By looking at our guide to the 8 best wineries and vineyards in and around Houston, you’ll find establishments with unique qualities, including beautiful settings, fantastic hospitality, delicate food offerings, and great wine!
The city has a growing love for fine wine, with much inspiration coming from France and Italy. Texas offers the perfect climate for growing grapes perfect for making red wine, but many of the farmers have chosen to incorporate fruits, allowing the wines to be more palatable to a broader audience.
There is nothing better than sitting back and relaxing with a rich, full-bodied glass of wine, but if beer is more your thing, you might also want to check out our guide to the 6 best breweries in Houston.
8 Top Wineries and Vineyards in Houston, TX
I have incorporated what makes each of these wineries and vineyards different from each other, whether that be their ethics, family backgrounds, or ways of producing their product.
I have noted what each of them includes in their tasting sessions and if they have any food available on-site.
You don’t have to spend a lot to get outstanding wine. I have added some recommendations within the list below of some reasonably priced bottles which I believe are worth every cent. These range from $10.99 to $64.20, with wine tasting options from as little as $8.00 per person.
Now, let’s take a look at our top 8 picks for wineries and vineyards in Houston!
1. Sable Grapes Winery
| Address: | 2600 Travis St Suite #104, Houston, TX 77006 |
| Website: | https://sablegatewinery.com |
| Our Recommendations: | Dark Knight Pinot Noir (Dark, smokey red, with a hint of cherry) - available for $48.00 per bottle |
Located within Midtown Houston, the modest, family-owned Sable Grapes Winery has a magnificent selection of vintage, hand-crafted wines. Guests are invited to try their hand at crafting their own wines using a selection of locally sourced ingredients. There is also a custom label machine to help you personalize your bottle.
This beautiful little winery is owned by 2nd generation Hungarian wine farmer Szilvia and her husband, Bob. Bob has spent much of the last 20 years traveling the globe, sampling wines from more than 50 countries. This pair certainly knows their stuff and is eager to educate visitors on the wonders of wine.
We love Sable’s tasting flights. It’s a unique, fun way to sample different wines and learn about their origin in a natural, non-pretentious setting. This activity needs to be booked in advance after 7 pm. However, it can be enjoyed by walk-ins during the day. This tasting session can be enjoyed for as little as $24 for 5 wines or $32 for 7 wines (the price is per person).
Sable Grapes Winery also has its own bistro kitchen with some delicious plates to complement any chosen wine. I would absolutely say to try the charcuterie boards if you come here, the rest of the menu is pretty standard and largely pizza-based, but the charcuterie is amazing! They consist of in-house pickled vegetables, nuts, dry-cured meats, and cheese.
If Charcuterie is your thing, you may also find our list of 8 places serving the best charcuterie interesting.
2. Erma Rose Winery
| Address: | 3130 Katy Hockley Cut Off Rd, Katy, TX 77493 |
| Website: | https://ermarosewinery.com |
| Our Recommendations: | Mango Wine (Light and refreshing, bursting with tropical notes) - available for $18.99 per bottle. |
Erma Rose is an award-winning Winery based in Houston. Their cranberry wine won bronze in the women’s international wine competition, alongside their gorilla wine also winning bronze in the Lone Star International Wine Competition. All of the wines produced here are unique and fruity, with an emphasis on using as much organic produce as possible.
ErmaRose began life as a hobby for owner Jennifer Prothow after she retired from the military. Jennifer found it a therapeutic activity to enjoy alone before thoroughly studying the art of good winemaking in 2014. Jennifer’s first full batch of wine was created in 2016, and ErmaRose was opened in 2019.
The most popular wine enjoyed here, and the batch that started the entire journey is the Blackberry wine. This rich, dark wine can be purchased on the ErmaRose online store for $18.99. Personally, we prefer the more unusual blends such as mango, banana, peach, and green apple varieties.
You can take part in wine tasting events at ErmaRose for as little as $8.00 per person. For this extremely low price, you can sample 4 wines. There is also a wine tasting for 4 fruit-infused wines for $12.00, or the max tasting includes 11 wines for $15.00.
3. Decant Urban Winery
| Address: | 948 Wakefield Dr, Houston, TX 77018 |
| Website: | https://decantwinery.com |
| Our Recommendations: | 2017 Petit Sirah (spicy and rich with notes of dark chocolate and nutmeg) - available for $48.00 per bottle. |
Decant Urban Winery is one of the friendliest, most relaxed wineries to visit in Houston. It has a really laid-back vibe, and you can tell the people that work there are happy, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable about the wine they produce. Decant is owned by a husband and wife duo, and the employees are all family friends who have decided to join them in this venture.
Decant Wines uses grapes from all over America to make its distinctive flavors. They adapt traditional techniques to craft smooth wines that can be enjoyed at an attractive price, thanks to minimal use of modern technology.
Apart from a beautiful little patio area to the side of it, the outside of Decant Urban Winery isn’t too attractive. However, they have worked incredibly hard with the interior design to give the building a cool, chilled, urban feel to it.
4. Pur Noire Urban Winery
| Address: | 802 Milam St Suite 103, Houston, TX 77002 |
| Website: | https://www.purnoirewines.com |
| Our Recommendations: | 2021 Pur Euphoria (Subtle berry flavors with a melon after-tingle) - available for $35.00 per bottle. |
Following a life-changing trip through Italy and completely immersing themselves in the laid-back, wine-infused culture during their visit, husband and wife duo Carissa and Kenneth Stephens set out on a four-year journey to open the first black-owned winery in Houston. The winery of their dreams finally opened in 2020.
When the pandemic hit in April 2020, the team decided to move their venture online. However, they managed to reopen their fantastic winery to the public again in late 2021. Thanks to the warm atmosphere, delicious wines, and superb events, they have had incredible success.
Pur Noire hosts some fantastic evenings for all to enjoy. These include; trivia nights, live music events, and games nights. You can also enjoy wine tasting events here, which are available to book in advance. The evening wine tasting events are priced between $30.00 – $40.00. Alternatively, they run ‘Happy Hour’ day sessions for as little as $15.00.
Although Put Noire Urban Winery does not have a kitchen, they do offer charcuterie boards to enjoy during some of their events.
5. Braman Winery and Brewery
| Address: | 3421 Farm to Market 359, Richmond, TX 77406 |
| Website: | https://bramanbrands.com |
| Our Recommendations: | Sparkles Pecan (Sweet, nutty sparkling wine) - available for $18.00 per bottle. |
Braman Winery and Brewery is currently the only establishment in Houston specializing in wine and beer. The dream of creating a Texan legacy has taken three generations to be achieved since the humble beginnings of a young Irish immigrant in 1835 who had a dream and went for it.
Braman only uses grapes grown in Texas for their wine. The fermenting process then takes place in French Oak barrels to give each bottle a distinctive smokey taste. The beers crafted here, Running Walker Beer, have all been crafted by brewers who have been fully trained in the art of German brewing. Each is deep, warming, and delicious, from the hoppy IPAs to the dark, spiced stout.
They have some enjoyable evening events at Braman. So go along to enjoy wine bingo, live music, and their Saturday crawfish boil! The crawfish suppers here are pretty impressive. However, if you are looking to compare it with some truly outstanding crawfish, check out our pick of the 7 Best Crawfish Restaurants in Houston for more options.
What we love about Braman Winery and Brewery is owner Joe Braman’s love of dogs. Before opening the brewery, Joe was a dog trainer, and he still works alongside Southern African Wildlife college’s award-winning K-9 unit.
6. Saddlehorn Winery & Vineyard
| Address: | 958 Farm to Market Road 1948 North, Burton, TX 77835 |
| Website: | https://www.saddlehornwinery.com |
| Our Recommendations: | Saddlehorn Riesling (Very sweet with hints of honey and delicate nectarine) - available from $10.99. |
Saddlehorn Winery & Vineyard has a very traditional feel about it, and it’s almost like being transported back in time as you head through the gates of this remote 390-acre farmland. However, the unapologetically bright red barn, with heavy solid oak doors, let you know there’s something special to encounter inside.
Despite its vast appearance, the vineyard itself is actually quite young. It was planted in 2006 and is able to produce around 900 cases of wine per season. All of the wine is hand-crafted on-site and is available to purchase within the winery shop or via partnering online stores.
7. Eads Family Vineyard
| Address: | 7800 Washington Ave Suite 650, Houston, TX 77007 |
| Website: | https://www.eadsfamilyvineyards.com |
| Our Recommendations: | Clos Dubreuil (Christmassy blend with cinnamon and plums) - available for $64.20. |
Eads Family Vinyard opened its doors to the public in 2005, but the story begins way back in Bordeaux, France, in the 1970s. This establishment’s owners collaborated with 14th-generation French winemakers to create their magnificently tantalizing wines. Expansion plans are well underway, including a luxurious winery and tasting room.
You can visit Eads Family Vinyard by appointment only, with tasting sessions available at their headquarters in the center of Houston. The tasting sessions run for 90 minutes, with sessions starting from $50.00 per person – a minimum of four guests is required for these sessions. Charcuterie boards or cheese plates can be added to these sessions.
8. Haak Vineyard and Winery (Started From 2 Grapevines)
| Address: | 6310 Avenue T, Santa Fe, TX 77510 |
| Website: | https://www.haakwine.com |
| Our Recommendations: | Amorcito Red (Sweet and fruity, strawberry hints with a cherry undertone) is available for $19.00 per bottle. |
Located just under an hour’s drive from Houston in Santa Fe is the stunning wine lover’s paradise of Haak Vineyard and Winery. The gorgeous winery is so picturesque they often host weddings and corporate gatherings, set within the majestic backdrop of the 1,800 vines that glisten in the Southern sun this feels like a really special place.
The entire venture began with two grapevines, gifted to Raymond Haak by his wife for their 10th wedding anniversary in 1969; the dream flourished into a reality and now attracts tourists from all over the world. The wines themselves are stored in oak barrels to preserve and enhance their deep, intense flavors. Tours of the basements lined with European artwork can be arranged.
Haak Vineyard always has a stall at the Texas Renaissance Festival, which has been held every October since the early 70s. They serve their very own mead, port, and special renaissance blend. The tasting sessions with Haak at the festival cost $30.00 per person, including 5 samples.
To Sum Up…
With so many superb and interesting wineries and vineyards to check out, which one will you decide to head to for that fun day out with friends or romantic evening with that special someone?
We hope that we have helped you to create a shortlist of the best wineries and vineyards for you to consider for that next special occasion. If you have enjoyed this roundup, you might also like to take a peek at our list of 7 incredible BYOB restaurants, where you can enjoy your newly purchased wine from any of the above wineries and vineyards.