WINE TIME

55 Texas Hill Country wineries uncork month of tastings and deals

The Texas Hill Country Wineries Wine Lovers Celebration covers 55 wineries.

Photo courtesy of Texas Hill Country Wineries

Texas winemakers are hoping to play cupid ahead of Valentine’s Day. From January 26 to February 27, more than 55 Hill Country wineries are teaming up to offer complimentary tastings and deals via the Texas Hill Country Wineries Wine Lovers Celebration, a perfect excuse for a romantic retreat.

The passport program — which is repeated throughout the year for different occasions like Texas Wine Month and wildflower season — encourages visitors to try new wineries and explore the thriving Hill County wine region. The pass covers a complimentary tasting at each venue for up to four visits a day, adding a 10 percent discount on purchases of at least three bottles.

The passport is organized by Texas Hill Country Wineries, a nonprofit trade association that promotes its member vineyards and the overall winemaking regions. The organization has a busy 2025 launching resources for budding oenophiles, from an interactive regional guide to a daylong wine camp.

The organization also helps build a future for the Texas wine industry by providing scholarships. $5 from each passport sold will go toward helping Texas students get degrees in viticulture, enology, or hospitality.

Tickets are available for $65 per person or $100 per couple. The release calculates that the passport starts representing savings on tastings after just five visits.

Participating wineries are below; check the Texas Hill Country Wineries for wineries requiring reservations:

12 Fires Winery & Vineyard
Ab Astris Winery
Adego Vinho Winery
Airis'Ele Vineyards
Arch Ray Winery
Becker Vineyards
Bell Springs Winery
Bending Branch Winery
Bingham Family Vineyards
Blue Lotus Winery
Carter Creek Winery
Driftwood Estate Winery
Dry Comal Creek Vineyards
Farmhouse Vineyards
Fiesta Winery at Arch Ray
Fiesta Winery Lometa
Flat Creek Estate
Grape Creek Vineyards
Grape Creek / Heath Family Brands on Main
Hawk's Shadow Winery
Heath Sparkling Wine
Hilmy Cellars
Hye Meadow Winery
Invention Vineyards
Inwood Estates
Kerrville Hills Winery
K Estate
La Vie Estate Winery
Lewis Wines
Longhorn Cellars
Lost Draw
Meierstone Vineyard
Messina Hof Hill Country Winery
Michael Ros Winery
Narrow Path Winery
Pebble Rock Cellars
Pedernales Cellars
Perissos Vineyard & Winery
Pontotoc Vineyard Picnic Table
Portree Cellars
Ron Yates
Siboney Cellars
Silver Dollar Winery
Solaro Estate Winery
Spicewood Vineyards
Stone House Vineyards
Texas Heritage Vineyard
Texas Hills Vineyard
Texas Wine Collective
Torr Na Lochs Vineyard & Winery
Turtle Creek Vineyard
Wedding Oak Winery San Saba
Wedding Oak Winery Burnet
Wedding Oak Winery Fredericksburg
Wildseed Vineyards
William Chris Vineyards

hill country wineries wine

SUDDEN SHUTTERS

Retro San Antonio coffee shop closes after 7 months in Woodlawn

Retro Sips & Brews/ Facebook

Retro Sips & Brews has closed after less than a year.

A San Antonio coffee house known for its community spirit has closed less than a year after its debut. Retro Sips and Brews at 2214 N Zarzamora St. in Woodlawn says “family circumstances” forced the sudden shutdown.

Retro took over the checkered tiled storefront in May 2025, shortly after The Lemon Girls closed in April 2025. The shop’s owners, Maxine And Desiree Cofino, didn’t explain the reasoning behind the closure, but had previously asked for community support in weathering financial challenges like rising costs.

The found kindred spirits in Retro owners Shelley and Sarah Buchman, recent transplants to San Antonio. Although the beverage focus shifted from lemonade to coffee, the couple continued the former shop’s local focus with events like craft nights, workout classes, and local makers’ markets.

In addition to offering neighbors a chance to connect, Retro was also known for its community drives. The shop frequently rallied its customers to donate nonperishable foods, winter clothing, school supplies, and other necessities. Inside the shop, the Buchmans maintained a Little Free Library and a produce fridge that offered affordable ingredients in a food desert.

Retro is currently liquidating all of its inventory of kitchen equipment and store furnishings, but the Buchmans have not given up on showing up for their city. Despite the closure, the shop’s Facebook accounts are still amplifying a community clothing drive.

“We hope to somehow continue to do monthly drives to support our community,” says the shop in a direct message. “More to come.”

coffee woodlawn closings