Wine Tours in Houston

Houston is not only known for its reputation as a spooky city, but it is also a great city to taste exquisite wines. I invite you to check it out.

Nicolas Reffray

Nicolas Reffray

8 min read

Wine Tours in Houston

Wine bottles | ©Max and Dee Bernt

Beyond the hectic nightlife, crowded bars and vibrant city, in Houston you will also have the opportunity to taste some of the best wines from national and international production, which is why taking a wine tour is one of the best things to see and do in Houston.

Departing from Houston you will get to know many of the best wineries that you can find in Houston and other nearby places within the state of Texas. Each of these wineries offer different types of wine tastings, so before you embark on this adventure, I recommend you prepare yourself to drink a lot of alcohol.

How to book a wine tour in Houston?

Book Online| ©Glenn Carstens-Peters
Book Online| ©Glenn Carstens-Peters

To book this kind of wine tours in Houston, the first thing you need to do is to look for the tour you want to do. One thing you need to know about this kind of tours is that you have basically only one option to visit wineries in Houston. Other options of wineries and wineries can be found in the rest of the state of Texas.

In this case, the first thing you should do is to book the tour and make sure what the cancellation policy is like before booking. Before booking, the agent should explain that this is not a refundable experience, nor is it transferable, or an experience that can be changed for any reason. In the event that you wish to cancel, your payment will not be refunded.

The only way this experience can have any kind of full refund is if the minimum number of participants is not reached. In the event that this happens, they also offer you the possibility of doing the activity on another date. The booking process for this wine tour is very similar to that of the brewery tours, which is a tour that I also recommend you to do.

One of the things you need to know about this type of tour is that from the moment you make the reservation, the price is frozen and you can pay later. Cancellations can usually be made up to 24 hours before the tour starts.

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How long are the Houston wine tours?

Watch| ©Cats Coming
Watch| ©Cats Coming

As this is a full day tour, it can take you up to 5 hours to complete the entire tour. This tour is so long because you will visit different wineries and wineries, where you can taste different types of wines and hear about the history and process of wine making.

As it is a private bus tour, the time you spend on the road may vary according to the traffic behaviour. But without a doubt, a full day wine tasting tour is one of the best things to do in Houston in 3 days, or even less.

You also have to know about the duration of this tour that, in case the time is extended because you want to stay longer at each of the wineries, you will have to assume additional costs for staying longer than the estimated time during the tour.

The time spent at each of the wineries is approximately one hour, during which you can tour the winery, taste the wines and enjoy the dishes that accompany the tasting, and then learn first-hand about the process of making this favourite liquor. The trip from the city of Houston to each of the wineries can take a little less than an hour, because they are close to the city.

What will I see on this type of wine tour?

Wine tasting| ©brando
Wine tasting| ©brando

This is a really interesting tour in which you will visit at least three wineries very close to the city of Houston. The wine tour takes place in the area of The Woodlands, a small but privileged wine town about thirty minutes from Houston.

The tour will be exclusive and VIP at each of the wineries. You will have the opportunity to learn about the winemaking process. You'll also enjoy special wine tastings at each stop, accompanied by tastings of selected dishes. However, if you want to learn more about Houston's gastronomy, I recommend taking a food tour of the area.

Transportation between the wineries is aboard a comfortable air-conditioned bus, with a knowledgeable driver who always has accurate commentary. Inside the bus you will have all the necessary comforts to enjoy the whole tour.

Depending on the winery you visit, you'll have the opportunity to tour the entire vineyard to learn a little about the history of Houston's winemaking tradition and how it has become a major way of life for Houstonians.

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Tips for a wine tour in Houston

Comfortable shoes| ©Alexandra Tran
Comfortable shoes| ©Alexandra Tran
  • Wear comfortable shoes because there are times when you will have to walk around each of the wineries.
  • Eat something to eat before you go on the tour so that you can enjoy all the wine tastings without making others uncomfortable, as the organisers may ask people who appear to be intoxicated to leave.
  • Bring extra money so that you can pay for wine tastings and other personal expenses during the trip.
  • Dress appropriately for the tour, as this tour takes place in all weather conditions.
  • This tour is not suitable for children, so I recommend that you do not take them on a wine tasting trip to this part of Texas.
  • Make your reservation well in advance, because sometimes these tours sell out quickly.
  • You must be at least 21 years of age to enjoy the tour and all wine tastings, otherwise you will not be able to participate in this type of activity.

How much does a wine tour in Houston cost?

Money in Euros| ©Ibrahim Boran
Money in Euros| ©Ibrahim Boran

Depending on the type of tour you do, prices may vary, however, a tour in The Woodlands area with all the amenities both in transport and during the visit, can cost approximately 100 euros per person.

You have to take into consideration that, although this is one of the best tours in Houston, it does not offer all the necessary expenses and services, because the cost of wine tastings is not included in the price, which can cost between 5 and 7 euros per person, depending on the policies of each of the wineries. Transfers to and from the hotel or accommodation are also not included.

Food and beverages are not included in any case, so you will have to eat before the experience, or bring money to eat wherever you stop during the tour. Basically the price per person for this experience includes the air-conditioned bus ride all the way between the wineries.

Other services offered during the tour include guided visits to the wineries, i.e. at each of the stops you can expect to be given a tour of the site and an explanation of the process of making quality wines.

Which are the wineries I should not miss during the tour?

At Cork This Winery| ©Jim G
At Cork This Winery| ©Jim G

The tour may change according to availability on the day you go on the tour, but you will almost always visit an average of four wineries, which usually include: Cork This Winery, Bernhardt Winery, Water 2 Wine Winery and Braman Winery.

Cork This Winery

Cork This Winery is located on one of Montgomery's main streets, so it's easy to get to. It is an exclusive winery where you will have the opportunity to enjoy large spaces where you will taste some of the most exclusive and exquisite wines from their collection. Wine tastings are accompanied by an exclusive aperitif.

Bernhardt Winery

This is another of the most exclusive wineries in the city of Houston. Bernhardt Winery: it is located in Plantersville, very close to Houston. In this place you will be able to find an exquisite wine tasting along with some dishes to accompany the tastings. But the visit to this place is special because you will also have the opportunity to enjoy the winery's gift shop and even some musical activities inside.

Water 2 Wine Winery

This winery is special because inside you will be able to taste a wide range of wines, from the most delicate to the strongest in flavour. Water 2 Wine Winery: it is one of the most special wineries of the tour because it offers you a wider vision of the whole process that, in general, is carried out inside the winery, with the fermentation and other necessary processes to obtain a quality product.

Braman Winery

Located in Richmond, very close to Houston, this is a special winery where you will not only taste liqueurs and learn about the winemaking process, but you will also travel back in time to learn about the history of the vineyard and the winery. Braman Winery: it is one of the wineries with the longest history and it also offers different guided tours inside the complex.

Why is it advisable to take a wine tour in Houston?

At Bernhardt Winery| ©barryDphotography
At Bernhardt Winery| ©barryDphotography

I recommend you to take this wine tour because it is a way to get to know another of the most exquisite and fun features of Houston. It is a tour that is ideal for couples and families who love wine and trying new experiences.

In addition, it is a tour that will give you a lot of information that you probably didn't know about the elaboration and maceration of the raw material to make a wine of excellent quality and international seal. It is undoubtedly one of the best experiences you can have in this city, in addition to the best helicopter rides in Houston.

One of my recommendations for you to enjoy even more your tour of Houston's wineries is to include this experience among the things to see and do in Houston at Christmas, because what better time to taste wine and learn about its preparation than this one. In fact, this is an ideal experience for wine lovers as well as for those who are not so fanatical.

On the other hand, this experience is ideal if you want to get to know the wineries that are located within Houston. It's an experience I would definitely do if I were visiting Houston for a short time and didn't want to miss out on the best experiences the city has to offer. It's also a good opportunity to get a taste of southern cuisine.

What are the advantages of taking a guided wine tour of Houston as opposed to one on my own?

Wine bar| ©Amy-N
Wine bar| ©Amy-N

Obviously taking a guided tour of Houston's wineries is a better idea than doing this same tour on your own. One of the things you should keep in mind when doing this type of tour is that if you go on your own, there is a chance that you won't find the wineries that process the best quality wine.

When you take a guided tour of Houston's most popular wineries and winemakers, you can be sure that you will only see the best. Your expert guide will give you the opportunity to get to know each of the wineries on your own, but at the same time give you all the knowledge you need to tour each one.

He/she will also give you all the recommendations of wineries to visit and wines to taste, which you do not have the advantage of going on this type of tour on your own. Another advantage of booking a guided tour is that you don't have to worry about anything other than paying for the package.

On the other hand, if you do a tour on your own, you will have to make reservations at each of the wineries you want to visit and be sure that each of the wineries you want to visit will be available to receive you on the date you have planned your trip. You will also have to pay different types of taxes and fees, which are already covered with this tour.