Enjoy the October 2023 Annular Eclipse at a Texas Winery or Vineyard

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Before the major, total eclipse in April, a swath of Texas, including the Hill Country, will experience an annular eclipse on October 14th. Many Hill Country wineries have events planned for that day.

An annular eclipse is not a total eclipse, but if you are in the right part of the world, it is pretty close and spectacular. During an annular eclipse, the sun is never fully eclipsed. At this time of the year, the moon is at one of its farthest distances from the Earth. Due to this, it cannot fully eclipse the sun. Instead, viewers see the “ring of fire”: an outline of the sun around the moon (NASA).

The Annular Eclipse slowly takes place around three hours. It starts with the Partial Eclipse which casts the sun as a crescent. This can last anywhere from an hour to twenty minutes. The annularity comes next as the moon lines up with the sun. At this point, the “ring of fire” is visible. This only lasts a few minutes. As the moon moves, it returns to the partial eclipse phase before moving out of alignment (NASA).

Timing is essential. For the Hill Country, it will start around 10:20 a.m. Annularity begins at 11:52 and peaks at 11:54. By 1:30 p.m., the eclipse will end. For anyone planning to be at a winery for this event, it is best to get there between 10 a.m. and 11—depending on their opening time (NASA).

To enjoy the eclipse, special equipment is needed. However, since most of the sun is blocked, it is not safe to look directly at the sun; eclipse glasses or an indirect viewing method needs to be used. For info on making an indirect method, check out the great info from NASA. Some wineries will be providing eclipse glasses, but for those concerned, you can always order online; they run anywhere from $2-15. Here is a selection of glasses on Amazon.

Below is a list of wineries and their eclipse events, but wineries keep releasing more events daily. Check with the wineries to make sure they have spots available. Some are nearly filled—as they released their info early—and some have just announced their events and have more availability.

Wineries and Eclipse Events

• 12 FIRES Winery & Vineyard: Ring of Fire
  • Time: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Cost:  $39 a person until 10/2, then $49 until sold out; RV spots $96 per couple (only 12 spots)
  • Includes: parking, stargazing presentation, live band, plate of food, complimentary glass of wine, solar eclipse glasses
• Adega Vinho
  • TBA
• Airis’Ele Vineyards: Brunch
  • Time: 10:30 a.m.
  • Cost: TBA
  • Includes: brunch buffet and eclipse glasses
• Arrowhead Creek Vineyards
  • Time: 11 a.m.
  • Cost: $25 per person, free to wine club members
  • Includes: glass of wine and eclipse glasses
• Bell Springs Winery
  • Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Cost: $25 per person
  • Includes: All you can eat buffet, kids eat free. Crafts and music.
• Crown Hill Winery
  • Time: 11 a.m.
  • Cost: free when purchasing a tasting/glass of wine
  • Includes: Live music, free snacks and treats, and eclipse glasses.
• Diamond Vineyards
  • Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Cost: $90 per person (limited to 40 people)
  • Includes: vineyard tour with bellinis, gourmet brunch with beer or wine, live music
• Duchman Family Winery: Market Day and Eclipse
  • Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Cost: Free
  • Includes: market day with local vendors, free eclipse glasses to the first 200 people and commemorative eclipse tumblers with glass purchase
• Elisa Christoper Wines
  • Time: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Cost: TBA
  • Includes: TBA
• Farmhouse Vineyards – Whitehouse Parker
  • Time: 11 a.m.
  • Cost: Free; can reserve vineyard rows for a fee
  • Includes: live music
• Grapetown Vineyard & Farm
  • Time: Friday and Saturday
  • Cost: $10 per person for admission only
  • Camping: primitive camping options at $50 a site per day (starting Oct. 13) with Tent 14X30 and RV 20X40
• Hilmy Cellars
  • TBA
• Inwood Estates Vineyards – Fredericksburg
  • Time: 11 a.m.
  • Cost: $49
  • Includes: vertical tasting of the 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 Chateau Marie LaRose with parings
• Kalasi Cellars
  • TBA
• Kuhlman Cellars: Eclipse Brunch
  • Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; brunch times 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
  • Cost: $100 per person ($85 for club members)
  • Includes: brunch, glass of wine, safety glasses, keepsake, live music
• Longhorn Cellars
  • Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Cost: $75 per person
  • Includes: eclipse glasses, charcuterie, wine tasting or two glasses
• Michael Ros Winery
  • Time: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Cost: N/A
  • Includes: Free eclipse glasses for the first 25 people, $3 after that
• Pedernales Cellars
  • Time: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Cost: Free to sit on the lawn; reservations are required for tastings
  • Includes: eclipse glasses on a first come, first serve basis
• Portree Cellars
  • Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Cost: $35 per person
  • Includes: charcuterie box, glasses, glass of wine and souvenir glass
• Sandy Road Vineyards
  • Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Cost: $30 per person ($20 for wine club members)
  • Includes: glass of wine, solar glasses, live music
• Siboney Cellars
  • Time: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Cost: $50
  • Includes: Bottle of new Sparkling Wine (Pinque-cito), Two pair of Eclipse Viewing Glasses
• Silver Dollar Hill Country: RV Camping
  • Dates: Oct 13-15
  • Camping: sites are 20X40, includes 2 guests ($10 each additional guest)
  • 2 day camping: $200
  • 3 day camping: $300
• Texas Heritage Vineyard
  • Time: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Includes: live music
• Westcave Cellars Winery & Brewery: Pig Pickin’ and Eclipse Party
  • Time: 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
  • Cost: $40 for Pig Pickin’ Plate, $30 Pig Pickin’ Baskets, $15 Children’s Pig Pickin’ Basket
  • Includes: Live music plus all plates and baskets come with eclipse glasses
    • Plate: pork, coleslaw, Boston Baked Beans with bacon, bread, pickles, water, a glass of wine or beer
    • Basket: Plate: pulled-pork sandwich, coleslaw, chips, a glass of wine or beer
    • Kids: slider, sole slaw, chips, juice box