“The best feature of the tour was the Reserve Wine Library, where the ‘bookshelves’ were overflowing with wine bottles, some of which were the exceptional vintages the Beckers have included in their own personal portfolio.” “From its first release of just 1,300 cases in 1977, Llano Estacado has grown rapidly, and now produces extraordinary Texas wines that have been lauded at competitions throughout the world.” Relaxing on a covered patio, a glass of perfectly chilled and deliciously fruity rosé in hand, we looked out on the expansive green fields, the shady live oaks, and the hills beyond, and thought, “Do we really have to go home? Visit any of the 44 (at last count) Texas wineries in the Hill Country and odds are you’ll have similar thoughts. Tucked away in the forested nooks and limestone-studded crannies of the idyllic landscape, this region’s wineries have burst on the national—and international—scene, attracting accolades and awards from experts in the field.

When your inner oenophile gets thirsty, head out for a weekend in Fredericksburg, about an hour from San Antonio or 90 minutes from Austin. Besides being a historic town that oozes with rustic-chic charm, it’s a good home base for visiting several wonderful wineries. We planned our most recent trip to coincide with the Texas Hill Country Wine & Wildflower Trail, an annual affair that allows visitors to taste several different wines while marveling at vast fields of wildflowers—red Texas paintbrush, yellow primrose, hot-pink winecup, and violet-hued bluebonnet, the state flower of Texas.Becker VineyardsThe country cabin getaway that Richard and Bunny Becker bought in 1990 has today become Becker Vineyards, an award-winning winery that produces more than 100,000 cases of wine annually.As we arrived at the site, about 12 miles east of Fredericksburg along Highway 290, the countryside rolled out all around us. There were countless rows of vines, and the delicious scent of lavender confirmed what we already knew—that the Beckers also grow lavender at their Hill Country estate.

The beautiful winery building, a reproduction of a 19th-century German stone barn, was impressive on the outside and warm and welcoming when we stepped inside. best sweet wine at olive gardenIn the tasting room, there were samples of the 2012 Raven, an award-winning Malbec blend, and the 2013 Viognier, a fat-bodied white from grapes that grow particularly well under the Texas sun. best red wines for 10 dollarsWe learned from fellow tasters that Viognier wine has often been underappreciated in the wine world. white wine best sellersThe high quality of Texas Viogniers, however—many of which have soundly trounced those from California and France in noted competitions—has elevated the wine’s reputation significantly. buy wine bags

We already liked it, but knowing it had shocked the world with its excellence was music to this Texan’s ears. cost of wine by the glassWe bought two bottles to take home.best washington wine under 15Having enjoyed our time upstairs—including a spin through the Lavender Shop for some heavenly scented gifts—we joined a special tour that took us downstairs to see the winery’s 64 fermentation tanks along with rows and rows of French and American oak barrels (2,000 in all). The best feature of the tour was the Reserve Wine Library, where the “bookshelves” were overflowing with wine bottles, some of which were the exceptional vintages the Beckers have included in their own personal portfolio.After having seen, heard about, and tasted the wines, we decided it was time to just sit and enjoy. That’s when we chose Becker’s 2013 Provençal—a dry rosé that won a Double Gold Medal in the 2014 San Francisco International Wine Competition—and took a seat on the porch, debating the merits of ever leaving such bucolic surroundings.

Wineries Elsewhere in TexasWhile most people think that winemaking in Texas is a fairly recent development, there is one winery in the South Plains that’s been pouring it forth since 1883. Val Verde Winery in Del Rio, just a few blocks from the Texas-Mexico border, was founded when an Italian immigrant named Frencesco “Frank” Qualia moved to the area and discovered Lenoir grapes flourishing there. The current fourth-generation Qualia vintner still uses Frank’s family traditions from the Old Country to produce a highly respected variety of reds and whites, as well as a very popular Texas rosé. Val Verde’s award-winning Port blend—Don Luis Tawny Port—is a favorite of my husband’s, who orders it on a regular basis.From Del Rio, trace a line due north for 345 miles to Lubbock, home of Llano (pronounced “yanno”) Estacado, the largest winery in Texas. The name means “staked plains,” in honor of those vines originally tested in the plains of the Panhandle. From its first release of just 1,300 cases in 1977, Llano Estacado has grown rapidly, and now produces extraordinary Texas wines that have been lauded at competitions throughout the world.

My own love of Llano Estacado wine began with its 1984 Chardonnay. When that vintage was awarded a Double Gold Medal at the 1986 San Francisco Fair’s International Wine Competition, serious wine lovers perked up their ears—and their palates—and started to pay attention to the Lone Star State’s quickly growing and fast-improving wine industry. Photo By: Getty Images Photo By: Mehdi Fedouach, Getty Images France’s most famous wines are produced here – those commonly referred to as “Burgundies” – are dry red wines from Pinot Noir grapes and white wines made from Chardonnay grapes (pictured). Macon, a southern city in the Burgundy region, is best known as a source of good white wines made from the Chardonnay grape. Wine connoisseurs love white wine particularly from the Pouilly-Fuissé. While you’re in Macon, we recommend taking a stroll by the Saône River while you enjoy a glass of Pinot Noir, Beaujolais or Chardonnay -- native to this small town and local wine region.

Burgundy is home to some of the most expensive wines in the world, including those of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, Henri Jayer, Emmanuel Rouget, Domaine Dugat-Py, Domaine Leflaive and Domaine Armand Rousseau. Clos de Vougeot -- a wall-enclosed vineyard and the largest, single vineyard in the Côte de Nuits wine region -- is named for the River Vouge. The river is actually a stream that separates the village Vougeot from Chambolle-Musigny. If you like red wine, then this is a destination you should add to your to-do list. Travel to the quaint town of Dijon, known for its gastronomic specialties like snails, mustard and cassis -- a liqueur often mixed with white wine to make Kir, a popular aperitif. The town is also known for its medieval art, half-timber houses and hotels, and its charming streets lined with chic shops. Not only is it known as a popular wine region, Burgundy is also a popular food destination. Travel here to taste authentic beef bourguignon, a.k.a. beef Burgundy.

The stew is prepared with beef braised in red wine, beef broth, garlic, onions and mushrooms. Heribert, bishop of Auxerre and son of Hugh the Great, built the Castle of Saint Fargeau as a hunting meeting place in 980. Located in Yonne, the castle hosts a history show with 600 actors and 60 men on horseback. The show represents 10 centuries of history, including the Joan of Arc epic, the Great Mademoiselle arrival and the French Revolution. Époisses de Bourgogne is a popular but pungent unpasteurized cows-milk cheese in Burgundy. It’s an acquired taste. This soft cheese is best served with a good red Burgundy wine. The Burgundy Canal (Canal de Bourgogne), located in central eastern France, connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea via the Seine and Yonne rivers to the Saône and Rhône rivers. Les Hospices de Beaune, better known to some as the Hôtel-Dieu, was founded in 1443 as a hospital to that provided free care for men who fought in the Hundred Years’ War.

The architecture and medieval art is awe-inspiring. Don’t miss seeing Rogier Van de Weyden’s 15th-century masterpiece, “The Last Judgment.” While you’re visiting Burgundy, we suggest you taste coq au vin -- a French braise of chicken cooked with wine (usually local), salt pork, mushrooms and garlic. American chef Julia Child made the dish popular in the U.S. after preparing it on the PBS cooking show, "The French Chef." Nestled in a wooded valley in Burgundy, Fontenay Abbey is a well-restored 12th-century Cistercian monastery founded by St. Bernard of Clairvaux. It’s just one of several places tourists should see when visiting Burgundy. Other popular tourist spots include Museum of Modern Art, Morvan Regional National Park and Palais des Ducs. Every autumn, the famous Burgundy Truffle market is held at Noyers-sur-Serein. Vendors sell pottery and local produce in the town center. While you’re here, we suggest taking a day trip along the Serein valley to Poilly-sur-Serein, the heart of the Chablis vineyards.