Bandera may be known as the Cowboy Capital of the World, but there is now another reason to spend some time downtown. Paniolo Winery opened in February 2026, bringing locally made wine, food, and a relaxed wine bar atmosphere to Bandera.
Paniolo Winery is owned by Nancy De Foster and Orlando Stephenson. Their wines are actually produced away from the downtown tasting room at their ranch, where they converted a barn into a production facility that is not open to the public. The wines are made from juice, with Orlando serving as both the winemaker and chef. The finished wines are then brought into town, where guests can enjoy them at Paniolo Winery along with food and other drinks.
One of the first things we noticed is that Paniolo does things a little differently when it comes to serving their wine. Their wines are served from taps rather than primarily from bottles. Besides making pouring easy, this also helps eliminate the problem of opening bottles and potentially not finishing them during the day.
Paniolo is beginning to bottle some of its wines, but its main option for taking wine home is its growler program. Customers purchase a reusable growler, have it filled with the wine of their choice, and can bring it back to the winery to have it refilled at a lower price. The growler program is a nice sustainable option that cuts down on packaging while giving customers a reason to return. There is also a special routine that takes place whenever someone purchases a growler at Paniolo. When we were there, someone else purchased a growler, and I was told to start recording video. You’ll know why when you watch the bottom video in this post! 😊
Flights consist of four wines of your selection, and we shared a tasting flight of the following wines:
Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc
Shiraz
Spanish Tempranillo
We were told the Malbec is currently Paniolo Winery’s top-selling wine.
Paniolo describes itself as a tapas and wine bar, and Orlando’s role as chef is an important part of the experience. During our visit, we enjoyed an excellent lox and bagel plate. There is a surprisingly large food selection, and if the quality of the lox and bagel is any indication, we expect the other tapas and meals to be very good too.
The food offerings change depending on the day. The tapas menu is available on Fridays and Saturdays, while Sunday brunch was recently added and had been running for about two weeks when we visited.
Mondays have become something completely different. Paniolo Winery holds a Monday night potluck, with a different theme that rotate weekly (Summer Fiesta, Around the World, Retro Backyard BBQ Revival, and more) that are announced on its website and social media. Guests bring a dish that fits the theme and enjoy the evening together. This also allows Orlando a chance to get out of the kitchen and meet the attendees. Nancy told us the weekly event has become very popular.
Another interesting part of Paniolo’s drink menu is its selection of cocktails.
The winery does not have a liquor license, but it offers five different cocktails made using products from Specialty Blends in Dripping Springs. The mixers themselves are wine based, allowing Paniolo to create drinks that resemble traditional spirit-based cocktails.
We were given tiny tastes of both the whiskey-style and rum-style blends, and they were surprisingly similar to the spirits they are designed to replace. The blends we tasted were 17% ABV. That means a drink such as Paniolo’s “Old Fashion” can provide a flavor similar to the traditional whiskey cocktail while still being made with a wine-based product.
For those wanting something different, Paniolo also serves cider from Austin Eastciders.
There is another sign that you are definitely in Bandera when you arrive at Paniolo Winery. Golf carts are allowed around town, and Paniolo even has designated golf cart parking spaces right in front of the winery.
Between the wine taps, refillable growlers, food, Sunday brunch, Monday potlucks, and wine-based cocktails, Paniolo Winery has created something that feels a little different from the typical Texas winery tasting room.
Nancy De Foster & Orlando Stephenson
Nancy and Orlando have combined their interests in wine and food into a place that encourages guests to stay awhile rather than simply taste a few wines and leave.
And if you happen to leave with one of their growlers, do not be surprised if your purchase receives a little extra attention when you order one.
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