7 Hill Country Whites & Rosés You Need to Be Drinking Right Now
So... can we talk about Texas whites and rosés for a minute? Because something big is happening and I don't think enough people are paying attention. A Hill Country white blend just beat out thousands of wines from 25 countries to take the Top White Wine Champion title at the 2026 Rodeo Uncorked. Texas Vermentino is back after devastating freezes nearly wiped it out. And Hill Country rosé season? It's basically a lifestyle at this point.
Just like with the reds (if you missed that post, go read it over at texaspourgirl.com), most Hill Country wineries source grapes from growing regions across the state — the High Plains, the Hill Country AVA, even far west Texas. Each region brings its own terroir, elevation, and personality to the glass, and the best winemakers know exactly how to blend those strengths together.
Here are seven whites and rosés that absolutely deserve your attention this summer and beyond.
1. Carter Creek Winery Plateau White
This is the bottle that just put Texas whites on the national map. Carter Creek's 2024 Plateau White was named Top White Wine Champion at the 2026 Rodeo Uncorked International Wine Competition — beating out over 3,100 entries from 25 countries. The year before, their 2023 vintage took Double Gold and Class Champion at the same competition. This is not a one-hit wonder.
Tasting notes: Silky and bright with peach, citrus, and tart fruit notes backed by light, balanced acidity. The blend combines barrel-fermented Viognier for depth, Picpoul and Clairette Blanche for citrus brightness, and Roussanne for weight and a silky finish.
Pair it with: Fish tacos, lemon butter chicken, shrimp pasta, or just a sunny patio with good friends. It's versatile enough for a summer sipper and interesting enough for a proper dinner.
2. Duchman Family Winery Vermentino
If you know Texas wine, you know Duchman Vermentino. It's practically iconic — the bottle that's been on restaurant wine lists and retail shelves across the state for years. After devastating freezes damaged the vines, there was a three-year gap with no Vermentino at all. It's finally back with the 2023 vintage, and it picked up a Double Gold at the 2025 San Francisco International Wine Competition as its triumphant return.
Tasting notes: Lime zest, lemon, pineapple, yellow apple, with hints of Mediterranean herbs and a crisp, refreshing finish. Made entirely in stainless steel to keep those bright aromatics front and center.
Pair it with: Ceviche, grilled shrimp, chicken tacos, or a light salad with citrus vinaigrette. This wine basically screams patio season.
3. Augusta Vin Roussanne
Augusta Vin's Roussanne was singled out in the James Suckling 2025 Texas Tasting Report as one of the highest-rated whites in the entire review. The critics praised it for offering a beautiful combination of richness with linearity and drive — which is a fancy way of saying it's lush without being heavy. This Fredericksburg estate winery is quietly turning heads, and their whites deserve just as much attention as their reds.
Tasting notes: Think honey, white peach, pear, and hints of vanilla with a smooth, almost creamy texture. It's a fuller-bodied white that still stays fresh and elegant.
Pair it with: Roasted chicken, lobster with drawn butter, creamy risotto, or a buttery brie with crackers. This one can handle richer dishes that would overpower a lighter white.
4. Pedernales Cellars Viognier Reserve
Pedernales does Rhône-style wines as well as anyone in Texas, and their Viognier Reserve is the white-wine proof. This is a bottle that shows why Viognier — a grape originally from France's Rhône Valley — is becoming one of Texas's standout white varietals. It earned multiple awards including Silver at the Houston Rodeo Uncorked competition.
Tasting notes: Stone fruit, white flowers, and subtle citrus with a round, aromatic profile. It's perfumed and expressive without going over the top — think elegance with just enough personality to keep things interesting.
Pair it with: Grilled peach and burrata salad, pan-seared scallops, Thai curry, or creamy pasta dishes. Viognier loves aromatic food that matches its own floral personality.
5. Duchman Family Winery Roussanne
Duchman is earning a second spot on this list because their Roussanne also took Double Gold at the 2025 San Francisco International Wine Competition alongside the Vermentino — a double win that says a lot about the quality of their white wine program. This is a fuller-bodied white that lets the pure fruit expression of the Texas High Plains terroir shine through.
Tasting notes: Lemon curd, green pear, graham cracker, jasmine green tea, and dried orange peel. It's complex and layered in a way that makes you slow down and really taste what's happening in the glass.
Pair it with: Chicken with lemon and leeks, lobster mac and cheese, or a charcuterie board with soft cheeses and dried apricots. This wine bridges the gap between refreshing and rich.
6. Spicewood Vineyards Estate Grenache Rosé
Spicewood has been on a tear lately — their Estate Grenache Rosé earned Double Gold at the 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and their 2024 vintage also took Gold at the Rodeo Uncorked. This estate-grown rosé from one of the oldest Hill Country vineyards is exactly the kind of bottle that converts people who think they don't like rosé.
Tasting notes: Fresh strawberry, watermelon, and bright citrus with delicate floral notes. Dry, crisp, and refreshing — not sweet, not heavy, just perfectly balanced summer in a glass.
Pair it with: Grilled shrimp skewers, a big summer salad, goat cheese crostini, or honestly just a pool float and some sunshine. This is the ultimate girls' trip wine.
7. Bending Branch Winery Branch Tannat Frizzante Rosé
Okay, this one is a wild card and I love it. Bending Branch — the Tannat pioneers of Texas — took their signature grape and turned it into a sparkling rosé. It's the first sparkling Tannat in Texas, and it's become a fan favorite for good reason. It's fun, unexpected, and absolutely delicious.
Tasting notes: Strawberry, white peach, apple, pear, and magnolia. Softly effervescent with a vibrant freshness that makes it dangerously easy to drink.
Pair it with: Brunch. All of brunch. But also crab cakes, fried calamari, grilled shrimp, or goat cheese with fresh strawberries. Pop this at your next girls' night and watch it disappear.
Where to Start
If you're a white wine lover, start with the Duchman Vermentino or the Carter Creek Plateau White — both are crowd-pleasers that show off what Texas can do with white grapes. If rosé is more your speed, the Spicewood Grenache Rosé is the no-brainer pick for summer sipping.
Texas Hill Country whites and rosés are having their moment, and 2026 is shaping up to be the best year yet. So stock up, invite the girls over, and toast to the fact that world-class wine is being made right here in our backyard.
For more Hill Country wine picks and travel guides, head to texaspourgirl.com and explore the full Girl Talk archive.
Sip. Savor. Repeat.
— Debbie