Liquid Assets

October is Texas Wine Month, and corks are poppin' all over the state. This is a great opportunity to visit a local vineyard and try some great new wines. Within a two-hour drive of your home here in Central Texas, there are 22 wineries, everyone eager to meet you, show you what they do, and pour you a sample of their best wines. To help you out, we've listed the wineries below.

Traveling to the wineries too daunting for you? During the next few weeks, you'll have the chance to try lots of Texas wines without ever going to the vineyards. One of the best will be at Grape Vine Market (7938 Great Northern Blvd., 323-5900) on Saturday, Oct. 18. From noon until 8pm, they will be pouring tastes of several Texas wines, serving delicious Texas Hill Country foods (including the incomparably glorious Miles of Chocolate), and generally having a great big party. Everyone attending gets a "Go Texas" wine glass. People who want to visit some wineries but don't want to drive will have the opportunity to go on a guided tour bus for just $15. Everything else, including the food and wine, is free. The zany owners of Grape Vine Market will do anything to make sure everyone has a great time, so don't miss it!

Several of the Texas Hill Country wineries will be participating in a Passport event for the whole month of October. The Passport costs $20, comes with a T-shirt, and gives you the opportunity to join in on a drawing for several bottles of Texas wines. You don't have to have a Passport to visit the wineries and taste the wines, but it adds to the fun.

Finally, the annual Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest happens on Saturday, Oct. 25, from noon until 7pm. Twenty-six wineries will be there pouring wines. There will also be lots of great food and dozens of vendor booths. The festival has been a Central Texas fixture for 13 years. Each year, it draws almost 5,000 people. Admission is $20 and includes a commemorative wine glass, five wine tastes (more available by purchasing tasting tickets), live music, cooking classes, and lots of good food.

No matter which event you choose, don't miss the opportunity to taste Texas wines. Robert Mondavi, one of the world's most famous winemakers, has likened Texas to California in the late Sixties and early Seventies. Back then, folks thought only the French made good wines. Now, of course, the world respects California wines. We're next.

Alamosa Wine Cellars, 325/628-3313

Becker Vineyards, 830/644-2681

Bell Mountain Vineyards, 830/685-3297

Chisholm Trail Winery, 830/990-CORK

Comfort Cellars, 830/995-3274

Driftwood Vineyards, 512/858-4508

Dry Comal Creek Vineyards, 830/885-4121

Fall Creek Vineyards, 512/476-4477

Flat Creek Estate, 512/267-6310

Fredericksburg Winery, 830/990-8747

Grape Creek Vineyard, 830/644-2710

Lehm Berg Winery, 979/542-2726

Lost Creek Vineyard, 325/388-3753

McReynolds Wines, 830/825-3544

Messina Hof Winery, 800/736-9463

Pillar Bluff Vineyards, 512/556-4078

Pleasant Hill Winery, 979/830-8463

Poteet Country Winery, 830/276-8085

Sister Creek Vineyards, 830/324-6704

Spicewood Vineyards, 830/693-5328

Texas Hills Vineyard, 830/868-2321

Woodrose Winery, 830/644-2111