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LIFESTYLE

Visitors also receive a 15 percent dis- in pockets across the Hill Country, we felt Trails, it coincides with Texas Wine
count on any three bottles of wine pur- that it lent itself to this concept. In the Month. This year the festival celebrates its
chased at each of the wineries. The process, it allows us to safety visit and not 25th anniversary and is scheduled from
month-long event costs $60 per couple. worry about our guests being over-served noon to 7 p.m. Oct. 24 in historic down-
by the end of the afternoon. We truly town Fredericksburg. Sponsored by the
Each ticket includes a trail tasting pass- want the trail to be an experience to be en- city as a benefit for the Market Square Im-
port which is issued at the first winery vis- joyed safely.” provement Project, it is billed as a full-
ited, which is selected at the time tickets course celebration of Texas food, wine,
are purchased. At each winery, the passport Wiese noted that $5 from the $35 fee is beer, music, specialty booths, food courts,
is stamped with the date. Each day visitors taken right off the top for the Susan G. and fun for all.
can taste and get stamped at up to four Komen Foundation. “We chose to partner
wineries total. Couples purchasing tickets with them because October is also Breast For more information,
are both allowed to taste although only Cancer Awareness Month,” she said. call 872-216-WINE (9463)
one booklet per couple will be issued. “We’ve donated $4,000 each year for the or visit texaswinetrail.com.
last three years for a total of $12,000.”
On average, the cost to sample wine is
$9 per person, per winery, with the pur- In addition, there is also the Fredericks-
chase of the $35 trail pass, which is valid burg Food and Wine Festival. Although
for 31 days at all 46 wineries. In addition, not directly associated with the Wine
special discounts on the purchase of wine
at participating wineries are given to pass-
port holders during the entire month.

One of the reasons for the four-per-day
winery visits limit is to encourage drinking
in a responsible manner and to promote a
more in-depth visit and experience at each
stop.

January Wiese, a native Californian
from another famous wine region, Paso
Robles, is executive director of the Texas
Hill Country Wineries Association. Wiese
started as the organization’s wine trail
event coordinator in 2009 and became ex-
ecutive director in 2012.

Mike Batek of Hye of Meadow Winery
said in a statement provided by Wiese: “I
believe the major driver behind the deci-
sion is two-fold: safety and enjoyment.
We as an association want people to come
out and enjoy each winery they visit. Part
of that is slowing down to taste the wine,
have a conversation and have an experi-
ence. I personally like to hang a bit longer
if there is a view or savor a particular wine
without rushing to meet a schedule.
Looking at how our wineries are arranged

visit us at www.bcms.org 29