T E X A S W I N E COUN T RY
H i ll Country Wine Tours:
A Grape Road Trip
M
ove over, barbecue and rodeos, wine is quickly becoming the reason to visit Central Texas. Fortunately, Dave and Ruth Love, the experts and owners of Hill Country Wine Tours, LLC provide private, door to door, and all-inclusive day trips to wineries and distilleries throughout the Texas Hill Country seven days a week. There are many obvious benefits of taking advantage of a guided tour—being picked up at your own home and chauffeured in a climate-controlled motor coach, plus being able to taste as much wine and whiskey as you wish without worrying about the drive home. But what sets the Loves apart is their customized planning, which delivers exactly what guests are looking for in a wine or spirits tour.
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With more than 30 years experience in the music industry and moving artists and large groups around the world, planning is second nature to Dave. "After visiting and pitching artists all over the world—arranging pick ups, deciding where to eat, doing sound checks and performances, I became a master of logistics. Later, as a wine lover, I fell into the tour business quite naturally." Thanks to Dave's instincts and the partnerships and personal relationships the Loves have with nearly 40 wineries and distilleries, they are able to curate an experience based on guests' palettes and passion for pairings, geographical areas, beautiful views, or even a desire to be entertained in a tree house. Dave says, "With more than 100 wineries in the region,
M AY 2022 LIBER T Y HILL D IGES T
by Ann Marie Kennon
it's a challenge for many to decide which ones to visit, or in what order to make the most of their travel time. We know each site's specialty and which offer the best options for facilities, depending on the weather, for indoor and outdoor enjoyment." In any case, the tours are perfect for anyone who wants to entertain out-of-state guests or simply get out and have fun by digging deep into the wines of the Hill Country. The Loves also offer mix-n-match excursions with vineyards and distilleries. Each estate is a just a 10 to 15 minute drive and as they know the area so well, they are able to schedule everything to maximize sipping, eating, and shopping versus drive time.
