10 BEST Wineries in Fredericksburg Texas

      Sip, scenery, and standout bottles—our can’t-miss list.

Torn between a move-in-ready charmer and that just-built, energy-smart beauty? Here’s the side-by-side answer—so you can buy with confidence.

A practical guide comparing new construction and pre-existing homes—costs, timelines, warranties, neighborhoods, and how to choose for your family in the Texas Hill Country.

Pre-Existing vs New Construction Homes: Which Is Right for You?

By · Updated · Category: Home Buying Guides

Side-by-side view of a newly built home and a mature neighborhood home in the Texas Hill Country
Key takeaways:
  • New construction shines for efficiency, low maintenance, and builder warranties—but usually costs more and takes longer.
  • Pre-existing homes offer faster closings, character, established neighborhoods, and more room to negotiate on price.
  • Decide by priorities: budget, timeline, neighborhood feel, energy costs, and how much customization you want.

Table of contents

  1. New Construction: Pros & Tradeoffs
  2. Pre-Existing Homes: Pros & Tradeoffs
  3. How to Choose for Your Family (Step-By-Step)
  4. FAQs

New Construction: Pros & Tradeoffs

Quick answer: New builds deliver modern efficiency, minimal upkeep, and warranty coverage—but they often carry a higher sticker price and a longer wait before move-in.

Energy efficiency. Today’s windows, roofs, HVACs, and insulation can lower utility bills and keep temps steady year-round. That’s money back in your pocket—especially during Hill Country summers.

Minimal maintenance. With everything brand-new, your punch list stays short. Instead of weekend repairs, you can enjoy your home or explore Fredericksburg, Kerrville, and nearby trails.

Builder warranties. Many builders back structural and mechanical systems for multiple years, giving you predictable costs and peace of mind if something goes wrong.

Customization. Buy early in the process and you can choose finishes, layouts, and design details to match how your family lives.

Tradeoffs. New construction typically requires a longer timeline (often months) and can come with lot premiums, upgrade costs, and limited room for price negotiation.

Subtopic A

Spec vs. to-be-built. Spec homes (already under construction) can shorten timelines. To-be-built homes maximize customization but take longer and may carry more change-order costs.

Pro tip: Ask the builder for utility cost estimates from similar completed homes and a written warranty booklet before you sign.

Pre-Existing Homes: Pros & Tradeoffs

Bottom line: Existing homes move faster, often cost less up-front, and come in established neighborhoods—though they may need more maintenance and energy upgrades.

  • Negotiating power: Individual sellers are usually more flexible on price and concessions than builders.
  • Established neighborhoods: Mature trees, defined streets, and a built-in community vibe are common in older subdivisions.
  • Faster move-in: You can close in weeks, not months—ideal if your timeline is tight.

Character & charm. Think hardwood floors, crown molding, built-ins, and architectural details that newer tract builds may not include.

Tradeoffs. Expect potential maintenance, higher utility bills until upgrades are made, and possible renovation costs to fit your style.

How to Choose for Your Family (Step-By-Step)

In practice: Rank your priorities, compare total cost of ownership, and match your timeline to the right path—then tour both options to confirm the fit.

1) List priorities. Energy efficiency, budget, neighborhood feel, timeline, or customization? Put them in order.

2) Compare total costs. Add up utilities, maintenance, likely renovations, warranties, and the higher up-front price typical with new construction. Note any HOA/STR rules that matter to your plans.

3) Consider timing. Need to move soon? Focus on existing homes. Able to wait? New builds can deliver exactly what you want.

4) Tour both. Walk model homes and established neighborhoods. Pay attention to street noise, commute times, and how the floor plan actually lives day-to-day.

5) Get local guidance. A Hill Country agent can flag hidden costs, builder reputations, and neighborhood nuances you won’t see online.

Sources

FAQs

Is new construction always more expensive?

Not always, but it often carries higher base prices, lot premiums, and upgrade costs. Compare total cost of ownership (including utilities and maintenance) to see the real difference.

How long does new construction usually take?

Build timelines vary by builder, weather, and materials. Many buyers see 6–12 months from contract to close; spec homes can shorten that.

Can I negotiate with a builder?

Yes—often on closing costs, upgrades, or rate buydowns—though base prices tend to be less flexible than resale homes.

What should I inspect on a pre-existing home?

Roof age, HVAC, foundation, plumbing, electrical, windows, and signs of moisture. Budget for near-term maintenance or upgrades if systems are older.

Which option fits Hill Country living best?

If you want mature trees and established streets, resale may win. If you want energy efficiency, warranties, and custom choices, new builds are strong—tour both to compare.

Have a Hill Country question?

I’m based in Fredericksburg and work across Gillespie, Kerr, Blanco, Kimble, Mason, Llano & Bandera. Let’s talk strategy.

Talk with Ryan
Transcript
Ryan Renton here with the Renton Realty Group. Today's video. We are talking about the top ten wineries you should be visiting on your trip to Fredericksburg, Texas. Or if you're thinking about moving here now, this list is put together from different polls put together from Facebook, social media, different groups, websites, and also my personal opinion. Now, if you live in Fredricksburg or you have visited Rexburg in the past and you'll have, you know, visited a couple different wineries that you really, really like, make sure you comment them down below so we can add them to any future list. Number one, Grape Creek. Okay, so Greg Creek was founded in 1983, and it is the oldest winery on the 290 wine trail. So they have grapes from, the Texas, the High Plains, California, and also a state wines grown right here in Fredericksburg. So if you're looking for a like, elegant, you know, experience, Tuscany type of experience, Grape Creek is definitely a place for you. They do have a restaurant there on facility with really, really good food. But if you just want a tasting, they have a $30 per tasting option, but they also have the $45 per tasting option that will also provide you with a tour of the entire facility. No old golf cart. So, again, if you're looking for kind of more of an elegant type of feel, Grape Creek is the spot for you. Make sure you check out the website for any additional, you know, membership options that they have. You know, if you want to buy any particular wines on their wine list and, you know, ship it over to Houston, Texas, you know, they have that option on their website. Number two, William Chris Vineyards. Now, this place actually holds a special place in my heart because I worked there for about two and a half or three years as I was starting my real estate career. And I could tell you firsthand, this place has some of the best wine in the state of Texas, if not the United States. Now, they started their journey back in 2008, and they adopted the Old World winemaking techniques. Their famous saying is that great wines are not made, but they are grown. They offer a winemaker's tasting for just $30 per person. That's up to six people. But they also do have other basic wine tasting experience as well. And of course, like the rest of these wineries, they do have a membership option. So make sure you check out the website to get more details on what else they have to offer. Number three Texas Heritage Vineyard. Being a die hard Texan myself is an awesome place because their whole theme is built around honoring the state of Texas. So they opened up shop back in 2015 and they opened their wine facility in 2017. Soon after opening the wine tasting room in 2018. They are 100% Texas grown grapes and have a variety of reds, whites and roses, and you can enjoy a tasting for just $20 per person, so make sure you check out the website to get more details. Number four errors in French wine. Now these guys have one of the coolest stories I've ever heard, and I'm not going to go into great detail about it today. You just have to go visit them. But they started their journey back in 2009 and ultimately ended up in Fredericksburg July of 2021. So the Rosses name their company first, and after their two sons, Ferris and Fletcher, their wines are produced out in California. They do have a variety of red whites and roses, and of course they do offer a membership as well. Number five Fat Ass Ranch and Winery. If you are a wine, it does this and you like really, really good quality dry wines from Texas, Oregon, California, whatever. Fat ass winery is probably not the place for you. So on the other hand, if you are looking for a really fun environment, that party atmosphere and want some sweet wines, or maybe even a Santa Maria, you definitely want to go check out Fat Ass Winery. They do have tastings that are super cheap. I think just $20 per person. They do have memberships as well, but if you're just looking for a awesome place to have fun with your bridal party friends for the weekend, you need to go fat ass and have a good time with those guys. And again, do not forget to check out their frozen sangria as they are to die for. Number six Safari Winery. So if you're a big hunting doozy, it's like I am. But you also like to enjoy yourself some. Why. You definitely need to go check out Safari Winery right off of 290. So what's really cool about Safari is that they have wines from South Africa, Argentina, Chile. But what I really, really like about this tasting room is the way they designed it. So Clayton and the owner actually owns Quality Hardwoods in Fredricksburg as well. So you can just imagine the beautiful wood that they put into this tasting room. And then the top that off, they have African animals all over the walls that really kind of add to that whole safari experience. Now you can enjoy a tasting for just 25 at 30 bucks per person. Of course, they do have their membership option, so make sure you check out the website to get more details on what they have to offer. Number seven Slate theory. All right. So this is one of my favorite wineries. And my wife and I are actually members here. And one of the things that really drew us to this winery is the gigantic cave. They have underground. Yes, I did say cave. I'm telling you, this thing is massive and impressive. So in this massive caves, they actually offer private tastings for you and your family. You can have private client events there. You can do really whatever you want. That is one of the special things about slate theory. You know what's really special about slate theory and their esthetics is that they want to remove the stigma associated with acknowledging mental illness and bring awareness to the services that are available to those who may be suffering. So if you want to get the full experience of what Slate Theory has to offer, I highly suggest doing the cave tasting for just $50 per person. Number eight winery. Now, let me ask you, what is better than doing a tasting with a live rhino? Yes, I said that right, a live rhino. So at winery, their goal was to give you world class wines from the state of Texas, California and all over the world, but also shedding light on the desperate need for rhino conservation out in Africa. So this story actually started back in 2016, when they were on a safari out in Africa when two nearby rhinos were sadly poached. So they came up with an idea of bringing in rhinos back to the state of Texas, but also starting a winery where those funds could help contribute to the conservation of rhinos. Out in Africa. So if you're thinking about stopping by a winery, you can enjoy a tasting for just $25 for the standard, $35 for the reserve tasting, and then $60 for the kiosk collection. Again, all of these will actually help contribute to that Rhino conservation. Back in Africa. Number nine, Barons Creek. So what makes barons unique? Because they have their very own and very, very beautiful villas just on the backside of the property that you can stay in over the weekend. The two schools each contain two private master suites, but also for private bedrooms. So if you're in your bridal party or big group of friends, or looking for an extra special place to stay while visiting Frankfurt, make sure you reach out to Baron's Creek to ask them about their accommodations. Number ten a guest. They've been. So lastly, we have a guest event which is off of highway 16 South headed towards Kerrville. And believe it or not, my wife and I are actually members of this winery as well. And I'll tell you what, really drew my wife and I to a guest event is not only do they have amazing dry wines, they have white spreads, roses, but their vineyard itself and their tasting room is like none other. So the view you get on that upper deck overlooking the vineyard and the rolling hills is so breathtaking. I tell you, that is why we made the decision to join a guest. Have been so guests have been is 100% Texas grown grapes, and you can enjoy tasting for just $25 per person and just from personal experience, they also have a really good wine membership program as well. If you're also thinking about visiting Kerrville, Texas, make sure you check out my next video, which is the pros and Cons of Kerrville, Texas. If you like this video, guys, make sure you hit the subscribe button. Also, the little bell top so you can get notified anytime and put out videos just like this one. We'll see you guys next time. Bye. Morning.