Spring, Wineries, and Dogs
Spring has arrived with Texas roads and highways blanketed with seas of wildflowers and greenery. I believe that Spring with its masses of greens, blues, reds, pinks, and yellows is much brighter and robust with the colors of Autumn. It’s a great time to ride our roads to enjoy the vibrancy of Spring, visit Texas wineries, and enjoy life with your friends. Hopefully, one of those friends is your dog. The majority of Texas wineries welcome your dog(s) provided you have them on a leash, assure they are behaving, and using those poop bags as needed. Bring a picnic basket for the humans and treats for your pup(s) along with your friends and chairs for a delightful day of winery visits. Better yet, make it a weekend or a week. We carry a cooler of deli meats, cheeses, condiments, and fresh bread with his on our road trips with our two Bearded Collies, and Havenise. Obviously, we cannot stop and dine in restaurants, leaving our dogs outside. As a result we have our “Deli on the Run” to provide lunches and light dinners. There are many hotels that are pet-friendly like LaQuinta or Kimpton. Kimptons are probably the most pet friendly hotel chain with Happy Hour in the Lobby sporting a variety of dogs and their owners.
Through this coming week, enjoy the Texas Hill Country Wine Trail. There are numerous wineries along this wine trail like:
Ab Astris
Becker Vineyards
Bell Springs Winery
Chisholm Trail Winery
Driftwood Estates Winery
Dry Comal Creek Winery
Duchman Family Winery
Fall Creek Vineyard at Tow
Farmhouse Vineyards
Fiesta Winery
Flat Creek Estate
Grape Creek Vineyards
Hawk’s Shadow
Hye Meadow Winery
Kalasi Cellars
Kerrville Hills Winery
Kuhlman Cellars
Limestone Terrace Vineyards
Longhorn Cellars
Lost Draw Cellars
Silver Dollar Winery
Slate Mill Wine Collective
Slate Theory
Spicewood Vineyards
Stone House Vineyard
Texas Hills Vineyard
Texas Wine Collective
Westcave Cellars
William Chris Vineyards
Wimberley Valley Winery
Wineries that are dog friendly in the Houston area include B.E. Winery, Bernhardt Winery, and Haak Winery. All of these wineries have grass areas along with water for your dogs. Many of these wineries have Winery Dogs that officiate at winery events like concerts. When planning winery trips with your dog(s), include roadside stop for all of you to “sniff” the roadside and enjoy the vistas. These “road trips” require responsibility in drinking, driving, and dogs. I hope that you enjoy your trips responsibly while visiting Texas wineries. Plan ahead since many Texas wineries host concerts during the Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays when the weather is warm. Include your pups in those concerts since Man’s Best Friends also enjoy the music!
Texas Restaurants Serving Texas Wines
The chain of Salt Grass Steakhouses in Texas and in other states serves Messina Hof “Hold Em” Texas red blend. This well-bodies, tasteful wine pairs wonderfully with the great steaks served in their steak houses. This Texas red is available by the glass on their wine menu. The tannins in this Texas wine pair wonderfully with the steak marbling bringing a great meal to the discerning epicure.
