West Sandy Creek Winery

West Sandy Creek Winery in Richards, Texas, pairs estate-grown wines with a 360-acre ranch at the edge of Sam Houston National Forest, near Huntsville. Stan and Peggy McGinley’s vineyard project dates to 2009; today, the family-run property has 15 acres of vines. Blanc du Bois and Lenoir, also known as Black Spanish, anchor the vineyard because they resist Pierce’s disease, a persistent threat to grapes in this warm climate.

Blanc du Bois takes several forms here: dry, sweet, oaked, and dessert wine. Lenoir becomes dry red, sweet blush, and port-style wine, while Bounty Land Crossings combines Lenoir with Tempranillo. The dry estate Blanc du Bois and Bounty Land Crossings are particular calling cards. Four-wine flights arrive together on a paddle; guided tastings offer four samples one at a time at the bar.

The visit suits an afternoon rather than a quick tasting-room stop. A large patio overlooks the vineyard, free live music fills Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and tapas platters supplement a bring-your-own-picnic policy. Ranch residents include Sadeeq, a white dromedary camel; carrots for animal feeding are available for purchase. The tasting room opens Thursday through Sunday, with reservations generally unnecessary except for groups of six or more. Four weekend cabin rentals accommodate two to eight guests, making the roughly 90-minute drive from Houston an overnight option.