Savor the Angle of the Hill Country Wine Triangle: Sip, Sip, Hooray!

Roughly 54 miles northwest of Austin and 100 miles north of San Antonio, Burnet County is beautiful no matter what time of year. Among the town’s great attractions like the Fort Croghan Museum and the Vanishing Texas River Cruise is a best-kept secret: the Wine Triangle, three amazing places to relish flavors with companions and vittles! Plan a perfect day with visits to Wedding Oak Tasting Room, Perissos Vineyard & Winery, and Torr Na Lochs Vineyard & Winery.

Photo: Torr Na Lochs Vineyards & Winery

Torr Na Lochs Vineyard & Winery, located at 7055 W State Hwy 29, is owned and operated by Blake and Karen DeBerry. These world travelers have created an immersive realm for the palate, while sharing their incredible view of the Colorado River, as well as Inks Lake and Buchanan Lake. Ever mindful of water conservation, vineyard soil moisture sensors are used alongside condensate water for irrigation. This breathtaking site is handicap accessible and hosts musicians on selected Saturdays. Sit by the fire pit on the huge open patio, enjoy the ceiling fans on the cedar railed deck, or take in the view while inside at the wine barrel bar.

Opened to the public in September 2015, Torr Na Lochs Vineyard & Winery, which loosely translates from Gaelic to “hill over lakes,” is committed to wines made only from Texas-grown fruit. Winners of numerous awards, including at TEXSOM, the Houston Rodeo, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and Lone Star Intl., the wine can be described as similar to Australian wines, i.e. more fruit-forward and less oaked. Some customer-favorite wines include Fion Geal, Ruby Kate’s Rose, Dolcetto, and Estate Syrah.

Hours for the Torr Na Lochs Tasting Room are 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday & Sunday, and 1 to 6 p.m. Friday & Saturday. A flight of six wines is $15 per person, with a reduction if a bottle of wine is purchased. Enjoy with a cheese plate or a charcuterie board. Ingredients are supplied by local business Miillers Meat Market and Smokehouse. Torr Na Lochs also offers six wine club options at three different levels, and their wines are carried in Texas restaurants and shops, including Badu 1891 in Llano, Club Car Bar in Kingsland, and Murphy Creek Cellars in Mason.

Photo: Perissos Vineyard & Winery

The next stop in the Wine Triangle is Perissos Vineyards & Winery, located at 7214 Park Rd 4 W. Nestled within Hoovers Valley, this vineyard is family-owned and operated by Seth and Laura Martin, who chose their unique location based on the optimal granite gravel soil and elevation. Perissos embodies a “farming first” mentality, resulting in incredible fruit quality. That, paired with immaculate facilities and winemaking practices, yields award-winning wines, including six Best of Class and several double gold awards in the San Francisco Chronicle wine competition and other competitions. Perissos uses 100% Texas fruit. Plus, it’s 100% vertically-integrated, meaning the whole process, from dormant vines, to flowering buds, to berries, to harvest and crush, and ultimately, into a bottle of wine, all happens at Perissos Vineyards.

The vineyard name “Perissos” is a Greek word meaning “exceeding abundantly, beyond what is expected, imagined, or hoped for.” The self-taught family behind this operation has planted and worked the vineyard for over 15 years, and they built each facility on site. Several levels of tours and tastings are available.

Tasting Room hours on the 16-acre estate are Thursdays from 12-5 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 12-6 p.m., and Sunday from 12-5 p.m., plus additional seasonal hours that can be found on the website. There is an active Wine Club, where members enjoy free tastings and discounts on wine purchases, opportunities to participate in harvest and grape stomps, wine club events, and intimate food and wine pairing dinners. Beyond the tasting room, Perissos wines can be found at The Three-Legged Goat in Pflugerville, Texas Reds & Whites in Austin, Horseshoe Bay Yacht Club and Resort, Cabernet Grill in Fredericksburg, Pecan Street Drink Shoppe in Hico, Murphy Creek Cellars in Mason, Vino Volo in Austin Airport, and other locations listed on their website.

Photo: Wedding Oak Winery

The final leg of the Wine Triangle culminates in downtown Burnet, at the Wedding Oak Winery Tasting Room and Hospitality Center. Partake in purely Texas wine blended with complimentary grapes and minimal oak aging in the historic, renovated Badger Building on the courthouse square from 1888, featuring a rooftop terrace and spacious back porch. Named after a majestic, 400-year-old oak tree, which grows about 2.5 miles northwest from the San Saba winery, this tasting room offers an impressive array of wine options through five tasting flights as well as an exciting Wine Club.

Originally opening a tasting room in San Saba in 2012, then one in Fredericksburg, and now Burnet, viticulturist Mike McHenry and a group of friends have brought their passion for wine to visitors and citizens alike. Visit the Burnet location at 229 S. Pierce on Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The menu has many options, and their numerous awards will shine through the much-loved flavors. Try the 2018 Roussanne or the 2017 Texedo Red, both Gold Medal winners at the 2019 San Francisco International Wine Competition Awards.

Upcoming events include the Wedding Oak Wine Train, which departs from Cedar Park and travels to Burnet, while riders partake in wine and food pairings. The two-hour train ride returns in the afternoon to the Cedar Park Depot. Tickets include a tasting flight of five wines paired with light snacks. Keep an eye out for the Valentine’s Day dinner on Friday, February 14, 2020; this five-course wine and food pairing is sure to be a sweet treat!

Photo: Torr Na Lochs Vineyards & Winery

Texas wine has experienced explosive growth over the past ten years, with noticeable improvement in the overall quality of wine being produced. Visitors from all over the world have traveled to Burnet to appreciate wines which are 100% Texas grown and made. Awaken your senses in an urban setting, on a hilltop, and in a valley by savoring all three angles of the Wine Triangle!