Sometimes it’s just not feasible to play a big vacation getaway. The time, money, and expense involved in travel can carry quite the hefty price tag. Plus it can be quite stressful in and of itself to even take a full vacation. Sometimes you get exhausted just from all the packing you have to do! So if you live in the Houston area, you can plan a great “staycation” to enjoy with someone you love. This is especially true if you both find that drinking good wine is a lovely way to pass the time. You don’t even have to go to Napa or the Willamette Valley to sample the tasty offerings of top notch vineyards. There is a trail of wineries right in the Houston area that you can visit on the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail. This special trail has seven different wineries to visit on a day trip that can be a lot of interesting fun. Just make sure you have a designated driver! We are bringing you local Houston wineries to visit for a staycation. Here are the top three that are closest to the Houston area, all within a short one hour drive.
Cork This! Winery
Right up Route 45 about an hour away from downtown Houston is this entertaining winery. The Cork This! Winery people have a bit of a sense of humor about their product which shows through in all they do on the land. Located in Montgomery, Texas this winery has a down home motto of fun. It’s not stuffy at all, so you can sample a variety of blends in a comfortable atmosphere. You can even bottle your own wine while you are there, and make yourself some customized labels to take home. Those will look impressive at your next dinner party.
Bernhardt Winery
Close by is Bernhardt Winery, which is located in Plantersville. It’s only about an hour North of Houston, so it’s also a great day trip winery to visit. You can also spend the night there if you like since they have an award winning bed and breakfast that attracts many visitors each year. They do offer tastings every day from 1-5 pm, so there is plenty of time to sample their lush Blanc Du Bois varietal, or the robust Cabernet Reserve.
Pleasant Hill Winery
This fantastic winery, Pleasant Hill is only about an hour and fifteen minutes from the Houston metropolitan area. Their events page on their website will show when they specifically do tastings, which is mostly on the weekends. It’s located in Brenham, Texas which is directly West up Route 290 from Houston. You can also spend some time in the main part of town visiting all the interesting shops and galleries in the area.
Take off for a weekend
These three wineries are not the only wineries around Houston! Go explore and check out other wineries on the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail. This 21+ staycation is a great option for weekend romance or a ladies weekend away. What do you think? Have you been to any of these wineries before? Let us know in the comment section below! Stay tuned to our blog for all things eat, shop and play around Houston.