw people enjoying charcuterie and wine. Our guide was patient, friendly, and knowledgeable about the wines and story of the business. The tastings were more than just a splash of each wine too, so we could really taste and savor each one. My friend made the reservation and paid in advance for all of us. As soon as we arrived they were ready for us to begin our experience. It was easy to get an uber afterward too. Most importantly - the wines were really good! I was impressed. Can't wait to go back and try more! read more

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Besides the excellent choices of wine, the property and the views are absolutely stunning. One of my favorite places to visit. Staff is always so welcoming and helpful. read more

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I read this vineyard is "The first and only Texas winery on The World's 50 Best Vineyards List" sooo I had to show up for Texas! I booked the 75min seated wine tasting with 5 signature wines to get healthy experience. It was 2 of us and Mary assisted our visit. She has been at the vineyard for about 9 years and loves her job. She did a great job of giving us the history of the vineyard, stories about the owners, info about the grapes, and kept the pours coming! Really enjoyed the expensive and recommend it as it's just a nice way to learn more about wine. During the tasting we treated ourselves to a charcuterie board and it was a great size. Where things went south was when we went to the bistro. They lost a record of our order so we sat around for 40 minutes to get nothing but hungry. They refunded me for the mistake so that made it right. read more

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The good: the sauvignon blanc as soon as we checked in was delicious! It started is off well. The wines were generally nice, there was nothing I disliked. The part of the grounds I saw were pretty. There was quite a bit of seating on a deck/ patio. I bought a bottle of the Sangiovese and the Skeleton Key. The meh: The place was jam packed, so we waited for a bit until it was our reservation time, and were taken into a large room where tasting was going on. It was loud, our table/surface was a rolling island and it had a little bit of a rushed/ hectic feeling. You couldn't get anything to eat while you tasted, which of course isn't the end of the world but sometimes it's nice to snack whilst tasting. (Unless i missed something) read more

Decent winery in the Johnson City. Mainly outdoor venue with solid wine options. They also had live music while we were there. Worth checking out! read more

William Chris Vineyards - Live music - Wineries Near Me - Hye, Texas

Danielle gave us an exceptional and educational wine tasting experience in the Texas Hill Country. She was knowledgeable of the land, the varietals in their wines, and was just overall a pleasure to chat with. My partner grew up in Napa, I have worked in several wineries in/near Calistoga...she was top notch for any region - and was the star of our Hill Country wine tasting experience. Excited to enjoy the bottles we shipped when we get back to Napa. Beautiful facility, exceptional experience. Thank you William Chris Vineyards! read more

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We stopped by William Chris Vineyards in winery in Hye, TX on the way to Fredericksburg.  It's a very nice location and sits in the heart of the beautiful Texas Hill country. The views are pretty amazing. Over the years the winery has done a lot to expand, adding new buildings and new party areas for the members club.  Even though we were a walk-in, and they were pretty busy, they quickly accommodated us, and we had our tasting in the new tasting room, located to the rear of the property by the vineyards. In addition to the nice ladies who helped us at the welcome station, the workers in the tasting room were equally as pleasant.... Knowledgeable about the wines, and very informative about the various areas of Texas where the grapes are grown.  The wines themselves were all reserve reds, and it was a mixed bag IMHO.  We loved the Mourvedre and the Sangiovese, not so much the others (La Pradera Blend, Cabernet Franc, and Enchante).  We also shared a charcuterie board which was very good! IMHO, the wines are way over-priced, especially when compared to substantially similar wines at other good Texas wineries.  There are too many great wines out there to be paying mid to upper $60s, into the $70s per bottle.  It's a nice and fun place to visit, just way over-priced for the quality. read more

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One of the highlights of coming back to Fredericksburg is visiting a winery or distillery to enjoy some great wines or whiskeys. Although my understanding is that reservations are preferred, we were close and stopped by as William Chris has great reviews. They have a greeting area set up where we chatted and were immediately escorted to the main building, where we had a host focused solely on us for at least an hour of tasting and learning about the history of the region and the winery. During this time, we discussed Texas wine and how it compared to Washington wines. One of our favorite wines in Washington is the Cab Franc. Lo and behold, they had one, not highlighted in the tasting nor expected, but we were able to try it, and it was wonderful. We loved it so much that we ordered three bottles, and had it shipped home to Washington State. This is a great winery that I would rank in the top three of wineries we would repeatedly visit while in Texas wine country. read more

On the Texas Wine Trail, where wineries are popping up at an alarming rate offering mediocre wines, Willam Chris is a diamond in the rough. To my palate, Texas wine just isn't that good. You can get a better house wine at a Madrid dive bar or average French cafe. The growth of wineries in the Fredericksburg has been divisive - great for tourists but not so great for many locals. William Chris actually has good wines and good service. Locals work here and it has been good for the small village of Hye. Every time I have come here has been an excellent experience, thanks to team members such as Michelle. This is as pleasant an experience as you will have at a winery down here. No gimmicks, no cheap sales tricks - just delicious wine and Hill Country hospitality. read more

Wine tasting hosted by Kevin was great. Loved the 5 red wines we tasted this afternoon.

Voted top 100 vineyard in the world right here only an hour from Austin... worth a visit! We went on a Sunday to a music event to check it out. They welcome you with a taste of their sparkling rose.. and give a quick tour of the property. They have 3 tastings rooms or you can purchase by the glass or bottle while you enjoy a seat at the outdoor covered area. There is also a gift shop. Staff was all friendly and eager to answer questions. read more

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First time wine tasting experience and I found it very enjoyable. Visited with a few friends, one celebrating a birthday. Our server was excellent and she explained the wines in depth. The ambience was warm and welcoming. read more

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Beautiful property- wines were good and food was delicious. However, teepees at the property were a huge turn off- using indigenous structures for commercial use in this way is culturally insensitive and cultural appropriation. Do better! I will not personally be holding any events at this property or recommending it unto these are taken down. read more

William Chris Vineyards - Tee pees for rent - Wineries Near Me - Hye, Texas

There are many vineyards along the 290 Wine Trail, but after reading through both Google and Yelp reviews, we decided on William Chris Vineyards--and we're so glad we did. We reserved the Chef's Table experience for three through their website, leaving a note requesting a substitution for the beef course for one of our guests. The arrival experience set the tone beautifully. At the semi-open reception area (covered but open-air), we were warmly greeted by the staff, who checked us in and welcomed us with a chilled glass of sparkling wine. On a hot early summer day, it was incredibly refreshing and appreciated. Since our session hadn't started yet, we had some time to explore and take photos. The vineyard features a signature structure that's perfect for Instagram-worthy shots--one of the reasons it's so popular with visitors. When the experience began, we were led into the wine library, where our table was elegantly set. The menu included four thoughtfully paired dishes with wine, and to our pleasant surprise, we were also offered two additional wine tastings. Our host, John, was not only knowledgeable but also entertaining. His storytelling and insights into the winemaking process added depth and delight to the experience, making it as educational as it was enjoyable. By the end of the session, we were so impressed that we purchased a bottle of Mourvèdre and their sparkling wine to take home--perfect for savoring on a special occasion. read more

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We have stayed away from the Texas vineyards since moving to Texas over a decade ago thinking they weren't going to be any good due to the weather in Texas. But this year for our anniversary we decided to check out this vineyard per a suggestion from my husband's coworker. Firstly, the grounds that this vineyard are on were GORGEOUS. It would make sure a nice venue space.... even though I asked, and no they do not do weddings there- sorry. We purchased tickets in advance for a wine tasting online- and I highly suggest you do the same on a weekend to secure your spot. They were very accommodating even though we showed up a little bit early. They also were so thrilled we chose to spend our anniversary with them. They gave us a great seat with a view of the vineyard and even let us try a couple extra wines- which of course made them an extra sale from us with the bottles to bring home. I wish all their wines were available online to ship because the sauvignon blanc was OUT OF THIS WORLD. And we should have purchased more to bring home for another time. They also allow you to stroll around the vineyard at your leisure and take your time. It's a lovely venue and I wish it were closer to us in DFW. Highly suggest! read more

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Wonderful people, Wonderful music and Wonderful BBQ & Beer! Right next to Pedernales Falls State park.

William Chris is a beautiful winery located on the outskirts of downtown Fredericksburg. We arrived without reservations on Thanksgiving Friday. The folks at the welcome center poured us a wonderful Rose' tasting as we waited for them to accommodate our party of four. Our tasting was a wonderful experience as we enjoyed their Texas high and hill country wines and learned about the winery's origins. Our favorites were the Enchante' a complex Cab, and their juicy Petite Shiraz. The property is beautiful with indoor and outdoor areas for you to enjoy their wine and food offerings. They are pooch and kid-friendly with a large play area for the kiddos. Be sure to visit their country store on your way out. Be aware this is a Red winery so they do not offer whites. Our wine ambassador said that they make red wine for white wine drinkers. The Rose' and Shiraz could be an option for you. read more

Two because it's a beautiful property. There is nothing to tell you which facility is the tasting room at the front. Went to where we saw most of the people sitting as there are several facilities. We were met by a very rude hostess, passed off to a banjo picker that thought he was fancy. He asked why we were there. For a glass of wine at the winery? He said it's your lucky day as the bldg we were in was for members but since all we wanted was a glass of wine, we were welcome on a weekday. Took our wine, walked outside and finished our wine and left. The apparent commoners were in another bldg. Wine enthusiasts just skip it. read more

We'd been wanting to visit William Chris for a long time, but every time we were in Fredericksburg it just didn't work out. We always heard how crowded it gets and that you have to arrive early, so this time we made it a priority. Let me say, it was absolutely worth the wait. We were one of the first groups to arrive, and the best part was that we had our dog Mojo with us. We looked ahead of time and it said dog friendly, but you never really know how dog friendly they are. They were amazing and welcomed him with open arms and even brought him his own bowl of water. We sat out on the patio and had such a great time. Both my husband and I did a wine tasting, and our server Kaie (if I spelled it wrong, forgive me! Most importantly I remember her name and it was spelled in a unique way!) Anyway, she made the whole experience truly unforgettable. She was bubbly, welcoming, and full of incredible stories about each wine we tasted. It wasn't just a tasting, it felt like we were stepping into the history of William Chris with every pour. Kaie even took us back into the cellar for a taste straight from the barrel (such a cool moment!) and walking through the hallway filled with old photos made it even more special. We saw some of the stories she told us come to life in those pictures. All that was great, but even better... We loved every single wine we tried! Honestly, that has never happened before. Usually, we find a few favorites and a few misses, but this time, every wine was a winner. So of course, we became members and enjoyed a free glass in the members area before wrapping up our visit. And then a couple of weeks later we got a handwritten thank-you card from Kaie, and she remembered Mojo! It completely made our day and speaks volumes about the care and heart they put into everything here. And yes, he got his hug from you guys! :) If you're thinking about visiting, do it. This place is something special. William Chris was 100% worth the wait, and we're already looking forward to going back. read more

Stopped on a recommendation from a coworker. Did the barrel tasting tour with Jillian she was very knowledgeable and great. The grounds were beautiful and wines delicious. Francisco also helped us and showed us around he was absolutely fantastic. Would definitely stop again when back in this area. read more

William Chris Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Hye, Texas

I loved visiting this winery! I love their vision of creating true Texas wine! They have a welcome center before you go for your tasting. Sue was spectacular and did such a great job! You good tell that she was passionate about the wine and honestly it makes you want to know more! I look forward to coming back! read more

William Chris Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Hye, Texas

My husband and I took a quick little wine weekend into Fredericksburg and after researching the hundreds of vineyards and wineries in the area, we narrowed it down to a short list, based on reviews, articles, and reputation. William Chris was easily in our top five, and happened to be our first stop along our little self-led tour of the Texas wine country. It was a great stop and did not disappoint. The property itself is beautiful. I liked that it was set back from the road and that they had grapes growing on-site. We were greeted promptly when we arrived to check in for our reservation. We made reservations online about a week in advance and that process was easy and convenient. There was plenty of parking and they even have Tesla chargers, so even the car was pleased with this stop on our journey! We really appreciated being able to charge while we toured, which allowed us to get home to Austin at the end of the weekend without having to stop for a super charger. The staff is incredible and very diverse. We met people from many different countries and towns, all of whom were extremely knowledgeable about viniculture and wine making. The tasting room was gorgeous and modern, with beautiful windows that allow you to overlook the property while you do a tasting. We tasted about 7 wines total. The tasting fee was $30 per person, which felt really reasonable for the amount of wine we tried. The wines themselves were good, but not quite as tasty as we had hoped. They are definitely worthy of their reputation of being one of the best Texas wines, but I don't know that they would hold up in the broader "world" market of wine. We ordered a picnic lunch to share and thought it would be provided during our tasting so that we could experiment with the food and wine together, but we quickly learned that the tasting was just for wine. After our tasting, which took about 45 minutes (we would have preferred a faster pace) we headed out to some picnic tables under the oak trees for our picnic which was packed for us at the winery. The food was decent but there was mayonnaise on EVERYTHING and we really would suggest putting sauces on the side, so that folks can add what they like and how much they like. We saw an amazing amount of monarchs while we were out on the grounds and we stopped into their general store, which was so completely adorable! We did end up taking home a bottle of red and we do plan to return for a saber experience with a sparkling wine the next time we're in town. If we lived closer, we would probably be a member at this winery. It's nice but alot of their especially great wines are for members only. We were glad we stopped in and definitely plan to return. read more

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This place rolled out the red carpet for my step son and our small group. Josh did a great job explaining the wines while Francisco truly hooked us up. The decor, ambience and layout of this place was incredible as was the staff. The wine was also very good and the charcuterie tray was out of this world. It was one of the best wine tasting experiences we have ever had. read more

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This vineyard was very cute and quaint, and we were greeted with a welcome glass of rosé! The staff were so nice and informative, especially our server, Carly! We did the wine tasting experience and it was delicious! read more

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I went to William Chris for the Vineyard Table experience. The private dining room was rustic and had views of the vineyard. The first course was roots and greens. The dish was colorful and light. It was paired with a subtle, fruity white wine. The next two courses were my favorite. The chicken fried lies and pig in a patch were played together. The smoked pork belly was tender and savory. It was paired with a 2019 Mourvèdre. The chicken fried lie was delicious. It paired well with the lemon aoli. The wine pairing was a 2021 Pradera Vineyard Blend. Our final course was a salted cantaloupe cobbler. It was reminiscent of a Thanksgiving holiday dessert. The smoked cinnamon spice elevated the cobbler. Our host was knowledgeable and friendly. I had a great time. I would recommend this vineyard. read more

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I went with some girlfriends couple of months ago for the very first time and absolutely loved it and one of my friends joined. Then a couple of weeks ago. I took my boyfriend back there and we did a tasting and tour. Marco took care of us and was wonderful. The venue and the grounds are absolutely beautiful, all of the wines that we tasted were very good, everyone that we dealt with was very friendly and knowledgeable. We met up with Michelle who took care of our membership and was just fantastic.. I went with some friends over the weekend for their first pick up party and was extremely impressed with how well organized and how friendly everyone was. From the moment we got there with complementary of valet. To being handed a glass of wine while we checked in, to the tents that had wine and food pairings that were fabulous and to the music. Very family and dog friendly, which made it a very relaxing enjoyable day. read more

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We had a wonderful tasting and tour experience. Marco was SUPERB and he shared his wine knowledge freely!!! The second tasting with winemaker Rae Wilson was a terrific experience! Definitely try La Valentia wines as well!! An absolute wonderful experience!!! read more

I would never think that I would say this, but I am really overwhelmed by our experience. It was a very nice chef's tasting, and Jared walked us through each pairing while also giving us extra tastings! The food was heavenly and the wine really matched it really well. The atmosphere was fantastic. We are already looking forward to our next visit. read more

I had the best day today at William Chris. We had a tasting with Marco who was FABULOUS! He was so knowledgeable about the wines he served and the history he told us. I definitely would recommend this winery. read more

William Chris Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Hye, Texas

Beautiful spot on the 290 wine trail. Good wines and delicious charcuterie board! It's nice going during the week when it's not so busy because this place gets packed on the weekends. We stopped on a Wednesday around 1:30 and felt a more personal experience. read more

William Chris Vineyards - Charcuterie - Wineries Near Me - Hye, Texas

The wine is fantastic. They have been making wine for a long time and the quality shows. The property is large and feels a bit impersonal, that being said, the staff was wonderful and were very warm and knowledgeable. We bought several bottles of wine, but they did seem a bit pushy with the wine club. read more

Great service and beautiful location. Super informative. Learned a lot about this real Texas wines! Great wines and will def take a bottle. Got a chance to do a tour and highly recommend. read more

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THE BIG: Top 100 wineries in the world in 2022! #56 and for good merit! Located in Hye with a gorgeous view of the hill country. Great for wine tastings and stay for the never ending events! THE BLACK AND WHITE: The wife has a membership here and boy is it worth it's weight. You do have to commit to 5 shipments of 4 bottles, which can be pretty pricey but if you come out here at least once a month, you'd get to use your free tastings or glass of wine (for up to 4ppl). My favorite wine here is the Hunter, something about the red blend gets to me. You can't go wrong with any of the wines and they're all locally grown and sourced here in Texas. Other wines to try are the tannat and the mourvedre. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall, a tasting will put you back ~$30, pretty pricey, however stay for the views and good vibes. Enchante yall read more

We have done the Chef's Tasting twice, both were incredible in their own ways. The food both times was top tier and we chatted w the chef. The wine talk was completely different both times, but both fun and informative. Can't wait to go again. Grounds are beautiful. Staff is friendly. Add this vineyard to your list! read more

I've been coming here ever since they first opened (in 2008), back when they had a modest, small tasting room and were the only winery using Texas grapes. 15 years ago they were the best producers of red wine in the Hill Country and they are still among the best today (there's only one other winery that can compete in my opinion)! The once modest little winery has grown and expanded; now there is a fancy members-only tasting room, expansive outdoor spaces, and little hidden-away special event tasting rooms. In good weather it's wonderful to be outdoors enjoying the gorgeous (Spring or Fall) colors and sometimes live music on their outdoor stage or enjoying the pavilion. They also have several fun events, tastings and dinners during the year for members. I highly recommend trying their Syrah, Hunter and Tannet wines! read more

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I came here on a Tuesday afternoon, and the parking lot was almost full, which gives you some indication that this is a popular spot. Tesla owners will be pleased to know they have 3 charging spots. There's lots of seating outdoors, and even seating under a grove of oaks. This place is also dog friendly, as long as they're on the leash and outside. If you come in for a wine tasting, you'll be spending $30 To start with. If you are here Monday-Wed, you can sit in the deluxe tasting room, otherwise you'll have to use the other building. If you're in the modern tasting room, you'll notice just outside the window there is a small family cemetery from the 1800s. There's also a private tasting room downstairs (offices upstairs). If you work within the alcoholic beverage industry, you are entitled to a 30% discount on the tasting. They do have a wine club membership which can be pretty pricey, and I definitely recommend reading the terms and conditions. As for the wines, of all the reds I tried, they were all very light in color to the point of being almost rosé. They were subtle, light and elegantly dry. Nothing bold and fruit forward here. In other words, these are old world style wines. All the wines here run between the $40-$60 price range. I would say a part of that price is factored in with the great service and ambience. The only drawback here is the fact that they do not serve any food unless it's charcuterie oriented. So if you're into old world style wine and have a decent amount of disposable income, this would be a good spot to enjoy. read more

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We drove here on a whim and luckily they accepted walk ins since the reservations online were all gone. We did the wine tasting that was so lovely. Our host was so nice and explained everything very well. The enchante wine was my favorite. Outside, the teepee was so cute. Great views! Great spot to just come and chill. read more

William Chris Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Hye, Texas

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