Water 2 Wine

Water 2 Wine is a custom winery offering a wine experience with wine tasting and making your own private label wine. Water 2 Wine was started by John McFadden and the first Water 2 Wine opened in 2003 in San Antonio. In 2005, John opened another Water 2 Wine in Austin. That location became the corporate headquarters and training center. Water 2 Wine continued to expand its franchises across the country through franchising and today there are locations in Colorado, Texas, and Wisconsin. Potential franchises are available.

Since Water 2 Wine is a franchise, most of the wineries are very similar. One key feature is you can get involved to make your own personalized wine with your own custom label. Water 2 Wine offers grapes from vineyards around the world for you to select the type of wine you want to make. Their wine-making team then works with you to make and bottle your wine which is approximately 29 bottles. From start to finish, the entire process takes about 45-60 days.

Today there are ten six Water 2 Wine wineries in the country. I have been to the following locations.

Fredericksburg

Update: Not a winery anymore, but a bar.

The Fredericksburg location was opened in 2007 by Mike and Kathy. The winemaker is John who provided me some information about the winery.

No Texas grapes are used at the winery. Instead must is sent to the winery at about 75% volume and they have to add water back to then use the juice. They have access to more than 100 wines from 13 countries.

Tastings are done while sitting at a table. There is a tasting fee for four wines but the fee is waived with the purchase of a bottle. The tastings are poured from the bottle.

Houston

The Houston location is owned by Al and Vickie King Jon and Edie Burger., along with partners Sandra and Juan Mangini.

Tastings are done sitting at tables or at the tasting bar. For groups under five, tastings are complimentary for five wines and then there is a tasting fee for every wine after that. There is a tasting fee for different size groups above five people for seven wines. The tasting fee is waived if a bottle is purchased. Crackers are available to cleanse your palate. Cheese and wine flights can be purchased and the selection changes every week. All wines are open for tasting.

As with other Water 2 Wine locations, personalized labels are available to custom make your own wine. The winery is available for rent to private parties after regular business hours. A wine club is available where you get two bottles of wine per month.

Austin North Central

The Austin North Central location of Water 2 Wine opened in October 2005. Since the Water 2 Wine locations are very similar, I will not repeat what has been said earlier.

Austin South

The Austin South location opened in 2008.

New Braunfels

The New Braunfels location is located in the middle of New Braunfels.