Fredericksburg: Come for the Wine, Stay for the Charm
Story and photos by Sarah Denzer
What would you say if I told you that last week, on a tour to Fredericksburg, we learned the two-step in Luckenbach, sampled 15 different wines, and met a rhino named Blake? Well, it’s all true! This three-day bus trip to Fredericksburg turned out to be one of the most fun trips Tours by Welcome Home RGV has taken yet! One traveler said, “This trip was well-planned and organized. Sarah and Stella go above and beyond to make the trip the best.” Let me fill you in on how it all went.
Monday morning, we all got on our RGV Tours charter bus and rode in style up to the Texas Hill Country. Before long, we were pulling into our hotel, just a block from Main Street in downtown Fredericksburg. We were within walking distance to darling shops and delicious food. Our first group stop was to the Fredericksburg Brewing Company, where we had a delicious German buffet in a private party room, with picnic tables and Texas charm. After filling up on schnitzel, potatoes, peach cobbler, and more, we grabbed our dancing shoes, turned on Waylen Jennings, and headed to Luckenbach.
We had a private dance lesson in the Luckenbach Dance Hall, where we learned the two-step. Some of our group grabbed a beer and watched, some of the group shopped and listened to live music, and others danced the night away. I may have even found myself on the dance floor learning for the first time!
The next morning, we started our wine tour with a visit to Sandy Road Vineyards. We were greeted with a cozy, tented outdoor area filled with fire pits and a gorgeous view of their acres of grape vines. This family-owned-and-operated winery showed us a great time, with five different wine tastings.
Our next stop was Pontotoc Vineyard Picnic Table. This charming, little, roadside stop was a 1950s gas station that has been restored and decorated to perfection. You can’t help but smile when you head inside. On the survey given after the trip, this visit earned the most 5-star reviews from everyone. The couple that runs this vineyard has the perfect combination of passion and hospitality. Not only did we sample four different wines but also a homemade sangria that may have been the hit of the week! This experience peaked when everyone was served a memorable lunch of homemade pimento cheese, sour dough bread, candied nuts, locally made sausage, and the most decadent brownies you can imagine. The hospitality this place offers is unmatched! After packaging up everyone’s wines and sangria bottles, we hit the road for our third winery.
Our last winery stop was another unique experience for our group. The owners of the Rhinory combined their love of wine with their passion for rhino conservation. Not only did we have five more wine samples here, but we also got to meet Blake, the rhino, and see him show off. I’m not kidding! He was like a giant puppy dog rolling around in the mud and snuggling up with his cute little face so everyone could see. What a ham!
We had some downtime and relaxed or shopped the rest of the evening…and woke up to snow! There were snow flurries in Fredericksburg, and it made the trip even more memorable for us all. Our morning consisted of a tour of the NIMITZ museum, where we learned all about the Pacific War. After a wonderful few hours at the museum, we took off and made our way to Kerrville for lunch. We stopped at Mamacita’s and had an outstanding Mexican buffet with fresh tortillas, enchiladas, fajitas, and all the fixings. I may have even seen a few margaritas make their way out of the bar.
On our way home to the Valley, we watched movies, won some prizes, and stopped for ice cream at DQ.
“Every trip with Welcome Home is top notch!” Don Robertson told us on the last day of the trip.
Marilyn Shrader said, “I encourage everyone to travel with Welcome Home. These girls know how to do it!”
This trip was such a hit! It will for sure be back on the tour schedule next season. If you’re interested in this or any other tours, visit welcomehomergv.com to see what we have available, and book quickly before they fill up!
~Sarah Denzer, tour manager
