Blanco County, Texas

The best of Blanco County
& the Texas Hill Country

Events, local spots, fun things & moments that make this place special — collected one weekend at a time by @blancohillco.

Follow on Instagram Meet the Friends →

The Blanco 52 6 of 52 stops

The feed

Fresh from @blancohillco

Follow along

A castle turret above a covered wooden patio at Republic Wine Castle, a yellow throne chair in the sun and the Texas flag flying

Wine barrels topped with potted topiary on the terrace, hill country and big sky beyond

The stone castle itself under a live oak, gravel drive out front

A red metal dragon sculpture curled against the castle's stone wall

@blancohillco September 12

The only place I know of where you can design custom boots and have a wine tasting at the same time. 🏰 🍷 🤠

Stop 06 Republic Wine Castle View on Instagram

The pool at Carter Creek on a cloudless afternoon, loungers along the deck and vineyard villas behind

A flagstone path across the lawn toward the pavilion, string lights overhead and Hill Country sky

A framed watercolor of a wolf in blue and magenta on the tasting-room wall

Barn doors sliding open on the Carter Creek tasting room — wine bottles, barrels and a tasting table

@blancohillco August 25

Another Hill Country gem: @carter_creek - fantastic pool and even more fabulous bubbles 🍾

Stop 05 Carter Creek View on Instagram

Inside The Local Bull: two freezer cases of Wagyu under a mounted whitetail, chalkboard menu on the back wall

The meat counter at The Local Bull, Wagyu steaks and ground beef in the case, longhorn mount over the register

A rider carrying the Texas flag past the Withers & Spaulding general store on Main Street in Johnson City

@blancohillco August 15

@the_localbull has maybe the best smash burger…ever? Drop in for a bite or beer or both. And grab some Wagyu to go while you’re in Johnson City. 🤤

Stop 04 The Local Bull View on Instagram

The Hotel Henry's neon sign glowing against a blue-hour sky in Blanco, Texas

@blancohillco June 13

An equally excellent location for a few drinks and/or a few winks. @thehotelhenry

Stop 03 The Hotel Henry View on Instagram

The Real Ale Brewing Co. building and taproom stairs under a bright Blanco sky

@blancohillco May 29

Maybe the best beer in Texas? 🤔🍻 @realalebrewing

Stop 02 Real Ale Brewing Co. View on Instagram

The rust-red Welcome gate at Lost Draw's vineyard, framed by live oaks

@blancohillco May 25

Good people, good snacks, good wine, even better vibes. @lostdrawwines

Stop 01 Lost Draw View on Instagram

See everything on Instagram

The Blanco 52

Latest stops

A year of weekends in the Texas Hill Country, one stop at a time.

All 6 stops →

Drink Stop 06

Republic Wine Castle

Wine castle, boot shop & tasting room · Johnson City

A medieval castle on the 290 Wine Trail where you can taste Texas wine and design your own cowboy boots in the same afternoon.

4 photos · last visit Sep 2026

wine tastingcustom bootshat bar

Stay Stop 05

Carter Creek

Winery resort, spa & brewery · Johnson City

Villas in the vineyard on the 290 Wine Trail — two tasting rooms, an onsite brewery, a spa, and a pool worth booking the night for.

4 photos · last visit Aug 2026

poolsparkling winespa

Eat Stop 04

The Local Bull

Wagyu kitchen, meat market & taproom · Johnson City

Part butcher shop, part burger counter, part taproom on Main Street in Johnson City — home-raised Wagyu, and maybe the best smash burger ever.

3 photos · last visit Aug 2026

smash burgerswagyumeat market

The best of Blanco County& the Texas Hill Country