It’s October in Texas, which among other things means football, Halloween costumes, and hopefully, cooler weather. October is also Texas Wine Month, where Texans can dedicate a whole month raising a glass to Texas wine.

While you’ll definitely find a whole host of ways to celebrate in the Hill Country, we’ve tried to put together a list of events all over the state. Be sure to take note of special rates wineries may be offering throughout the state. For instance, Duchman Family Winery is offering deep discounts on cases of their 2009 Zinfandel and Orange Muscat. A number of wineries such as Flat Creek Estate are offering special wine dinners as well. And if you can’t make it to one this month, don’t worry—every day’s a good day to toast Texas wine!

Texas Hill Country Wine Trail

A Month of Sundays – This is a special tasting series divided among 17 wineries who will host a very special wine tasting from their barrel rooms and cellars. It’s one thing to taste wine bought from a bottle on the shelves. It’s something completely different when you get to taste it as it’s developing in the barrel. You’ll also get to taste a petite food pairing with the wines while you spend time getting to know winemakers from each winery. Each ticket holder will receive a gift bag from Texas Hill Country Wineries with special gifts and offers from some of our Hill Country partners.  You will designate which winery you choose to pick up your bag at time of purchase.

Space is very limited. Click here for pricing and details.

Here’s a quick run down of the hosting wineries:

October 7 and 21

Becker Vineyards

Bending Branch Winery

Dry Comal Creek Vineyards

Kerrville Hills Winery

Pedernales Cellars

Singing Water Vineyards

William Chris Vineyards

October 14 and 28

Alamosa Cellars

Bell Springs

Driftwood Estate Winery

Fall Creek Vineyards

Flat Creek Estate

Pillar Bluff Vineyards

Solaro Estate Winery

Spicewood Vineyards

Stone House Vineyards

Texas Legato

Texas Wine Month Trail – It’s no secret that you usually have to pay a small fee to try wines in winery tasting rooms. This month you can take advantage of a one-stop pass that allows you up to 3 tastings at each of 32 wineries throughout the Hill Country for only $20 a ticket. That’s a lot of wine to sample. But don’t worry, you have the whole month of October to take advantage of it. So get your pass and get tasting! (Note: The pass also allows you a 15% discount on 3-bottle purchases at each winery.)

Texas Winemaker Vintner Dinner Series – October 18: Join one of the Hill Countries newest additions, 4.0 Cellars as their collaboration of winemakers from McPherson Cellars, Brennan Vineyards and Lost Oak Winery show off a few of their best wines expertly paired with a Texas-style dinner from celebrated Hill Country Chef Ross Burtwell at the Cabernet Grill. You’ll also get a chance to meet Notable Texas Wine expert Dr. Russ Kane whose book The Wineslinger Chronicles was released this year. (Grab a signed copy while your there!) Seating is limited. Get your reservation here.

Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest – October 27: In its 22nd year, this festive weekend not only celebrates Texas wine, but the rich culture of Hill Country cuisine as well. The Marktplatz of downtown Fredericksburg will be abuzz with food, wine, music, and crafts.

8th Annual Texas Fall Fest – November 16-18: Technically this doesn’t fall within Texas Wine Month, but Fall Fest has always been a strong part of celebrating Texas wine and food. This year, the event will be hosted at the Horseshoe Bay Yacht Club and Resort near Marble Falls and will showcase myriad Texas wines, Central Texas chefs, live music and a few other festive events throughout the three-day festival.

Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail – Bryan/College Station

Texas Reds Festival – Celebrating its fifth year, Texas Reds is an ode to two things Texans love most: red meat and red wine. Downtown Bryan closes its main streets for a sampling of more than 20 Texas wineries and a full-blown ribeye steak cook-off. Of course, you’ll find a whole lot more at the Texas Reds Festival including a whole host arts, crafts and gift booths and a fantastic line up of live music from The Texas Tornadoes, Johnny Lee and the Urban Cowboys and Roger Creager.

The High Plains – Lubbock

19th Annual Grape Day at Llano Estacado Winery – October 27: A celebration of the year’s harvest, Grape Day is Llano Estacado’s way of showcasing some of the best of what the High Plains of Texas has to offer. Sip special wines while listening to live music, playing with the kids or watching the Texas Tech football game, which will, of course, be broadcast from large television screens. Entry is $5 and includes a complimentary glass of wine—including the wine glass itself as a souvenir.

- Jessica Dupuy

Tagged: A Month of Sundays, Cabernet Grill, Duchman Family Winery, Flat Creek Estate, Jessica Dupuy, Llano Estacado, Texas Hill Country Wine Trail, Texas Wine Month

Who says you can’t grow Italian grapes in Texas? It’s a warning Damian Mandola certainly didn’t heed when he partnered with Drs. Stan and Lisa Duchman to create a wine program in Driftwood devoted to using Italian grapes. Mandola Estate Winery began in 2005 planting Italian varietals such as Pinot Grigio, Moscato, Sangiovese, Dolcetto, Montepulciano, and Vermentino.

Not familiar with these varieties? Head about 20 miles southwest of Austin to the winery—where Mandola’s destination restaurant, Trattoria Lisina, is also located in a rather Hill-Country-meets-Tuscan-countryside setting—and taste a few. Winemaker Dave Reilly and Tasting Room Director and Manager of Wine Sales Bill Elsey are more than happy to walk you through the many traditional Italian varieties that are thriving in the Hill Country soil. You’ll find many of these wines vary in style and complexity—and they ALL go very well with food.

It is from this Italian-inspired winery that we bring you this month’s Texas Wine of the Month: Mandola Estate Winery Vermentino, 2008.

This white wine comes highly recommended by Ross “The Wine Guy” Outon. A Certified Specialist of Wine, Austin-based Outon has become a resident consultant and educator for restaurants, retail stores, oenophiles, and neophytes alike. Dubbed “the Bobby Fisher of Wine” by the Austin Chronicle, Outon is also the winner of the inaugural season of “The Winemakers,” a reality TV show currently airing on PBS. He recently joined members of the Texas Department of Agriculture’s wine division on a trip to New York. Armed with a selection of Texas wines, hand-picked by Outon, the team held a blind tasting for a number of reputable New York wine writers and bloggers putting Texas wines up against similar wines from other parts of the world. Among the many that showed well for this tasting—including Brennan Vineyards Viognier 2009, McPherson Cellars Sangiovese 2008, and the Llano Estacado Cabernet Sauvignon Cellar Reserve 2007—The Mandola Vermentino was a huge hit.

Vermentino is known as the quintessential coastal grape in Italy and is found primarily along the Italian Riviera and in Sardinia. In a warm climate, this varietal produces crisp white wines with citrus and fruity flavors and Mandola’s Vermentino is no exception. “I really like how this wine is showing right now,” says Outon. “It has a very balanced acidity, which makes it great with seafood, and it’s perfect for sipping in the Texas summer heat.”

Retailing for around $18, this refreshing white wine can be found (or ordered through) most Spec’s locations across the state, boutique wine outposts including the Houston Wine Merchant and the Austin Wine Merchant, and also at a few select restaurants including Kata Robata in Houston, Vino Vino in Austin, and Eddie Deen’s Ranch in Dallas.

Winery: Mandola Estate Winery

Retail Price: $18

Availability: Spec’s, select wine merchants and restaurants

Tagged: Brennan Vineyards, Llano Estacado, Mandola Estate Winery, McPherson Cellars, Ross Outon, The Winemakers, Trattoria Lisina, Vermentino