Last weekend, Harrison and I discovered what has to be the best vineyard near Dallas. San Martino Winery is a family-owned winery in Rockwall, TX (a whopping 20 minutes away from Dallas), and has the three essentials to being a winery worth visiting. First, it has a tasting room. Second, a vineyard. And third, plenty of air conditioned seating space with a gorgeous backdrop.
These might be only my classifications for what makes a winery good, but let’s break it down.
A tasting room
This is a no-brainer. You’ve got to be able to taste wines for a winery to be good.
Wine tastings are $20 per person and are available on Friday and Saturday from 1 pm to 6 pm, and on Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm. The tasting includes five pre-selected wines that change every month. Find more details here!
While Harrison and I don’t have our wine-tasting skills up to par, others who do will appreciate the wine tasting on offer at San Martino. We just shared a glass of the driest rosé offered and called it a day. But they have red wines and white wines to taste too!
And boy, did we appreciate that one glass of wine at San Martino. We may not have a passion for wine tasting, but that chilled rosé on a hot, hot day was perfect.
A vineyard
This is hard to find near Dallas. So, in all actuality, San Martino’s on-site vineyard might very well be the closest one as well as the best one! Their grapes are actually harvested in Lubbock, but they do keep two vineyards on site.
There’s something about vineyards that transport you to a dream land – or something reminiscent of Spain or Italy!
Great ambiance
I divide great ambiance into two categories: the space, and the people. San Martino offered the highest quality of both.
First, the space: you have the air conditioned tasting room with a nice atmosphere and three outdoor patio options. The winery itself is gorgeous, and attached to the San Martino home, pictured below.
Now onto the second part crucial to great ambiance: the people. The owner was super friendly, and a pro winemaker – the winery has been in her family since it began. They now use modern techniques to make their handcrafted wines.
Our experience was made all the better because the other people tasting at the same time as us were so outgoing, wanting to get to know us and share their favorite wine-tasting tips.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and a photo-worthy one at that 😉 Next time we’re in the Rockwall area, we will be back to try some more San Martino wines!
Have you been to San Martino Winery? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
Looking to explore more Texas vineyards? Check out these posts:
- A Breathtaking Vineyard in Tyler, TX
- Our Stay at a Vineyard Boutique Hotel in Florence, TX
- 6 Things You’ll Find in Grapevine, TX
- The Ultimate Texas Hill Country Road Trip Itinerary (including vineyards!)
Cheers to great wine and great company!
Jasmine
