Thursday · October 15
Slate Theory · ~3pm → Foyt · ~4:30pm → Altdorf dinner · ~6pm. Arrive from the east on 290. Choose a shorter Slate Theory room tasting or the one-hour production tour; allow 15–20 minutes for the drive and parking before Foyt. A 90-minute cave tasting at 3pm will not fit: book it earlier, around 2:30pm, or choose the room. Official Thursday close is 5pm; a listing says 6pm, so call. Foyt’s last tasting starts at 5pm. If late, protect Foyt and skip Slate Theory. Signor is a replacement, not a third flight.
Short in-town note: Becker’s Main Street tasting room, 307 E. Main St., Fredericksburg — walk-ins, about $27; Sun–Thu 11am–6pm, Fri–Sat 11am–7pm. Ask for her Viognier. Thursday after a full Foyt flight may be too late for its 6pm close; Friday at 11am instead of the eastern winery plan is the relaxed option. Not another estate stop. Directions ↗ · Official details.
Friday · October 16
Breakfast at 8am → William Chris in Hye at 10am → Ab Astris at noon. Allow 60–75 minutes per tasting and roughly 15–20 minutes between them. Pedernales can replace Ab Astris; do not do all three.
After the noon tasting, allow 75–90 minutes via Fredericksburg / US-87 to High’s in Comfort for lunch around 2:30pm, then I-10 west to Kerrville. Bring a snack and water; skip the second tasting if lunch would slip.
Simpler western Friday: skip the eastern cluster. Choose a slow breakfast, optional Becker Main Street at 11am, High’s around noon, then Bending Branch around 1:30pm. If taking a full Becker flight, skip Bending Branch. Kalasi is a near-town alternative; Lewis is a Friday-only eastern option.
No bookings or live driving times confirmed. Two full tastings are plenty. Use a sober designated driver or prebooked car; food, water and waiting do not make drinking and driving safe.
Four planned doors. Five thoughtful alternatives. Bottles below are requests, not promises of today’s flight.
Slate Theory Winery + Vineyards
Thursday arrival discovery · US-290 east of town
A serious non-Cabernet discovery directly on the arrival corridor. The current catalog verifies a Sangiovese-led estate blend and single-variety Teroldego; the underground cave is optional, not the reason to select the wines.
Her Pour2023 Estate Manic
77% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot, 3% Aglianico. Aged 25 months in 13% new French, 76% second-year French and 11% neutral oak. Ask whether its cherry, tobacco and savory structure are the most elegant red open.
Other wines to ask for
- 2023 Teroldego
Current catalog: 100% Teroldego, Texas High Plains; dark cherry, spice and tobacco notes. Ask for balance rather than maximum power. - 2024 Amnesiac
Current catalog: 53% Cabernet Franc, 47% Dolcetto; bright cherry, herbal notes and smoke. A second verified non-Cabernet red comparison.
Thursday: Noon–5pm official; listing says 11am–6pm — call
Friday: 11am–6pm
$25 white · $30 mixed · $35 red · $50 cave / person
Reservations: Tasting room is walk-in, first-come. Book cave tastings ahead ($10 deposit + $40 at check-in; about 90 minutes). For a 3pm arrival before Foyt at 4:30, choose a shorter room tasting or the $45 one-hour tour; book the cave earlier, not at 3pm.
Call (830) 998-8306: official footer says Thu noon–5, Fri 11–6; GoFred’s indexed listing says Thu 11–6. Insomniac’s current blend is unverified and it is not selected. Roussanne/Viognier were not in the current public catalog response; do not promise them.
10915 US-290, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Foyt Winery & Museum
The personal benchmark · east of Fredericksburg
Begin with the wine she already loves. This is the current Fredericksburg Winery & Museum, not an old downtown listing. Its own site actively advertises tastings at Jenschke Lane; the A.J. Foyt collection is a bonus, not the reason to go.
Her Pour2023 No. 91 Cabernet Franc · Sonoma Valley
The first request at her favorite: 100% Cabernet Franc, with polished tannins and a long, silky finish. Producer notes specify 18 months in Acacia barrels; Franc is a different grape from the one she avoids.
Other wines to ask for
- 2023 No. 97 “Texas Justice” GSM
50% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 17% Mourvèdre. Producer describes silky tannins, balanced acidity and a polished finish. - 2022 No. 41 Merlot
95% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec. Producer describes refined tannins and integrated oak; catalog dates contain errors, so verify the label. - 2023 No. 67 Chardonnay
Producer describes partial barrel fermentation, eight months on fine lees and lees stirring for silky texture. Ask for a small white comparison.
Thursday: 11am–6pm
Friday: 11am–6pm
$30 portfolio · $85 library with pairing / person
Reservations: Recommended; walk-ins accepted. Request non-Cabernet reds, specifically Cabernet Franc and GSM, instead of accepting the standard all-red lineup. Last tasting starts one hour before closing.
Current public catalog verified; the descriptive title and technical prose disagree with some structured vintage/AVA fields. Confirm the bottle and Fredericksburg pouring availability; no phone call or booking was made.
38 Jenschke Lane, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
William Chris Vineyards
Best new discovery · Hye
The clearest bridge between serious Texas reds and a truly textural white. Choose the Hye vineyard location, not the separate Fredericksburg room, for this itinerary.
Her Pour2024 Roussanne · La Pradera Vineyard
Her best white prospect: seven months in oak, 30% new French and 70% neutral. The winery quotes supple texture and citrus oil, not just crispness.
Other wines to ask for
- 2023 Sangiovese · Alta Loma Vineyard
Listed in the current producer shop as Sangiovese. A non-Cabernet red direction alongside the documented Mourvèdre; ask which is most refined. - 2024 Mourvèdre · La Pradera Vineyard
Listed in the current producer shop as Mourvèdre. A Rhône-minded red comparison; tasting-room availability still needs confirmation. - 2024 Roussanne · La Pradera Vineyard
The strongest verified winemaking match for her preference for body. Ask specifically; library documentation is not live inventory.
Thursday: 10am–6pm
Friday: 10am–6pm
$30 Winemaker’s · $40 Elevated / person
Reservations: Strongly recommended, especially Friday. Posted last tasting reservation: 4:30pm; verify the selected experience. Allow 45–75 minutes.
Wine-library pages prove the releases and their details, not that these are the current tasting pours. The booking calendar for October 15–16 was not confirmed.
10352 US Highway 290, Hye, TX 78635
Ab Astris Winery
Quiet, wine-first discovery · Stonewall / Hye
A smaller-scale alternative beside the LBJ park area, with serious Texas varieties. The winery describes a minimum two years in barrel for reds, minimal oak influence, and whites aged in neutral oak or stainless steel.
Her PourRoussanne · ask which release is open
The white to investigate for breadth rather than sweetness. Older 2020–21 Roussanne appears on the public shop page; its current availability is uncertain.
Other wines to ask for
- 2022 Tannat
Documented by the 2026 award results. Ask for its most elegant expression, not simply the biggest tannins. - 2022 Souzão
Also recognized in the 2026 Vintners Cup; a useful red contrast if the staff can pour it. - Roussanne · 2020–21 documented
The shop lists these older vintages. Do not treat them as confirmed current releases or promise a particular oak treatment.
Thursday: Noon–5pm
Friday: Noon–5pm
$30 · five dry wines / person
Reservations: Recommended for October travel; book ahead for the $35 cheese board. Ask whether they can emphasize reds and the richest white.
The standard five-wine flight usually includes one white, one rosé and three reds; substitutions are not guaranteed. The shop page mixes older vintages with newer award evidence.
320 Klein Road, Stonewall, TX 78671
Pedernales Cellars
Best red-and-white pairing · Stonewall
A highly targeted stop for Tempranillo and substantial Viognier. It sits a short detour south of 290, with room to slow down rather than hop between bars.
Her PourReserve Viognier · ask for the 2023
A natural next comparison with her Becker favorite. The 2023 Reserve is documented in release notes; ask whether a current Reserve is available and which has the most texture.
Other wines to ask for
- 2022 Reserve Tempranillo
Documented in spring release material; the first red request for structure and a serious Spanish-variety expression. - 2022 Teroldego
The 2026 Vintners Cup winner. Ask whether it is open or still available; the award does not establish stock. - 2023 Viognier Reserve
Documented in September 2025 release notes. October 2026 stock and exact oak/body details not confirmed.
Thursday: 10am–5pm
Friday: 10am–6pm
$45 cellar tour · $50 Tempranillo tasting / person
Reservations: Required for tasting experiences; credit card on file. Published 72-hour cancellation/no-show terms: read before booking this close to the trip.
The published $45–50 range is for specialty experiences. A standard estate-flight fee was not verifiable; do not assume it is the same. Confirm last tasting time.
2916 Upper Albert Road, Stonewall, TX 78671
Bending Branch Winery
The Kerrville-side choice · Comfort
The Comfort alternative if Friday should flow toward Kerrville rather than back east to Hye. Its reds may be more muscular than her ideal: ask for balance and refinement rather than maximum extraction.
Her Pour2020 Tannat Reserve · Tallent Vineyards
The red to test for polish beneath the structure. Taste before buying: this is the richest-red detour, not the safest stylistic duplicate of Foyt.
Other wines to ask for
- 2020 Tannat Reserve · Tallent Vineyards
Documented by the winery’s awards page. Ask whether it is available to taste. - 2020 Old Vine Petite Sirah · Shell Creek Vineyards
SF Chronicle Gold reported by the winery. California fruit; not a Texas-estate wine. Current availability unconfirmed. - Comfortage · Roussanne, vintage unconfirmed
Historical winery material describes 100% Roussanne aged in American oak. A strong style match only if still available; no current release was verified.
Thursday: Noon–8pm
Friday: Noon–7pm
$30 · five wines / person
Reservations: Recommended; walk-ins welcome. Use the estate address, not a downtown or bourbon-brand listing. Ask for a dry, non-bourbon-barrel wine flight.
Comfortage Roussanne is historical, not confirmed current inventory. Friday bourbon happy hour starts at 3:30pm; aim for a quiet wine tasting around 1pm, with a sober driver.
142 Lindner Branch Trail, Comfort, TX 78013
Kalasi Cellars
Focused reds near town · Fredericksburg
The cleanest red-led near-town choice: estate-grown Texas fruit, dry wines and a current menu that makes the selection unusually transparent. Choose the wines, not novelty varieties for their own sake.
Her Pour2022 Merlot
A composed red starting point without an uncertain blend: the current Enthusiast menu lists this Merlot. Ask about polish and tannin balance, then compare Teroldego.
Other wines to ask for
- 2023 Teroldego
Listed on the current Enthusiast flight and by the glass/bottle. A structured Italian-variety contrast to Merlot. - 2021 Cabernet Franc
Listed by glass/bottle on the current menu, without the club-only restriction on the 2022. Cabernet Franc is welcome here. - 2024 Albariño
Current Estate-flight white. Ask about lees and texture; a broad, weighty style has not been verified.
Thursday: 11am–5pm
Friday: 11am–6pm
$30 Estate · $35 Enthusiast · $40 tour / person
Reservations: Recommended; walk-ins welcome. Request Merlot and Teroldego substitutions rather than the unmodified Enthusiast flight; add a white sample if permitted.
Do not assume Kalasi currently sells Roussanne just because its vineyard grows it. The menu’s other white, 2024 Malvasia Bianca, is marked club-only.
414 Goehmann Lane, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Lewis Wines
Understated wine-first stop · Johnson City
An understated, good-value eastern stop for Friday only. Regular tastings are advertised Friday through Sunday, so do not add Lewis to Thursday’s arrival route. The documented vineyard-specific reds and aromatic white blend are worth asking about.
Her Pour2024 Viognier–Chenin Blanc
The more promising body-and-aroma question here than defaulting to the lightest white. A winery technical sheet documents the release; texture and current pouring status remain unverified.
Other wines to ask for
- 2021 Texas Red Wine
Producer tech sheet: 57% Tempranillo, 27% Grenache, 16% Graciano; 15 months in neutral oak, medium body and medium-plus structure. Release documented; current stock unconfirmed. - 2021 Parr Mourvèdre
Documented vineyard-designated release; request it if available for a Rhône-red comparison. - 2024 Viognier–Chenin Blanc
Documented technical-sheet link. Ask whether it is the broadest dry white currently open and whether there is lees or barrel influence.
Thursday: Closed (regular tastings)
Friday: 10:30am–5pm
$15 · four 1-oz pours / person
Reservations: Call 512-987-0660 to reserve indoors or outdoors. Last tasting starts at 4 pm. Special events can replace tastings with glass/bottle service.
Regular Thursday tastings are not offered. Friday events can replace flights with glass/bottle service. Technical sheets are historical evidence, not current stock; confirm the event calendar.
3209 Highway 290 West, Johnson City, TX 78636
Signor Vineyards
The romantic garden alternate · 290 estate
A pretty, leisurely alternate near Foyt when the setting matters as much as the flight. Request the all-red Signature option; do not let a standard rosé-led menu determine the visit.
Her Pour2022 Sangiovese
The current menu’s Texas High Plains Sangiovese: dark cherry, plum, cocoa and dried herbs. A clearer palate match than an unverified mixed-variety blend; ask for balance and length.
Other wines to ask for
- 2021 Mozzafiato
Current menu: Rogue Valley, Oregon blend of Sangiovese, Barbera, Primitivo and Dolcetto. A verified non-Cabernet red alternative. - 2022 Chardonnay · Maison Tranquille, Oregon
Current menu lists apricot, citrus and pineapple. Ask about oak and body; a substantial style is not established.
Thursday: Noon–5pm
Friday: 11am–6pm (confirm typo)
$25 bar · $30 seated · $35 upgraded / person
Reservations: Walk-ins accepted, but advance booking strongly recommended in peak season. Nonmembers can book elevated tastings; choose the estate, not the downtown room.
Thursday noon–5pm is clearly posted. Friday 11am–6pm is supported by the visit-page index, but the locations page has reversed day names: confirm. Ask for Sangiovese and Mozzafiato rather than the default seated flight.
362 Livesay Lane, Fredericksburg, TX 78624