Team C&J
This Winery Is Permanently Closed.
Winery Rating
Located at:
21301 Kathy Ln, Spicewood, TX 78669, USA
Wine Club Rating
Price Range For Tasting
From the rolling vineyards of Mendoza to the heart of Texas Hill Country, El Gaucho Winery is a story of passion, adventure, and a love for wine. Founded by Bennett, a Texan captivated by Argentina’s wine culture, this unique winery offers a truly authentic experience that blends the best of Texas hospitality with rustic South American wines.
As we discovered on our visit to El Gaucho Winery, you can sample Mendoza wines, indulge in delicious Argentine cuisine, and soak up the stunning Texas Hill Country scenery all in one location.
Imagine taking a trip and finding yourself so taken with the culture that it completely changes the direction of your life. That’s exactly what happened to Bennett, the owner of El Gaucho Winery. In 2006, Bennett traveled to Argentina expecting just an ordinary getaway, but he ended up finding a deep love and appreciation for the country and its rich wine culture.
The beautiful expanses of Argentina made such a lasting impression that Bennett bought two vineyards and uprooted his entire life from Austin to Argentina. Talk about a life-altering trip. Despite his newfound love for Argentina, Bennett’s heart remained in Texas. So, in November 2014, he combined his two loves by opening El Gaucho Winery just outside his hometown.
Through this winery, Bennett shares the exquisite Mendoza wines he fell in love with, inviting friends, family, and fellow Texans to enjoy a taste of South America in the Lone Star State. When you visit, you may even see him pouring in the tasting room!
Location & Atmosphere: What to Expect El Gaucho Winery is located in Spicewood Texas, just outside of Austin. If you enjoy wine tasting with a view, you’re going to love the patio here. When you sit outside, you can see for miles over the Texas hill country while you sip your wine.
Inside the winery, Argentina flair is on full display. Cowhide chairs, stained wood and hand woven rugs create a warm, authentic feel that perfectly mixes Texas and South American styles.
In the growing Texas wine community, El Gaucho Winery stands out for one reason: all the wines here are from Mendoza. The owner, Bennett, purchased several vineyards in Argentina over a decade ago, and those grapes are used to craft this Texas wine.
While the tasting flights don’t offer quite as many options as some of the other spots we visited, you can find a traditional mix of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay. El Gaucho also makes sparkling wine and Torrontés, which is a white grape from Argentina.
Just one tasting flight is available, which includes three varieties for $20.
Dining at El Gaucho Winery is arguably more popular than wine tasting. Diners rave about the ceviche, empanadas, and Argentine-style steak. The authentic Asado dishes are well-prepared, and when you combine that with the relaxing outdoor views, you’ll find the setting here to be quite peaceful.
Our afternoon at El Gaucho Winery in Spicewood, Texas, was quite a mixed bag. The owner, who also runs the tasting room, was very nice and welcoming, which made us feel right at home with that famous Texas hospitality we’d heard so much about.
Unfortunately, the wines that were being poured had been open for quite a while, so they weren’t at their best. The taste was off in just about every bottle, and we wish we’d had the chance to try some newly opened bottles to get a better sense of how these wines drink.
We’re big fans of wines from Argentina, Catena Zapata, in particular, so we really wish we could have tried wines that hadn’t been sitting out.
Despite this, we enjoyed the sparkling wine, which was made in a Prosecco style. It easily stood out as the best of the bunch – very refreshing and made for sipping on hot afternoons.
As for our overall experience, a day at El Gaucho Winery isn’t a bad way to spend an afternoon. They have a basic menu for lunch and dinner, and the food was actually pretty good – much better than the wine, in fact. We think you will appreciate the laid-back atmosphere and friendly service. We certainly did, and those two features went a long way in making up for the disappointing wines.
While we wouldn’t necessarily rush back to Austin’s El Gaucho Winery for another tasting, we would return for the good food and to hopefully catch them on a day when the wine hasn’t been sitting open. It’s also very cool that the owner is so hands on, so cheers to that!
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