Day one: wine and BBQ in Driftwood
- 110:30 — Leave Austin southwest on FM-1826.
- 211:15 — First tasting at Duchman Family Winery. Start with the Vermentino and work into the Aglianico. Best wine of the weekend, tasted first.
- 312:45 — Ten minutes to The Salt Lick.
- 41:00 — A long lunch at The Salt Lick. Family-style, communal tables, and a bring-your-own-beer policy. Do not rush this.
- 52:45 — Second tasting at Fall Creek Vineyards at Driftwood. Order the Tempranillo.
- 64:15 — Third tasting at Driftwood Estate Winery, on the hillside terrace.
- 76:00 — Dinner at Trattoria Lisina, or back toward Austin.
Day two: the Dripping Springs side
- 19:30 — Coffee at Mazama in Dripping Springs, and a walk down Mercer Street.
- 211:00 — First tasting at Bell Springs Winery. Shaded, easy, dog-friendly.
- 312:30 — Lunch and beer at Jester King. Wood-fired pizza, farmhouse ales, and goats. Give it two hours.
- 42:30 — Desert Door Distillery for sotol, which will be unlike anything else you drink all weekend.
- 54:00 — Last tasting at Hawk's Shadow, up on the ridge, for the long view and the late light.
- 66:00 — Dinner at Tillie's at Camp Lucy, or back to Austin.
Austin Wine Car
Two days, no designated driver
We run door-to-door days from Austin to Dripping Springs and Driftwood. Three wineries and The Salt Lick if you want it.
Not ready to book?
The one-night version
If you want to actually sleep out here, base at Camp Lucy or a ranch cabin and compress the plan. The advantage is waking up in the country and eating at Tillie's without driving afterward. The disadvantage is that you spend some of your weekend arranging around a place with limited options.
- 1Saturday 11:00 — Leave Austin, first tasting at Bell Springs.
- 21:00 — The Salt Lick for a long lunch.
- 33:00 — Duchman.
- 44:30 — Check in and take an hour off.
- 57:00 — Dinner at Tillie's.
- 6Sunday 9:30 — Slow breakfast, then Jester King for pizza and a beer at noon.
- 72:00 — Last tasting at Fall Creek Driftwood, then back to Austin.
Swap-ins if wine is not the whole plan
- Hamilton Pool Preserve — book the reservation the moment you fix your dates; they go fast and swimming depends on water quality.
- Jacob's Well or Blue Hole in Wimberley — twenty minutes south of Driftwood, reservations required in season.
- Pedernales Falls State Park — a couple of hours of hiking on dramatic layered limestone.
- Wimberley Market Days — the first Saturday of the month, March through December.
- Reimers Ranch — climbing, biking, and river access.
- Vista Brewing — a wide lawn and a real kitchen, if you want an afternoon that is not a tasting room.
Where to eat over a weekend
| Meal | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Mazama Coffee, Rolling in Thyme & Dough | Both in Dripping Springs proper |
| Lunch, day one | The Salt Lick | Cash-friendly, BYOB, no substitute |
| Lunch, day two | Jester King or Vista Brewing | Both cook well enough to be a real meal |
| Dinner, casual | Trattoria Lisina | Next door to Duchman, terrace seating |
| Dinner, occasion | Tillie's at Camp Lucy | The destination restaurant out here |
What to know before you go
- Reserve tastings ahead, especially for weekends and any group over six. The rooms out here are smaller than Fredericksburg's.
- The Salt Lick's original Driftwood location has historically been cash-friendly and BYOB — check current policy before you arrive with a cooler.
- Hamilton Pool, Jacob's Well, and Blue Hole all require advance reservations in season and regularly sell out.
- The roads between Driftwood and Dripping Springs are narrow, winding, and unlit at night. This is a real argument against driving yourself home.
- Summer afternoons are brutal. Front-load the outdoor stops to the morning and the evening.