Promoted both in Texas Monthly and Texas Highways magazines; Mason, “The Gem of the Hill Country,” is rapidly becoming a contender for destination wine tasting. Saddled up alongside a growing number of bed and breakfast standouts that include a boutique lodge, wineries are springing up in and around Mason. Grape growing has rapidly become an agricultural win in Texas and depending upon whether a grower utilizes their own grapes for signature wines or sells the crop to other wineries for production and finished product, Texas wine is in a class of its own. The phenomenon has taken Texas by storm.
Destination wine-tasting vacations are well-planned events and for true oenophiles (a person who enjoys wine and its many complexities), seeking out local wineries and spending time tasting and socializing is a favored pastime.
Mason is, per capita, quickly becoming a community which offers numerous tasting rooms. Additionally, events fit nicely into the niche of enjoying wine with hors d’oeuvres or charcuterie. Local restaurants also serve up an eclectic choice of menus and a glass of wine is always available. The uptick in wine tasting rooms offer a varied bouquet of labels. On any given day, visitors can mingle with local wine lovers at the pioneering Sandstone Cellars Winery with their exclusively unique mix of art and jewelry, serving up select cheese trays and a friendly laid-back atmosphere.
Art General Store, 1900 Winery, is located just outside of Mason on Highway 29 East in what was an old general store. Groups and tasters will find this a place for 100% Texas grown grapes. Live music is heavily featured and it’s a popular gathering place for friends.
Murphy Creek Cellars, located on the north side of the Square in Mason, is well-known for the locally-famous Wine-O-Bingo night. Murphy Creek represents over one hundred labels and includes a gift shop. A friendly atmosphere for conversation starters, Murphy Creek is well-loved by locals.
Showcased in Texas Wine and Trail, Fly Gap Winery is reaching a diverse group of wine tasters. Social media adept and sharp; this winery is quickly expanding to include Dank Lounge in its newly remodeled space just off the Square.
Parr Vineyards is moving its location to the Square and has been a proving ground for recreating wines from trips taken to France and Spain and bringing those flavors to the Texas Hill Country. Estate bottled in the area; offerings such as Tempranillo and Rosé are only a small sampling of what they have to offer.
Robert Clay Vineyards, is located just off the Square, showcases a unique approach to grape growing. Growing the oldest vines in Mason County and the oldest vines in the Texas Hill Country, attention to detail and quality is a hallmark for this vineyard.
Wines of Dotson-Cervantes are located just outside of Mason in Voca, Texas. With award-winning wines aptly named El Sol Dorado, Dilemma!, Gotas de Oro and Hailstorm; Wines of Dotson-Cervantes are as unique as Texas wine gets.
Peter’s Prairie Vineyard and Tasting Room is in the opening stages as is Saba Winery, both located downtown on the Square. More tasting rooms are in the planning stages.
The culture of wine tasting has found a place alongside Mason’s many traditions. The Chamber of Commerce and Facebook offer details such as hours of operation and locations. Whether you are looking for a day trip or planning a weekend in Mason; Texas tasting may never be so good as it is in Mason, Texas.
