Get Daily Dallas News HeadlinesSign Up The Texas Hill Country wine region is not just a Texas thing anymore.Wine Enthusiast named it one of the 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations in 2014, and now Lonely Planet has listed it at No. 8 in their Best in the U.S. for 2017. Editors cite the quality of the wines in addition to the scenery and festivals as reasons for highlighting the burgeoning scene. "It's surprising to some that there are so many quality vineyards and wines right in the heart of Texas," said Lonely Planet's Western U.S. Destination Editor Alex Howard. "With more wineries popping up all the time, and food and folk festivals happening throughout the year, we wanted to spotlight the Hill Country wine region as an experience to be had in 2017."We wrote in August about the state of Texas wines and their increasing quality and popularity. The wines are good, and the tours should be on your Texas bucket list. "Texas may not be the first place you think of when it comes to wine, but the Lone Star State is doing its darnedest to create some of the best varietals in America outside of the west coast," the Lonely Planet write-up states.

It also mentions Fredericksburg as the epicenter of the scene and the state-of-the-art tasting rooms along Wine Road 290. They also noted that Texas loves a "hootenanny," including the upcoming Dripping with Taste Wine and Food Festival in Dripping Springs and the Kerrville Folk Festival. best wine kits 2017See below for our travel story on some of the best wineries to visit in one weekend.best wine songs 2016 Asheville, N.C., tops Lonely Planet's list at No. 1 because of its thriving art and food scene in addition to its natural beauty. best wines to give as christmas giftsWestern Washington, Lincoln, Nebraska, Denver, Atlanta and Florida's Emerald Coast also made the list. best wines to give as a gift 2015

See the full list below. Lonely Planet's Best in the U.S. 20171. Asheville, North Carolina: Appalachia's most surprising city2. Western Washington: David Lynch fans, take note3. Lincoln, Nebraska: Hip and happening in the heartland4. California's Low Desert: The LA getaway meets a new generation5. new world wine nzMontana's Flathead Valley: Big sky, big mountains, big bears6. wooden wine boxes to buyAtlanta, Georgia: The airport epicenter is flying high in 20177. Adirondack Mountains: New York's best views after Manhattan8. Texas Hill Country wine region: The best wine country you've never heard of9. Denver, Colorado: The "Mile-High City" has never been more fun10. They're also giving away a trip to Asheville for two.Let friends in your social network know what you are reading aboutTwitterGoogle+LinkedInPinterestPosted!A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Last SlideNext SlideIt takes more than great wine to make a great wine destination, says Susan Kostrzewa, executive editor of Wine Enthusiast magazine. Travelers also want good food and enjoyable interactions with winemakers and locals: "It's really about the tone and the vibe of the place." The magazine has identified the most promising vintage destinations for 2014, which she shares with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.Umbria, ItalyFoodies have been calling on Tuscany for years, but this neighboring region is now getting discovered by wine-savvy travelers, Kostrzewa says. "It's a dark horse. Something's going on there. It's just these amazing hill towns, amazing cuisines, a little bit more off the beaten path." Travelers love to sample glasses of Sagrantino and Orvieto, a white blend of Procanico and Grechetto, and eat dishes featuring local truffles and olive oils. ALSO ONLINE: 10 best celebrity wine linesAegean Islands, GreeceThough Greece has been making wine for millennia, the quality has come a long way in the past decade.

Kostrzewa recommends visiting wineries on the islands of Santorini, Samos and Crete. "There are great restaurants, incredible views, and history. You'd be hard-pressed to go to one of these places and not have a good time." visitgreece.grValle de Guadalupe, Baja CaliforniaMexico offers travelers much more than a chance to sip tequila and Tecate beer. Wineries have flourished in this region around Ensenada, two hours south of San Diego. Standout grapes include Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Syrah. "It's easily manageable for American travelers, with great weather and some interesting food culture," Kostrzewa says. The new Museum of Viticulture and Wine traces the craft from 16th-century Spanish missionaries to the innovators transforming the region today. RELATED: Five up-and-coming California wine regions on our radarHill Country, TexasThe wine keeps getting better in this central section of the Lone Star State, which is hospitable not only to grapes but also travelers. "It has cowboys, Old West history, and people who want to talk to you and winemakers who want to pour for you — and that's something really special," Kostrzewa says.

Travelers will find ample opportunities for tastings — and barbecue — in this region west of Austin. Mendoza, ArgentinaThis region's success is one of the reasons Malbec has become such a popular pour, Kostrzewa says. Visitors find an area with architecturally striking wineries. "Mendoza has a really amazing intersection of Old World-style approach and New World innovation, and that's true in the cuisine of the area too." A special tour offers tastings — and fresh-baked empanadas. argentina.travelSonoma, Calif.While Sonoma might not come as a surprise to wine drinkers, Kostrzewa says the area retains a local feel and laid-back attitude. "It's a place where you'll still meet the winemaker in the tasting room. There's very little pretension, even though the wine is world class." Visitors love wandering the Wine Road, which connects tasting rooms in the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River valleys. Baden, GermanyThis centuries-old spa town is making a new name for itself with cool-climate wines like Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir.

"It's still a small enough wine culture that you'll be meeting the winemakers," Kostrzewa says. And there's more to see: "You have natural hot springs, hiking and castles — a pretty amazing combination of things." badischerwein.deBarossa Valley, AustraliaAustralia's equivalent of the Napa Valley has its own style of tasting rooms, called cellar doors. Visits often include snacks or lunches, and the wine itself is getting more interesting, moving beyond bold Shiraz to more elegant, restrained offerings. You can sit down and enjoy local food. You've got great weather year-round. It's kind of a no-brainer," Kostrzewa says. Walla Walla, Wash.This small rustic region makes highly regarded wines like Rhone and Bordeaux. While tasting rooms are modern and easily visited on a driving tour, visitors revel in the uncomplicated, relaxed atmosphere. "It's like stepping back in time a little bit, like how Napa and Sonoma were in the '30s or '40s," Kostrzewa says. Languedoc, FranceNot only is wine a way of life in this vineyard-rich region, but it's also quite affordable.