Among its skyscrapers and urban life, Dallas is home to the oldest farmers’ market in the state. When you think of Dallas, wineries may not be the first thing that comes to mind but the wine industry is increasing owing to a growing appreciation of wine and an increase in wine tasting events and celebrations.
Join us as we take a look at the best Dallas wineries and the Dallas vineyards that contribute to making this part of the world one to stop in for a tasting – or two!
Times Ten Cellars
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If you’re wondering about Dallas wineries and looking for a brilliant place for a night out with friends, a place to enjoy happy hour or to celebrate memorable life events like engagements or birthday parties, visit Times Ten Cellars. You can enjoy wines, cider and prosecco and an exceptional menu offering mouth-watering dishes. Times Ten Cellars collaborates with vineyards in Texas and California to produce wonderful wines.
They have a tasting room, a lounge and a patio where you are most welcome to plan and host an important event or upcoming celebration. Opening hours are Tuesday-Thursday 3pm-10pm, Friday 2pm-11pm, Saturday 1pm-11pm and Sunday 3pm-9pm.
Red Wines include
- 2018 Malbec
- 2016 Tempranillo/Cabernet CMV
- 2018 Cabernet Franc
- 2017 GSM Blend
White Wines include:
- 2017 Pinot Grigio
- 2020 Chardonnay
- 2020 Dry Rose
Eden Hill Vineyards
Eden Hill was founded in 2007 by the Hornbakers and it is a family-run business dedicated to making delicious wines. The grapes are sourced from vineyards in North Texas and the Texas High Plains. The owner Chris Hornbaker states that making wine is hard work but they love it and are driven by a passion for producing good wine. Referring to the ease with which things can go wrong as a winemaker, he says that the word ‘gambler’ was already taken so they came up with ‘winemaker,’ but he would do it all again.
Eden Hill has a tasting room where you can sample five pre-selected wines or you can drink wine by the glass and bottle along with light foods and desserts. Wine club members get complimentary tastings. The venue is perfect for birthday parties, anniversaries and business meetings and you are welcome to bring your own food or request Eden Hill to cater for you. Opening hours are Thursday – Sunday 11am-6pm.
Delaney Winery
This beautiful venue which is the largest vineyard and winery in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex has been operating for more than 20 years. The 8,000 square foot winery resembles an 18th-century French chateau and it is home to 10 acres of grapevines. Delaney is an elegant venue for weddings, parties and other special events and, to give your unique celebration the attention it deserves, only one event is held per day.
The Barrel Room is a large but intimate space with a capacity for 300 guests and the Tank Room is available for rental to smaller groups. The 1,000 square foot outdoor Crash Pad offers sweeping views of the vineyard and to adapt to the changing Texas weather, it is equipped with heaters, fans and canopies. The Delaney shop sells wine produced from the vineyards as well as exclusive wine-themed gifts. Opening hours for tastings and public tours are Monday-Saturday 12pm- 5pm.
A visitor to Delaney states that the staff are pleasant, helpful and knowledgeable and that they give you a generous amount of wine to sample. She also says that the wines are delicious and the atmosphere is great.
Lost Oak Winery
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Lost Oak Winery aims to give visitors a relaxing winery experience and an escape from the cares and woes of daily life with their award-winning wines, tastings, tours and live entertainment. Situated on 52 acres of open space, visitors are welcome to explore the vineyard, hike, have a picnic and share a bottle or more of wine. Their goal is to give you the break you deserve!
The winery and vineyard offer a beautiful setting where guests can spend the day looking out onto cultivated vineyards, magnificent oak trees and meandering walking paths. The owner, Gene, has been growing grapes since 1989 and has lived in France where he spent as much time as possible in vineyards and wineries learning the trade. His passion to become a grower and make wine was born and he opened the winery in 2006.
Wine tasting at Lost Oak is accompanied by a gourmet cheese board which you can have on the lawn or on the covered patio. Visitors are encouraged to spend the entire day at Lost Oak. Opening hours are Tuesday and Wednesday 2pm-8pm, Thursday and Saturday 1pm-9pm and Sunday 12pm-7pm.
Cassaro Winery
John and Jill Matthews, owners of Cassaro Winery blend Texan wines with Italian traditions, providing a Tuscan wine-tasting experience in Dallas. The history of this winery goes back to when John’s grandfather emigrated to the U.S. from Italy and made wine in New York for decades. Keen to continue the winemaking tradition, John planted European varietals. Today he makes Texan wines in the Italian style using Texas grapes.
John and Jill aim to make guests feel at home while enjoying wine in a country setting. They state that there are two key ingredients in winemaking: passion and the best grapes and they adhere to the Italian saying, ‘Great wine is made in the vineyard’. They take great pride in producing the finest grapes using old-world winemaking techniques. Opening hours are Thursday and Friday 4pm-10pm, Saturday 12pm-10pm and Sunday 2pm-6pm.
Van Duzer Winery
Carl and Marilynn Thoma run a family estate in the foothills of the Oregon Coastal Range. The 80 plus planted acres are in the direct path of sea winds so the vines benefit from the cooling drafts that moderate the vineyard temperature, ensuring a long and fruitful growing season throughout the year. Founded in 1998, Van Duzer Winery produces a portfolio of cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and a small selection of Riesling.
The frontrunner of the Van Duzer wine portfolio is the Bieze Vineyards Pinot Noir which comes from an external vineyard which is at a higher elevation, ensuring that the grapes reach optimal ripeness levels.
Other wines produced at this winery are:
- Van Duzer ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, USA
- Van Duzer Westside Blocks Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, USA
- Van Duzer ‘Estate’ Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, USA
- Van Duzer Dijon Blocks Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, USA
- Van Duzer Bieze Vineyard Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, USA
What Wine is Dallas Known For?
Wine-searcher has rated these as the top Dallas wines:
- Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
- Venge Vineyards Family Reserve Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
- Hundred Acre ‘Wraith’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA
- Hundred Acre ‘Kayli Morgan Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon
- Realm Cellars The Absurd Proprietary Red, Napa Valley, USA
- Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus, Priorat DOCa, Spain
- Alvaro Palacios L’Ermita Velles Vinyes, Priorat DOCa, Spain
- Petrus, Pomerol, France
- Cliff Lede Vineyards Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District, USA
- Chappellet Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA
- Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac, France
- Realm Cellars Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, US
Sample The Fruit Of Dallas Vineyards
There are a number of great wine-producing vineyards in Dallas, many of which are family-owned, homely and intimate. Some host wine-tasting events which help guests to learn more about wine. Visiting wineries in Dallas is not only fun but a beautiful way to relax and unwind.