An Afternoon at Flat Creek Estate in the Northeast Texas Hill Country

On a recent sunny, crisp, winter Sunday afternoon in the Hill Country, I had the pleasure of visiting Flat Creek Estate for a guided tasting of just some of the wide range of award-winning wines they offer, including sparkling and sweet dessert wines, dry whites, rosé, and dry reds from the Hill Country Estate vineyards and Texas High Plains.

Flat Creek Estate is located on 80 acres of rolling hills about 50 miles northwest of Austin, just outside of Marble Falls near the north shore of Lake Travis. The property is home to almost 20 acres of vineyards, winemaking and production facilities, a welcoming Tuscan-inspired tasting room with an adjacent patio and firepit that make it an enjoyable spot in all kinds of Texas weather, and a covered outdoor pavilion positioned on a slight rise which makes it a perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine while taking in the beautiful landscape. Ellera at Flat Creek Estate is a full-service restaurant led by Chef Shawn Kristy focusing on fresh Hill Country fare paired with Flat Creek Estate wines. The estate also features an 18-hole disc golf course, trails that take you out among the vines with breathtaking views, an event building, and if you decide you want to stay a little longer to enjoy it all, there is an onsite Airbnb you can reserve for overnight stays.

I selected a guided Mixed Tasting that included dry white, rosé, and dry red selections from the wide range of wines offered at Flat Creek Estate.

Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the Estate and the wines we tasted. She recommended pairing the wines with the charcuterie board and chocolate plate which were just right for two and complemented both the whites and reds. I always enjoy the experience of the way food changes and enhances the wine and try to include a pairing opportunity in my tastings when I can.

2019 Viognier – this rich wine with a beautiful, golden, color has a lovely floral nose and is full-bodied. The wine is partially barrel fermented lending a silky softness to the finish. You will find stone fruit on the palate with a balanced mouthfeel and just a touch of acidity.

2021 Rosé – 100% Sangiovese – the aroma of roses, lilac, and violet, along with green herbs, greets you along with the lovely color in the glass resulting from the skin contact in fermentation of the Sangiovese grape. This is a balanced wine with juicy, red fruit notes of strawberries and an off-sweet finish.

2017 Super Texan – a play on Super Tuscan using Texas grown Italian varietals: 75% Sangiovese, 16% Montepulciano, 6% Petite Syrah, and 3% Primitivo. This is a signature blend for the winery. On the winery website it says, “it’s the wine that made us famous” and represents the best of Texas. This is the 5^th vintage; the first was in 2009. You are greeted by a pretty, ruby-garnet color and the aroma of dark cherries, leather, earthiness, herbs, and oak. On the tongue are lots of fruitiness from dark purple fruit, plums, blackberries, and a hint of black pepper and light oak. The tannins are smooth and mellow the finish.

2016 Four Horsemen – Estate Red Blend – Limited Release. On the winery website it is described as “showcasing the results when exceptional Texas fruit is crafted with exceptional winemaking skill.” This wine highlights the unique terroir and the strength of each of the four varietals: 50% Sangiovese, 24% Syrah, 24% Brunello, and 2% Tempranillo. Aged 36 months sur lie in 40% New French and Hungarian Oak, and 60% Once Used Oak Barrels. The wine is unfiltered to preserve subtlety and was created from the best barrels of each varietal and blended to achieve depth and balance. On the nose herbaceous and forest floor while the mouthfeel is medium body, juicy, dark fruits, smooth, with a little bite on the finish.

I enjoyed both of these reds very much. They are delicious examples of what can be accomplished with high quality Texas grapes and a skilled winemaker.

Flat Creek Estate offers several options for a guided or private tasting. Reservations are recommended for Guided Tastings and required for Private and “What’s My Wine?” which is a neat, curated, tasting experience. Flat Creek Estate owner, Eva Horton, was always searching for the perfect pairing, so she and Chef Shawn decided to create a small bites menu that would show off exactly what pairs perfectly with the selection of wines in the tasting that you select.

Eva Horton says she has two goals; to offer amazing wine and incredible experiences. Toward accomplishing this, she has plans for the Estate that include expanding the number of lodging options for overnight or longer stays on the property, planning more events, and refining the menu at Ellera, as well as taking the award-winning wine program to the next level.

A few opportunities to look forward to that are planned for this Spring and Summer include weekend Bubbles and Brunch and a rotating music series.

After the tasting, I took advantage of the lovely day with a walk along the trails encountering several players on the disc golf course, taking in the views, wildlife, and the beautiful grounds around the Airbnb and Event Venue. If it feels this special in the winter, I can only imagine the spring when everything is green and blooming and summer when grapes are hanging on the vines.

There are lots of options at Flat Creek Estate to sip, savor, relax, or explore for an afternoon or a weekend. I highly recommend adding it to the list of Hill Country wineries you plan to visit soon.