Ask any Texan what they think the Wine Capital of Texas should be, and you’ll get a few answers. Some might say Lubbock and the High Plains area, where roughly 85 percent of the state’s wine grapes are grown. Others might say Fredericksburg in Hill Country, commonly known as the “gateway” to the area’s vast number of wineries. But perhaps equally deserving of a nomination is Grapevine in northern Texas This small city of about 51,000 is home to many wineries, a wine-centric hotel, the Urban Wine Trail, wine trains, and GrapeFest, the largest wine festival in the Southwest. Grapevine was even named for the area’s wild mustang grapes that grew here in the Grape Vine Prairie through the mid-1800s.
You’ll find downtown Grapevine just a 10-minute drive from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, making it an easily accessible destination for a layover or a long weekend. The Trinity Metro TEXRail train can deliver you straight to downtown Grapevine from the airport, or from Fort Worth. There’s also the DART Silver Line, connecting Grapevine to other cities such as Plano, Addison, Richardson, Carrollton, and Coppell. “You don’t need reservations or a long drive to the countryside to have a meaningful wine experience here,” says Holly Donnelly, owner of Off the Vine Wineshop & Cellar in Grapevine. “You can arrive through the airport and be at your hotel in 10 minutes. You don’t even need a car to get around.”
Many would argue Grapevine put Texas wine on the map, as it was home to the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association for decades. The association works to promote Texas wine and push wine legislation, and as Grapevine continued to develop as an urban wine hub, more travelers learned about the city’s love for wine. Today, across town, uncover Grapevine’s festive wine scene. “Hotels, restaurants, patios, and rooftops integrate wine into the broader experience, creating places where locals and travelers linger, talk, and connect,” says Brian Sullivan, the director of operations at Hotel Vin, Grapevine, Autograph Collection, Grapevine’s wine-centric hotel.
Here’s how to sip your way through Grapevine, from tasting rooms and restaurants to wine experiences and more.
Where to Stay
The Hotel Vin lobby.
Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau
Step off the TEXRail platform and you’ve landed at Hotel Vin, Grapevine’s stylish hotel anchoring the downtown area. Here, 120 boutique hotel rooms are outfitted with modern amenities and industrial touches. Enjoy the view and relax between wine tastings amidst cozy linens. Visitors can join an on-site sommelier at the hotel’s Riedel glassware class, which teaches you how various wine glasses affect taste and smell. There’s also the underground wine bar, CaveSociety, where members can sample global wines while learning about viticulture from sommeliers. A few select seats are open to the public each evening, so check for reservations early.
What to Do
Lots of tasting rooms in Grapevine promote Texas wines, where grapes are sourced from the High Plains. You’ll also discover many of the tasting rooms here have sibling locations in Hill Country, giving those familiar with central Texas wineries another locale to sip some of their favorite vinos. Of course, there are plenty of places sourcing non-Texas wines as well, and shops for buying bottles to take home. Off the Vine Wineshop & Cellar has been in business for more than 30 years, curating an international selection from some of the best wine regions around the world. Owner Holly Donnelly and her team taste more than 100 wines a week, highlighting 10 to 15 new selections to replace sold-out options. They also offer tastings at their cellar next door and have regular speakers and winegrowers from around the world scheduled for discussions. One of my favorite things about Off the Vine? Sabering your own bottle of sparkling wine. Staff walk you through the process, from loosening the bottle’s cage to using one, swift motion to open your bottle.
Sourced from grapes grown in Meadow, Texas, Bingham Family Vineyards’ Grapevine tasting room gives guests a glimpse into Texas High Plains wines. Guided tastings include five Texas estate wines, which might be a soft viognier, mineral-forward roussanne, or one from tempranillo or tannat grapes, both of which love Texas heat. The majority of the wines produced by Landon Winery come from Texas grapes, and production takes place in nearby Greenville. At the Grapevine tasting room, oenophiles guide you through what to look for in wine, from smell and taste to texture and mouthfeel. Add on charcuterie, flatbread pizzas, or even chocolate lava cake to the experience. For something more hands-on, head to Wine Fusion Winery, where wine blending classes let you mix and match varietals to create the perfect flavor that speaks to you, then take a bottle of your concoction home. Staff members offer tips and tricks along the way, and you can also sample more than 80 other by-the-glass options. At Winestein’s Tasting Room, wine flights come categorically: an Argentinian Mendoza Medley, Chardonnay All the Way, The Old World, and more. Pair it with charcuterie and dips for the complete experience.
Throughout the year, the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, which operates with authentic 1920s-era train coaches, hosts an array of wine-forward excursions, which always include wine, music, and curated bites as you ride from Grapevine to the Stockyards in Fort Worth and back. There’s the Sweetheart Wine Train on Valentine’s Day, which includes wine tastings, chocolates, and snacks, and the Jazz Wine Trains in April, where onboard music accompanies the experience. There’s also a Disco Wine Train, Harvest Wine Train, and Christmas Wine Train later in the year.
To complete your wine itinerary, check out the Urban Wine Trail, which centers around numerous Grapevine tasting rooms and even a food and wine tour.
Where to Eat
At Winewood Grill, classic American fare is kicked up with an open kitchen and a wood-fired grill. Pan-seared snapper, jambalaya pasta, American wagyu, and lobster-stuffed ravioli are all favorites, and you can pair any dish with a wine from the lengthy list. Down the street, Chez Fabien is a bistro with all of the French classics: escargot, chicken paillard, steak frites, and croque monsieur. Pair any dish with a French wine, or go for something from Italy, New Zealand, or the West Coast. The sibling restaurant to Chez Fabien, Piaf Kitchen serves upscale Mediterranean food in the form of mezzes, seafood, steaks, and specialties like falafel tacos and paella. Upstairs is The Perch, the restaurant’s rooftop bar, and they even have a private wine room for large parties. The wine list is global, meaning you’ll find labels from Texas and Argentina to France and Spain.