#290 WINE SHUTTLE FULL#

As it relates to wine, a charcuterie plate, board, or tray features meats, nuts, cheeses, crackers, bread, and dried fruits, which are specially selected to pair with specific wines. The first word is “charcuterie,” and it's a French term that generally refers to preparations of savory meats, such as bacon and sausage.

#290 WINE SHUTTLE FULL#

This reputation is reflected in the nicknames of the road that runs through the AVA Highway 290 is often referred to as the “Wine Road” or “Hill Country Wine Trail.”īefore we dig into a full listing of wineries and tasting rooms located in the Hill Country, we'd like to take a moment to clarify a few terms term you'll be seeing in many of the descriptions, or might overhear at a visit to a winery. The Lone Star State is now the fifth-largest wine-producing state (by volume) in the country, and multiple award-winners have come from the Texas Hill Country AVA. The industry took a hit during Prohibition, of course, but in the decades following its repeal, Texas wineries have grown and prospered. Through the early 20 th century, Hill Country wines were chiefly produced for ranch tables and local consumption. When immigrants from central Europe discovered the region, they brought along their own wine-producing skills, as well as cuttings from their native vines. The soil, terrain, and sunny and dry climate of the Hill Country region are perfect for vineyards, and Texas' wining history goes back to the 1650s, when missions in the area started producing wines from vines imported from Spain. All AVA wines must be finished within the AVA's boundaries, as well. For integrity and accuracy, that basically means Texas wines must actually be.well, just that. Wineries in designated AVAs are regulated stringently for quality, and a bare minimum 85% of grapes that go into wines from AVAs must be grown in the designated area.

It's called the Texas Hill Country American Viticultural Area (AVA), and it covers over nine million acres. Wine? In Texas? Yes, indeed! It often comes as a surprise that the third-largest designated wine-growing region in the United States is located in the Hill Country. However, we'd be willing to wager that the wine industry probably wouldn't even register a blip on the radar of most people when it comes to our great state. Texas BBQ and Tex-Mex cuisine will probably pop up on their lists, and those with their finger on the pulse of business might mention the growing tech sector in the “Silicon Hills.” And these are all famous and true things about Texas. They'll mention the Alamo for sure, maybe the oil industry, and the rich history of cowboys and cattle drives. Take aside any random stranger on the street, inside or outside of Texas, and ask them what comes to mind when you mention the Lone Star State.

290 wine shuttle