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Come Savor the Tastes Of The Texas Hill Country!

6/23/2014

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Texas is famous for football, cowboys, barbecue, and beer halls.  But did you know deep in the Heart of Texas Hill Country is one of the fastest growing wine-producing regions in the country, second only to Napa Valley?   With five million visitors annually, Texas Hill Country Wineries boast 42 unique and visually stunning vineyards each with its own distinctive tastes, terrior, and Texas hospitality.

Many wineries offer special events throughout the year, and in addition to savoring newly released wines, demonstrations, and tours, you will have the opportunity to meet with winemakers and enjoy home-grown Texas musicians, artists, and chefs!  So while you’re here vacationing or enjoying your second home, make sure to visit the Texas Wine Trail and Wine Road 290!

Here are some tips to help make your wine tasting excursion even more fun and memorable:

Wine Country Etiquette
  • Always have a designated driver. Many wineries will have refreshments just for designated drivers.
  • Plan ahead of time and select three to five wineries for a single day tour.  Picking a few that are near each other will help with a successful tour.  Don’t forget the wineries in the outlying areas.
  • Be aware of individual winery hours of business.
  • Be sure to drink lots of water during the day to prevent dehydration.
  • You do not have to drink each entire taste of wine. If you’re tasting 5 or 6 wines at 4 wineries for the day it will all add up. Take a couple of sips and pour the rest out into the spittoon. Typically, wineries serve one-ounce pours. As a reference point, there are four to six ounces of wine in a typical glass.
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Photo courtesy of www.texaswineandtrail.com
  • Please be patient when entering a crowded tasting room. The staff will do their best to serve you as they can.
  • Please be respectful of your confirmed appointment times. Take a few minutes to understand the length of time from one winery to another when mapping your day.
  • Bring the proper identification. Winery staff will check if you are of age.
  • If you are bringing children on a wine tour with you, make sure to keep an eye on them so they do not disrupt other guests.  Bring a toy or game to occupy your child and a snack or drink.
  • Bring a sweater or jacket as certain areas of the winery make be kept cold.
  • Please check with the wineries ahead of time to see if they are dog friendly.
  • Do not leave purchased wines in a hot car.  Bring a cooler and ice packs inside.
  • Do not leave pets or children in hot cars while tasting or touring at wineries.
  • If you loved the wines, take advantage of joining the wine club for discounts and special future bottles.
  • Many of the small wineries don’t work with distributors so if you find wines that you like, you should purchase them from the tasting room because you are likely not find them in stores.
  • When driving the Hill Country, watch for cyclists and be courteous.
TASTING TIPS
  • Don’t wear perfume or cologne. It will interfere with your ability to smell and taste the wines.
  • When tasting, swirl the wine in your glass and look at its color.
  • Before taking a sip, put your nose inside the glass and take a deep breath and notice the aromas.
  • As you take a sip of wine, notice how it feels and tastes in your mouth at first and then swish it around on your tongue before swallowing. Your opinion of the taste may change, so do not rush to swallow.  Always take another taste, the first might be affected by your previous wine or food.
  • Eat crackers, bread and cheese between tastings to cleanse your palate.
  • If you don’t know the difference between wine varieties, don’t be afraid to ask.
  • If you have questions or don’t understand the terminology, winemakers and tasting room staff are happy to explain.
  • If you do not like a certain wine, do not make negative comments about it. Simply state that it is not your favorite, and taste another one.
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We would love to hear how your visit was to the Texas Wine Trail and Wine Road 290!  Comments welcome!
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The  Fourth  of July  means Aqua  Boom  On  Lake  LBJ!     June 28 - July 5

6/13/2014

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Photo courtesy of www.horseshoebaytexas.com
Hold on to your hats, y'all!  It's that time of year again!  If you haven't made Aqua Boom a tradition to visit while in central Texas, well, you should! 
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Photo courtesy of www.lakesandhills.com
Kingsland is the home of the American Independence weekend celebration known as "Aqua Boom."  This famous 5-day event is celebrating its 35th year of community spirit.  Come on out to enjoy parades, live music, sporting competitions, food, arts and crafts, and, of course, spectacular fireworks!   For more information about events and registration go to www.kingslandchamber.org!
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Photo courtesy of www.dailytrib.com
Events include:
  • Golf Tournament
  • Children's Parade
  • Land Parade
  • Washer Tournament & Horseshoe Pitch
  • American Legion BBQ
  • Boat Parade
  • Ski Show
  • Fireworks
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Photo courtesy of www.dailytrib.com
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Don't Miss The Annual Burnet County Area Fair, June 20-21

6/11/2014

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www.burnetcountyfair.com
To stay true to Texas tradition, Burnet County is hosting their annual Burnet County Area Fair this June 20 & 21st at their new location at the Burnet County Community Center located at 401 East Jackson Street in Burnet, Texas.   The 2014 Fair will honor all Veterans and First Responders. The theme this year is "Patriotism" and highlights Patriotic crafts, art, baked goods, preserved foods, and floral arrangements.  Please don't miss the special opening ceremonies with the Presentation of Colors.  There will be cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, Sweepstakes Awards, and Best of Division, as well as a petting zoo and moon bounce for the kids and other kid friendly activities.  Car Club will have a car show on Saturday, and the Burnet County 4-H clubs will be serving barbeque lunch, too!  Make sure you stop by to see the vendors and check out the interesting items for sale.  Also, Saturday at 11:00 look out for the arrival of The Hill Country Flyer!
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Photo courtesy of Bruce Cooner.
Make sure while visiting the Hill Country in search of your second vacation home or retirement retreat to stop by this classic Hill Country event!
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It's   Peach   Season   in   the   Texas   Hill   Country!

6/2/2014

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The Peach Blossom Trail
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A suggested driving route to see peach blossoms between
Fredericksburg and Stonewall in Gillespie County
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We expect an excellent showing of color this year since the peach trees have had a very good winter!



From Kingsland, drive southeast to Hwy. 290 towards Fredericksburg to Gellerman Lane  (see map). Turn left on Gellerman Lane -Vogel’s Peach Stand is on the corner.  Along Hwy 290 you will see numerous peach stands and several orchards are visible from the highway.

Gellerman Lane is home to one of the largest concentrations of peach trees in Texas.  Several families have their orchards in this sandy-soil area and there are about 300 acres of peach trees.  Three to four miles north of Hwy. 290, orchards are visible for more than a mile.  Continue on Gellerman Lane to the intersection of FM 2721. Turn left (west) on FM 2721 toward Fredericksburg.

At the intersection of FM 2721 and FM 1631, go straight on FM 1631.  There is another large orchard on the left a few miles past the intersection.  Seven miles from the intersection, FM 1631 intersects Main Street.  This route is about 35 miles in length and should take 45-50 minutes to drive.

Did you know?
  • Gillespie County is the largest peach-producing county in Texas.
  • There are over 1,400 acres of peaches in commercial production.  This accounts for 40% of Texas’ peach crop.
  • Stonewall is home to the Peach Jamboree, the third weekend in June.
  • The average peach tree can produce 3-4 bushels of peaches in a year. A bushel weighs 50 pounds.

Current Varieties Available right now (as of June 2):

June Gold, Ruby Prince, Dixired, and Regal peaches

Brazos blackberries

Bruce plums

HAPPY PICKING!

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Photo courtesy of www.tourtexas.com
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