Fat Ass Ranch & Winery is located in Fredericksburg and is owned by Gail and Jennie McCulloch. The winery opened on May 17th and is located on Highway 290, so it is very easy to find.
Fat Ass Ranch & Winery flew under the radar as to a new winery opening in Fredericksburg until I was asked by a friend about a week before them opening if I knew who they were. It was a little confusing as they said it looked like it might be a distillery since an old moonshine still was in front the winery. Information was soon obtained and we planned on visiting the winery during our Memorial Day weekend trip with friends to Fredericksburg.
Since the winery was new and there had not been much information about them, not even a website or Facebook page, I was expecting to find a winery in progress. I was pleasantly surprised to find a polished winery which was ready for business and ready to welcome customers.
When you first arrive at the winery, you pick up immediately on the theme of the winery which is you are in Texas. The outside has a large seating area complete with the back of a bus with cushions, a contraption which looks like the moonshine still mentioned but has the end result of wine, tractor, men’s and women’s restrooms built from silos, and more. The outside décor continued inside the winery and you could tell the person responsible for it had a lot of fun with the theme and was very imaginative. We learned the person was co-owner Jennie McCulloch who is the owner of the store “Shoulda Been a Cowboy” located on Main Street in Fredericksburg. She made most of the themed items along with the help of friends.
Angie greeted us and led us through our tasting. There is a tasting fee for four wines and you stand at the large tasting bar to do a tasting. The wines are poured using a measured pourer and the tasting fee includes keeping your tasting glass.
These are the wines which are currently available:
- Dry White (Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay)
- Dry Red (Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc)
- Sweet White (Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay with a little sugar added)
- Sweet Red (Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc)
As you can tell, the dry and sweet wines are the same blends made in two different styles. All wines use 100% Texas grapes as they are made by Texas Custom Wine Works, and of course are very good. Soon to be offered are a Peach wine and Watermelon wine. The winery also plans on making wines for different holidays throughout the year. All wines are currently priced the same.
The winery already has a wine club and plans on offering live music with food trucks. The gift shop is very large at the winery and we were told Jennie’s store in town has similar gifts. What I found surprising were the number of items already available with the Fat Ass Ranch & Winery logo and name on them. You could tell detailed planning had already gone into the winery.
Angie told us a vineyard will be planted on the side of the winery. That should look great along with the outdoor area already present.
Naming your winery Fat Ass Ranch & Winery shows they are planning on having fun at the winery and it will be interesting to watch their progression in the upcoming years.
Enjoying your posts! Seems like a new wine tasting room is open on US290 almost every time we go up (at least quarterly for wine club pickups) and I have to start wondering what the saturation point is.
They definitely are going up fast and you may have a valid point. But right now it’s “you build it, they will come.”
Wher abouts on Hwy 290 is this place located?
Oops, forgot to put in the little map. They are right at the road that heads up into Becker Vineyards.
hey gail n jennie , hope it all goes well for you ! Torin
Loved finding the Fat Ass Ranch & Winery, loved this place, such a wonderful display of old and new, relaxing while sampling wines and delicious wines at that. I recommend to everyone!
How far are you from Austin? Also, when will your Peach wines will be ready?
The winery is between Hye and Fredericksburg. You should be able to use the map on the web page to determine how far they are from Austin.
Lets say between Hye and Stonewall….
By the bye, are these guys the ones who the Hiney Winery up in the Dallas area?
They were brothers, Thor and Big Red…..two beautiful wives, Ima and Yeura. They were twins sisters.
If you look at the map, they are west of Stonewall along with Hilmy Cellars who is even further east toward Stonewall. Their addresses are also Fredericksburg.
As far as Hiney Winery, that is new to me but the owners are a lovely couple, so I do not think they are the same as you are asking about. But I have been called Flatt by some people.
I got to sample first hand their Peach and Watermelon wines on Easter and they are wonderful! I will be recommending them to all my Texas wine loving friends.
Glad you enjoyed their wines!
I got a bottle from a friend as a gift and love it! Am I able to buy online?
Glad to hear you like the wine. You’ll need to contact the winery to see if they have a way to buy online.
Love Fat Ass wines. Particularly the Sweet Red & Peach. Owners have done a great job of creating a fun atmosphere. Made two visits so far & the third is already in the planning stages. Fat Ass Winery is a must every trip to Fredericksburg!
Can we drive up a buy a case or two?
Check with the winery and I’m sure they would allow that.
Can I order some wine, I’m from Ft Worth Texas and visited your winery last august
I would suggest contacting the winery themselves to see if they can help you.
Planning visit sept 30th
Hope you have a great time!