Constant Change

Change Is The Only Constant

My wife Phyllis and I discovered that statement to be so true when we used the Texas Hill Country Wineries (THCW) Wine Lovers Celebration couples passport, wine club memberships, and friendships to enjoy a six-day extended birthday/Valentine’s Day/anniversary celebration by visiting 22 wineries and amassing 45 bottles of wine in the Texas Hill Country February 16-21.

Change Is The Only Constant

The locations of Stone House Vineyards and Spicewood Vineyards off Highway 71 northwest of Austin were the first constants we found on February 16 thanks to use of the Texas Wine Lover (TWL) mobile app. The changes we discovered were the construction-havoc traffic on Highway 71 and the growth of the Spicewood area.

Change Is The Only Constant

Using Marble Falls as a two-night base, we found on February 17 that the TWL app provided great directions to Fall Creek Vineyards in Tow, Torr Na Lochs, and Perissos Vineyard and Winery both just west of Burnet, and Fiesta Winery Marble Falls, enabling us to enjoy a variety of grape varietals and the Texas Hill Country landscape. The change part of the “Constant Change” theme was that the opening hours of Flat Creek Estate are no longer 11:00 a.m. as indicated on the front gate signage and the TWL app, but 12 noon as shown on the Fall Creek website.

Change Is The Only Constant

Again, on February 18 the TWL app provided accurate locations and travel time estimates for Farmhouse Vineyards Wine & Marketplace in Johnson City, Lost Draw at Johnson City, Texas Wine Collective west of Stonewall, and Texas Heritage Vineyard outside of Fredericksburg. Also constant was the quality of the wines at each location while the change was the significantly higher prices (at least to us as retired Texas educators) for tastings, glasses, and bottles.

Change Is The Only Constant

The February 19 pick-up parties at Lost Draw Cellars and at Kuhlman Cellars provided the constant of new releases, food, and music, with the recognizable change being the quantity of food provided party attendees. A stop at Cicada Cellars in Stonewall reminded us of the consistent quality that we find at that small winery. We also learned there that the ever-changing number of wineries with a Highway 290 presence is due to expand as Cicada begins to pour wines from four other Texas wineries in the near future.

Another new change to the Sunday pick-up party consistency was the “After Party” held at Lost Draw’s new location in Johnson City for those fortunate enough to receive an invitation. Sunday also brought a consistent change in the lodging rates charged in the Fredericksburg area. Our rate at the Wine Country Inn in Fredericksburg dropped from $170 per night for the weekend to $50 per night for Sunday through Thursday. Discussions with other wine lovers staying in the area indicated similar triple rate changes for their lodging locations as well.

Change Is The Only Constant

While the Presidents’ Day holiday weekend provided more Fredericksburg-area visitors than we usually experience, the February 20 constant was the smaller crowds at our membership tasting and pick up at Ron Yates, Arch Ray Winery, Wildseed Vineyards in Wildseed Farms, Hilmy Cellars, and Bingham Family Vineyards – Hye at which we used the THCW passport to visit. Phyllis and I have discovered through the years that if you can arrange a trip to Fredericksburg to include Monday and Tuesday, you can enjoy more relaxed and in-depth discussions with winemakers and owners, such as the one we experienced with Cliff Bingham, aka “The Dirt Farmer,” at Bingham’s new location at Hye in the former Zero 815 Winery facility.

Change Is The Only Constant

Again using the TWL app for timing and directions, we visited the Hawk’s Shadow Winery location north of Dripping Springs for a final passport tasting on February 22 before doing a membership tasting and pick up at Duchman Family Winery in Driftwood. We were startled to notice that the scenic landscape of that area has been changed by the many tree limbs that were broken by the ice storm that affected the Austin-area three weeks earlier.

Change Is The Only Constant

For those who plan to purchase a future THCW passport (of which there are four annually), we urge you to be aware that all THCW wineries do not participate in the passport program and participating wineries change from event to event. Also, be aware that operating hours need to be verified on each winery’s website or by calling the winery before visiting. Other changes that are consistently occurring are the varietals and vintages being poured, the inflationary costs of tastings, glasses, and bottles, and the number of out-of-state vintners and incubator wineries establishing a presence along the “290 Wine Road.”

Change Is The Only Constant

Despite the repeated theme, the final constant that Phyllis and I wish to share is a sign we saw as we exited the Bingham Family Vineyards tasting room, and it is a constant that DOES NOT change – “Never Good Bye, Always See You Later!”