Beer, Wine & Spirits in Brushy Creek

Around harvest time on Rising Star Vineyards' verdant acres, vines of chardonnay, merlot, and other Old-World grapes hang heavy, ready for their transformation into the small-batch wines the vineyard is famous for. As detailed in the Abilene Reporter-News, the grapes are trellised several feet off the ground, which owner Michael Oubre says “produces superior fruit” for their distinctive blends of Old-World flavor and Texan style. Their Salado cheesery and tasting room serves salads and sandwiches on locally baked bread for lunch, while vending cheese and other sundries exclusively made by Texas producers. In addition to cheese plates featuring fresh chevre from Bonney Goat Cheeses and Watonga flavored cheddars, the shop serves frozen wine margaritas to sip as talismans against the Samarian curses of the hot sun. The winery also holds regular wine-education and tasting classes, from a basic Wine 101 session to a food-and-wine-pairing session.

The wine experts at Water 2 Wine ferment their own varietals onsite and please oenophiles' palates with more than 100 wines from 13 countries. Visitors may sample their diverse offerings by the glass or bottle or learn about winemaking in edifying classes. Water 2 Wine also assists wine aficionados in creating their own custom-labeled batches of wine onsite.