October is Wine Month, and the Hill Country is ripe for the picking – whether you’re seeking that special sensory experience of strolling amidst the vines, sampling a vintner’s season or decanting a bottle of grapey goodness that you’ve concocted with your special recipe. The area is brimming with bounty for the wine lover.

Water 2 Wine
109 Waterview Parkway, Suite 103, Boerne, Texas
(830) 249-1100
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Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: On Boerne’s main drag, coincidentally called Main Street, at the southern end near Wal-Mart, but across the street. It’s in a strip center at 1410 S. Main behind Guaranty Bank.

What’s special: This winery lets you in on the creative process as you craft your own wines – by the bottle or by the case – from Water 2 Wine’s selection of grapes and appellations W2W offers a seemingly endless array of flavors bound to bring bliss to any palate. Customrs mix the crushed grapes, “pitch” the yeast and set off the wine fermentation process. About 45 days later, they return for the payoff. As if that’s not enough variety, you can create your own personalized labels for your vino stash. How’s that for sublime?

Ye Kendall Inn
128 W. Blanco, Boerne, Texas
(800) 364-2138
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What’s special: Situated on the banks of the Cibolo Creek and the Town Square of historic Boerne, Kendall Inn has been the home of hospitality, cuisine and lodging since 1859. Boerne, founded by discerning settlers to be a community providing a high quality of living and well being in the Texas Hill Country, became a destination in the late 1800s for those seeking an idyllic environment. The renowned Limestone Grille, 7-time Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner. Ye Kendall Inn features frequent wine tastings and wine dinners. Check with the inn for dates and times.

Second Saturday Art & Wine
All around Boerne

Hours: 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. the second Saturday of each month.

What’s special: On Second Saturdays, the galleries of Boerne host joint openings from 5 to 8 p.m. Come out and enjoy a glass of wine and the latest offerings on the Boerne Art Scene. Patrons of Second Saturday Art and Wine can ride from gallery to gallery in stylish fun on The Creek Restaurant's trolley, which makes loops around town stopping at galleries including Smilovici's, Cosas, Highland House, Bella Creo, Bear Moon Bakery, Bill Zaner's Art Haus, Arroyo, Carriage House, and Garden Path. The trolley will also pick up and drop off at The Holiday Inn Express, Ye Kendall Inn, Crescent Quarters, and The Creek Restaurant.

The trolley will start at 4:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express next stop Smilovici's (on West Bandera), before taking the scenic route around historic downtown Boerne making stops along the way until 8:30 p.m. Enjoy a night of wine and art in Boerne.

Sister Creek Vineyards
1145 Sisterdale Road (FM1376), Sisterdale, Texas
(830) 324-6704

Hours: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5:30 p.m.

Where: About 13 miles north of Boerne on FM1376. You’ll see the restored 1885 gin mill on the lefthand side. Across the road and up a bit is the Sisterdale post office, where “going postal” surely means nap time.

What’s special: This winery , sandwiched in a bucolic setting between East and West Sister Creeks, produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Muscat Canelli, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot. Some bottles are high-end blends. Take a tour and drink in the wine-making process.

Comfort Cellars
723 Front St., Comfort, Texas
(830) 993-3274

Hours: Sunday-Monday noon to 5 p.m., Tuesday-Wednesday noon to 6 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

What’s special: In addition to such classics as Chenin Blanc, Pino Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, this winery serves up a Comfort Blush, White Zinfandel, Comfort Gold, Sweet Rojo, Rasin, Orange Chardonnay and Jalepeno. The gift shop features Bubble Comfort Corner handmade soaps and wine-related items. To get there, take Interstate 10 West from Boerne to Business 87 and at the junction with Highway 27 take a right at the stop sign then an immediate left into the winery’s parking lot.

Singing Waters Winery
316 Mill Dam, Comfort, Texas
(830) 995-2246

Hours: Friday and Saturday noon to 6 p.m. Open Sundays on Wine Trails Weekends.

What’s special: Located just south of Comfort on the banks of Bruins Creek, this winery’s tasting room is in a 100-year-old Hill Country barn. Their 2005 medal-winning Reserve Cabernet/Merlot blend and crips and cool 2006 Sauvignon Blanc will hit the spot. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch.