Woodrose Winery’s vineyard was first planted in 1999. In 2005 wine maker and enthusiast Mike Guilette bought the winery including 24.5 acres.
Outside. Wood deck to far right.
The first time we visited the winery, we were directed through the tasting room to the 3,000 square foot patio deck in the back. There are three sets of tasting choices and they include six, three, and six wines respectively. The tastings are poured with a measured pourer. The wines are served restaurant-style where the staff brings the wine to you.
One of the advantages to Woodrose Winery is they are the latest opening winery along Highway 290. That is usually when we have visited so we usually arrive in the dark on the long and winding dark road. The last time we arrived, we were expecting to go through the tasting room, but the only building open was the large Event center next door. We were directed to a table to sit and enjoy our tasting.
Event center
We were told the Event center is used when they are expecting large crowds or when the weather is bad. There is a tasting fee for the wines and you can buy food like a cheese plate to eat while you drink the Texas wine.
Woodrose Winery uses 100% Texas grapes. In fact on our last visit we met owner Mike Guilette and had a nice conversation with him.
Mike Guilette
They plan to increase production by twenty percent every year eventually producing ten times their current volume. Today they make 3,000-4,000 cases of wine yearly. In 2011 they produced 1,500 but in the more fruitful year of 2010, they produced 6,000 cases.
There is a small gift shop available in the Event center. Events are held at Woodrose Winery such as live music every Saturday in addition to weddings.
A wine club is available which gives discounts, tours, barrel tastings, and more.
Woodrose Winery is on the Texas Hill Country wine trail and the Fredericksburg Wine Road 290 wine trail.
This place gets better every time we go. On our 2012 Mini Hill Country trip we got the chance to chat with Mike on his winery wines and personal lives. He has some great new ideas and we can not wait to visit again next year. This time was great because we actually did out tastings in the large event center. This time next summer if not sooner you will see and experience some great growth changes at Woodrose. Lets just say it will become a busy place.
Over the past three years, I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited Woodrose many times — about once every six months — and the winery and overall experience only keeps getting better. My mother and I have now made Woodrose our constant, last stop on each of our Wine Tours so that we can we can sit down and take in the wonderful atmosphere that Woodrose has to offer. In addition, we’ve gotten a chance to meet the owner who is often out front, talking and introducing himself to guests. We always get a cheese plate and a glass of our favorite wine after the tasting is over. The hospitality that we receive & enjoy from the servers and the owner is the reason that Woodrose is our favorite winery and why we will always be fans. Could not recommend a stop here more highly and without reservation.
I agree! Every time we have stopped at Woodrose, it has been a pleasant experience. And talking with the owner when you can makes it even more enjoyable.
At the risk of piling on, I could not agree with these reviews more. We unfortunately had to relocate out of Austin a few years back, but treasure our return visits to the Hill Country with family and friends. Woodrose has been a consistent stop for us and it does keep getting better and better. In many ways, the winery’s hospitality (not to mention great wine) embodies everything we love and miss about the area.
Pile on Mike, pile on. 🙂