The Austin Winery — Attraction in Austin

Rating: 3.1/5

We tried The Austin Winery on two different occasions, and both times their wine was just okay or not good. The first time was a wine flight we had catered at our apartment, while the second time, we visited in person with a group of friends. Honestly, the wines we buy from Costco taste better.

We did the $20 wine tasting flight where you get to choose 3 from the menu. The pros are that it's cheap and they give generous pours, but the con is that the wines don't taste good. Thank goodness I shared with my husband because I wouldn’t have been able to finish it myself.

Picpoul Blanc: One Elm Vineyards – High Plains white wine with notes of lemongrass, pink lemonade, and raspberry. It was okay.

Aqua Pazza – High Plains/High Country orange wine with notes of apricot, candied lemon, and orange zest. It tasted like a bitter citrus wine and was our least favorite of the wines we tried.

GSM: Salt Lick Vineyards – Hill Country chilled red wine with notes of mint berry crunch and herbal. I think we prefer non-chilled red wine, since the tannins were super muted, but the cold temperature does make it more enjoyable on a hot day.

Lavender Haze ($15): This is a wine cocktail made with Ocho, lemon, lavender simple syrup, topped with Rambler, and garnished with a lemon wheel. Ocho is a Salt Lick Vineyards – Hill Country white wine with soft lychee, beeswax, and freshly minted bills. It’s a light and bright wine cocktail that’s great for an afternoon drink.

Bread With Oil & Balsamic Reduction ($6): You definitely need to dip the bread in the balsamic reduction; otherwise, the bread is just so bland by itself. Recommend getting the shareables instead, since the bread doesn’t really add anything to the wine tasting. Our friends got the charcuterie, and the meat, cheese, and fig really helped us get through the...

The Austin Winery offers a unique and unconventional setting, housed in what appears to be a repurposed warehouse or industrial space - almost like a hangar. The high ceilings and multiple seating areas create an open and inviting atmosphere, making it an interesting place to explore.

One of the standout features is that the wine barrels and fermentation tanks are located right inside the space. Judging by the tubing and sensors attached to them, these aren’t just for show - they’re actively part of the winemaking process, adding authenticity to the experience. There are numerous barrels throughout, as well as different seating areas, including a mezzanine level above the main space.

The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, happy to guide you through their selection of locally made Texas wines. They offer a mix of reds, whites, and rosés, along with a tasting option. I personally tried the Spaghetti Blend - a dry, acidic red that felt perfect for a hot day. The white wine was also impressive, and generally, Texas whites tend to stand out more than the reds.

Outside, there’s a terrace with two food trucks, making it easy to pair your wine tasting with a casual lunch. The combination of great wine, an industrial-chic atmosphere, and a laid-back setting makes The Austin Winery a great spot for both wine lovers and those just looking for a relaxed experience. Highly...

Let me tell ya'll a little story here about the Austin Winery.

I was at my darkest depths of life. One night, I was staring down the barrel of an ice cold 45' and just as I was going to pull the trigger I took one sip of The Austin Winery wine and just as that sweet and decadent Skin Contacted Viognier hit my mouth, I took my finger off the trigger. Upon subsequent sips of TAW Albarino, Tempranillo, Workhorse Merlot, Cerasuolo and "Stacks on Stacks" not only was I refreshed, I called my father and rekindled our relationship, quit looking at naughty videos on the internet, lost 8 lbs of pure body fat, volunteered at the local soup kitchen, took a nice warm shower and fell asleep. That was just one day! Thank you to the whole team, especially the owners who are foodies and set up a wonderful atmosphere to offset all of those terrible "dumpster dive-y" places in Austin!

I will be back, and I will...