safari winery wine club

Safari Winery

October 1, 2019 by Jeff Cope 2 Comments

Have you ever wanted to go on a safari, but Africa is too far away? How about taking a journey to other parts of the world to try the wines there? Now you can stay right here in Texas and let Safari Winery bring wines from around the world right to you. Safari Winery is located in Fredericksburg and is owned by Clayton Itz with help from the rest of the Itz family.

Safari Winery opened July 2019 with an impressive tasting room. When we visited, a large number of people were enjoying the wines in the tasting room and also outside the winery listening to live music. The schedule for live music can be found on Safari Winery’s website with performances almost every weekend.

Currently the wines being offered are from Chile and South Africa, and they work with two winemakers located in those respective countries. Later this year, wines from Argentina will be available.

Tastings are done while standing at the tasting bar. These are some of the wines that were available when we visited:

• 2017 Syrah – Chile
• 2017 Carménère – Chile
• 2016 Malbec – Chile
• 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon – South Africa
• 2017 Pinotage – South Africa
• 2018 Safari White (51% Viognier, 29% Riesling, 20% Sauvignon Blanc) – Chile
• 2018 Chardonnay – Chile
• 2017 Moscato – Chile
• 2018 Safari Sweet Red (80% Ruby Cabernet, 20% Merlot) – South Africa

One of South Africa’s most popular grapes grown, but with the resulting wine having a bad reputation for years, has been Pinotage. I have had several Pinotage wines over the years including a white Pinotage. At the time I tried the white Pinotage, that was the first Pinotage I enjoyed. Since that time, I have had red Pinotage wines that were good, and Safari Winery has another one to add to that list. If you have not had good luck with Pinotage in the past, check out Safari Winery’s version.

When you are done with a tasting and want to relax, head out to the rear of the winery to enjoy the nice view and hopefully listen to live music on the day you visit. You can buy a charcuterie board to satisfy any hunger while you are enjoying your wine.

Clayton Itz

Before you leave the winery, be sure to take a look at the gift shop complete with clothing, chocolate, cutting boards, wine glasses, and more. The winery does have a wine club, so sign up for that while you are there too.

5479 US-290, Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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May 26, 2024 at 2:23 pm

Can we order your wines!

May 26, 2024 at 2:25 pm

You might want to try contacting Safari Winery directly through their listing on our website: https://guide.txwinelover.com/texas/fredericksburg/member/safari-winery

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Safari Winery

• 5479 E. U.S. Highway 290, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
• (830) 998-5956

Hours of Operation

• Monday: 11AM-5PM
• Tuesday: 11AM-5PM
• Wednesday: 11AM-5PM
• Thursday: 11AM-5PM
• Friday: 11AM-6PM
• Saturday: 10AM-6PM
• Sunday: 12-6PM
• Handicap Accessible:
• Pets Allowed:
• Children Allowed:
• Cost of Standard Tasting: $21
• Food Menu Offered:

Facility Info

• Description Safari Winery can host group events for groups up to 250, if the entire tasting room is rented out. During normal business hours, Safari can host groups of up to 50. They can host rehearsal dinners and engagements.
• Reception Capacity 250
• Outdoor Event Space true
• Preferred list
• Conference/Meeting
• Banquet Capacity 250

Live Music by Hunter Billingsley

Live music by kade isakson, live music by steven curd, live music by erik flores, live music by timothy branch, live music by jonathan garcia, live music by hollin mckay, live music by jack gafford, live music by bill mahko, live music by dv jazz.

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Safari Wine Club

Experience lester estate wines.

Safari Wine Club members receive first and exclusive access to our limited production Lester Estate Wines from our distinguished vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We invite you to be a part of it.

Two Allocations Per Year

six bottles each, spring & fall*

15% Discount

wine & merchandise

Wine Club Exclusives

access to small lot wines, ranch events

Free Tastings

free tastings for 2 people once a month

Invites to Release Parties

free for members

*Antler Club – 1 case per year; Big Game club – 2 cases

Terms and Conditions:  Members must purchase two allocations minimum prior to cancellation. $50 early cancellation fee, cancellation must be in writing (emails accepted: [email protected]), processed allocations will not be refunded. Terms and Conditions subject to change.

SAFARI TASTING TOUR

Wine tasting plus guided safari tour: $75.

Includes your wine tasting (4 tastings)! Enjoy great Wines on a working ranch deep in the Texas Outback. Come and visit Grapetown Vineyard and Farm in Fredericksburg Texas and get a behind the scenes look at the complex operations and interactions of a working ranch! Before or after your wine tasting, a trained Animal Care Professional will shuttle you via our brand-new Zebra Tram on a behind-the-scenes tour of our exotic wildlife and ranch operations. You will see and possibly feed our animal family of farm and exotic animals like Camels, Zebras, Alpacas, Bison and Longhorn! We also raise Boer, Ponies, Nigerian Dwarf, African Pygmy and Saanen Dairy Goats, and even some Donkeys. Please be on time. Tour starts at the Tasting Room of Grapetown Vineyard and Farm (across the street from Bankersmith Dance Hall and Saloon - a historic ghost town) at 8142 Old San Antonio Road. The Safari Tour Team will meet you at Grapetown Vineyard and Farm where the Safari Tours are held. There are absolutely no refunds under any conditions. (IMPORTANT: This Wine Tour is NOT held at Safari Winery. Do NOT go to Safari Winery. As clearly printed elsewhere, this tour starts at Grapetown Vineyard at 8142 Old San Antonio Road, Fredericksburg Texas 78624. Again, do NOT go to Safari Winery.)

GUIDED SAFARI TOUR (KID'S OR NON-DRINKER PASS): $45

Tastings not included. This pass can be used for under 21. You will still have access to a winery, vineyard and tasting room. While your pass does not include alcohol, those guests over 21 years of age are still free to purchase some of our great Wines, a cocktail or even beer. Come and visit Grapetown Vineyard and Farm in Fredericksburg Texas and get a behind the scenes look at the complex operations and interactions of a working ranch! Before or after your wine tasting, a trained Animal Care Professional will shuttle you via our brand-new Zebra Tram on a behind-the-scenes tour of our exotic wildlife and ranch operations. You will see and possibly feed our animal family of farm and exotic animals like Camels, Zebras, Alpacas, Bison and Longhorn! We also raise Boer, Ponies, Nigerian Dwarf, African Pygmy and Saanen Dairy Goats, and even some Donkeys. Please be on time. Tour starts at the Tasting Room of Grapetown Vineyard and Farm (across the street from Bankersmith Dance Hall and Saloon - a historic ghost town) at 8142 Old San Antonio Road. The Safari Tour Team will meet you at Grapetown Vineyard and Farm where the Safari Tours are held. There are absolutely no refunds under any conditions. (IMPORTANT: This Wine Tour is NOT held at Safari Winery. Do NOT go to Safari Winery. As clearly printed elsewhere, this tour starts at Grapetown Vineyard at 8142 Old San Antonio Road, Fredericksburg Texas 78624. Again, do NOT go to Safari Winery.)

ABOUT THIS EVENT

A truly unique experience. Come and visit Grapetown Vineyard and Farm in Fredericksburg Texas and get a behind the scenes look at the complex operations and interactions of a working farm and animal sanctuary! Enjoy great wines, beer and even cocktails at Grapetown Vineyard before and after your tour. Remember, this is a working ranch deep in the Texas Outback. Dress appropriately and apply caution as you enter the property. Drive slowly on property and stay in your vehicle until you are parked at the Grapetown Tasting Room. Loose livestock roam the property. The tour starts at the Tasting Room of Grapetown Vineyard and is across the street from the Historic Bankersmith Dance Hall and Saloon.

SUNDAY JULY 7, 2024

WEDNESDAY JULY 10, 2024

THURSDAY JULY 11, 2024

FRIDAY JULY 12, 2024

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FRIDAY JULY 19, 2024

SATURDAY JULY 20, 2024

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WEDNESDAY JULY 24, 2024

THURSDAY JULY 25, 2024

Friday july 26, 2024, saturday july 27, 2024, sunday july 28, 2024, wednesday july 31, 2024, friday august 2, 2024, saturday august 3, 2024, friday august 9, 2024.

©2023 All Rights Reserved

SAFARI WINE CLUB

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The 10 under-the-radar places a luxury travel planner is recommending to her clients this year

• I'm a luxury travel planner, and these are destinations I think will be popular this year.
• For a beach getaway in Europe , I recommend Sardinia, Corsica, and Costa Navarino
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With Americans spending more on travel and experiences, now could be just the time to book a trip.

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Ticino, Switzerland

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Many people visit Tokyo to see the cherry blossoms , but you can also see them in Niseko. They're often in full bloom at the beginning of May.

Corsica, France

Corsica has the perfect mix of rugged landscapes, hiking trails, rich history, and lively beaches. Its Plage de Palombaggia has stunning clear blue waters and a long stretch of white sand.

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Costa Navarino, Greece

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Travel + Leisure Readers' 15 Favorite Resorts in California of 2024

Sun, surf, and relaxation await at the gorgeous West Coast hotels voted reader favorites in our “World’s Best Awards” survey for 2024.

How Voting Works

What readers loved, the full list.

Courtesy of Mission Pacific Beach Resort

Travelers seeking long, sunny days and serene evenings sipping their favorite wines can get both in one very special destination: California. The Golden State has long been a top spot for those looking for everything and anything they desire in a vacation — from a serene escape to an action-packed getaway. In California you can have it all, so long as you have the perfect hotel first. 

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Over 186,000 T+L readers completed the 2024 survey. A total of more than 700,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).

Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, inn, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below:

• Rooms/facilities

For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.

There are two distinct trends in the California hotels that readers are loving most this year: They’re either surfside or vineyard-side. Ten out of the 15 winners in this year's list sit close to the water's edge, while many of the remaining spots are wine country retreats. But even more specifically, in 2024, T+L readers said the further south, the better, with a host of hotels residing in San Diego County, including Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa (No. 2), The Seabird Ocean Resort & Spa (No. 3), and Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa (No. 13).

This year's winner — and World's Best Awards newcomer — Mission Pacific Beach Resort is another San Diego County destination on the rise. Its Oceanside address ensures it's a beach lover's paradise, and one where you can live out all your SoCal fantasies, from dolphin spotting from your balcony to paddling out to the lineup next to some of the best surfers in the world. Read on for more California resorts that made our list of reader favorites.

Mission Pacific Beach Resort: Oceanside, California

There's perhaps no place more emblematic of Southern California cool than the Mission Pacific Beach Resort in Oceanside. The seaside escape sits just feet from the sandy shoreline, and an ocean-view room is easy to come by, so swing open the doors to your private balcony and let in the sounds of the crashing waves. The hotel is also home to Valle, a Mexican restaurant helmed by chef Roberto Alcocer, which earned its very own Michelin star in 2023 (and remains the only Michelin-starred restaurant in all of Oceanside). And while its best bites may be downstairs in the restaurant, its best views are up on The Rooftop Bar, which offers small bites, craft cocktails, and undeniably the best sunset watching in town. Hang on, because there's more. Despite being some 80 miles south of Hollywood, Mission Pacific still has major movie cred, as it's also home to the famed “Top Gun” house, the 19th-century Victorian cottage that acted as Charlie Blackwood’s home for the original film. The cottage has been restored to its 1980s glory and guests can visit to snap as many Instagram pics as they'd like (yes, there really is a Yamaha Kawasaki Ninja ZX900 Motorcycle out front).

1. Mission Pacific Beach Resort : Oceanside, California

Reader Score: 99.17

2. Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa : San Diego, California

Reader Score: 96.44

3. The Seabird Ocean Resort & Spa : Oceanside, California

Reader Score: 96.15

4. Montage Healdsburg : Healdsburg, California

Reader Score: 95.00

5. Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club : Dana Point, California

Reader Score: 94.95

6. The Inn at Mattei's Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection : Los Olivos, California

Reader Score: 94.53

7. Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection : Napa Valley, California

Reader Score: 94.21

8. Surf & Sand Resort : Laguna Beach, California

Reader Score: 94.18

9. Auberge du Soleil, Auberge Resorts Collection : Rutherford, California

Reader Score: 94.07

10. Terranea Resort : Rancho Palos Verdes,California

Reader Score: 93.98

11. Calamigos Guest Ranch & Beach Club : Malibu, California

Reader Score: 93.78

12. Bardessono Hotel : Yountville, California

Reader Score: 93.67

13. Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa : Carlsbad, California

Reader Score: 93.60

14. The Ranch at Laguna Beach : Laguna Beach, California

Reader Score: 93.56

15. Harvest Inn : St. Helena, California

Reader Score: 93.50

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