For the adventurous foodie in search of a Texas getaway filled with local wines and German-American cuisine, a quaint little town called Fredericksburg awaits.
Just a four-hour drive west of Cypress on Highway 290, the historic town is home to more than 50 wineries, vineyards and tasting rooms. Its rich German history inspires many of the town’s trendy eateries. Here travelers can feast on bratwurst, burgers or duck schnitzel in a patio beer garden or upscale bistro.
Fredericksburg owes its heritage to the German immigrants who founded the city in 1846. The settlement was dubbed Fredericksburg in honor of Prince Frederick of Prussia. Over the years, settlers farmed the land, built schools and encouraged more Germans to emigrate to the Central Texas frontier. Landmarks in the area such as the Vereins Kirche, a replica of a historic gathering place for early settlers, serve as a reminder of the town’s early days. Today, Fredericksburg hosts an annual Oktoberfest as well as other festivals dedicated to food and drink.
The city’s Das Peach Haus fuses the region’s German heritage and love of good food into one neat establishment. What started as a roadside peach stand, now serves as a tasting room, market and cooking school operating under the Fischer & Wieser food brand. Visitors can taste cheese plates while sipping wine or peach cider. Those who want a more hands-on approach, can take classes on fine culinary practices.
For a taste of historic Fredericksburg, travelers can dine at Otto’s German Bistro. Located in the East Austin District, just a block off Main Street, this restaurant offers a modern take on German cuisine. Its menu includes tantalizing plates such as Flammuken, a German pizza, or duck schnitzel, a delicately fried meat dish. For more upscale dining, there’s Cabernet Grill, where tantalizing entrees like jalapeno-stuffed Texas quail and filet mignon steaks are up for order alongside an impressive wine list.
For those who love a good German beer garden, fill your pint at the Ausländer Restaurant and Biergarten. The eatery has been popular in the Fredericksburg food scene for more than 20 years. Customers can choose from dozens of cold brews including many hailing from Germany. On the food menu are plenty of well-known Bavarian favorites such as German meatballs and jagerschnitzel. Also on the menu are some not-so-well-known German snacks such as roulade, thinly-sliced roast beef slices which are tightly rolled around pickles, onions, bacon and mustard.
When it comes to wine, few Texas destinations can match Fredericksburg’s vast selection. The city’s Urban Wine Trail guides wine lovers through dozens of downtown wineries and tasting rooms. Wine aficionados can stroll the city streets sipping their wine or beer without a worry. It’s perfectly legal to walk and wine in the streets.
Outside the city’s main hub, sprawling wineries and vineyards dot the region’s rolling limestone hills. Book a tour or find your own way to experience these unique Texas venues. The area is home to Becker Vineyards, a popular Texas wine label carried at major retailers and once served at the White House. Becker Vineyards’ winery is a picturesque 10,000-square-foot replica of a 19th century German stone barn. The venue boasts 56 acres of vineyards, private tasting rooms, an event barn, historic log cabin and lavender field.
For a food-pairing vineyard experience, there’s Kuhlman Cellars. The venue offers chef-prepared meals alongside wine pairing. To taste multiple small wine brands under one roof, visit the Slate Wine Collective. The group is located on a 35-acre vineyard along with a restored historic homestead, wine-making facility and tasting room.
Fredericksburg is surrounded by peaceful pasturelands and peach orchards. During peach season, growers sell fruits directly from their orchards and roadside stands. Travelers can even pick their own peaches at Jenschke Orchards, a family-owned operation that sells jams, jellies and canned peaches. When fruits aren’t in season foodies can still find peachy sweets like peach cobbler and peach ice cream at Clear River Ice Cream.
Whether you’re travelling for the food or fun, there’s something in Fredericksburg for everyone.
Food Lover Must-Sees in Fredericksburg
1. Urban Wine Trail – Explore Fredericksburg’s downtown wineries and tasting rooms all within walking distance of historic venues, art galleries, boutiques and shops. VisitFredericksburgTX.com/wineries/urban-wine-trail/
2. Otto’s German Bistro – Feast on locally-sourced farm-to-table cuisine at this eatery. The restaurant offers German cuisine with a modern twist. Choose from items like German roast beef or foie gras for appetizers and try the truffle linguini or duck schnitzel as a main course. Ottosfbg.com
3. Fischer & Wieser's Das Peach Haus – Taste award-winning sauces, condiments and preserves from Fischer & Wieser's gourmet food brand. Enjoy their warm peach cobbler and wine along with unlimited product sampling. While you’re there, meander through the peach orchard, sit out by the water or book a private class at the Fischer & Wieser cooking school. DasPeachHaus.com
4. Slate Mill Wine Collective – Taste unique blends from dozens of boutique winemakers all under one roof. The estate features a 35-acre vineyard, a restored homestead and tasting room. SlateMillWineCollective.com