Whenever you think of a day trip or a quick getaway from Austin, your mind probably goes straight to Fredericksburg. It’s a beautiful city, and the wine scene there has exploded over the last decade. However, there is a hidden gem just north of Austin in the city of Florence called The Vineyard at Florence.
I’ll be honest….
I’m a little hesitant to share this with you because I want it to be my new “go-to” spot, and I don’t want it swarmed, haha! But, I love sharing a good find! I hope you’ll join me there soon. This is a full Vineyard at Florence review from a North Austinite.
For a recent birthday trip, my husband and I stayed overnight to get away from the city and adulting for a minute. The website makes it seem like a dream to visit, but I was cautiously optimistic. Was it just as good in reality?
I don’t want to bury the lede here – the best part about this resort is that it’s nearby! The Vineyard at Florence is only a 45-minute drive from The Domain and just 30 minutes from Georgetown. All of us north Austinites said Yay! You get the full wine country escape without the two-hour trek to Fredericksburg.
I was actually blown away at this little resort and all they had to offer. It truly reminded me of nice resorts I’ve been elsewhere, but set in a little country town. The views were breathtaking and rustic, manicured and raw. It was a perfect blend for me.
Let’s get into the reviews!
Accommodations at the Vineyard at Florence
There are plenty of hotel rooms and villas for overnight stays. There is even a large villa that has several rooms, probably great for wedding parties or family reunions.
I highly recommend staying on-site. We walked into our room – just to see a gorgeous sunset outside of the massive windows. The room is perfectly angled for the view.
The rooms are large and nicely appointed. I especially loved the seating—instead of the stiff, hard chairs you find in budget hotels, these were cushy and even had decorative ottomans that were easy to move around. In fact, there were several cozy spots to sit, including a small table for work or dining.
The room has a medium sized mini-fridge and a high-end Nespresso machine with pods. We brought a cooler and with that plus the restaurant on site, had plenty of food for the weekend! You don’t need a cooler because of the full service restaurant, but the room had plenty of space for it.
Our room had a private balcony with a table and chairs that pointed at the beautiful property.
The bathroom was spacious and had an enormous walk in shower.
The Wi-Fi was decent, and cell service was strong enough for apps and texting, though it gets a bit spotty if you wander far out onto the ranch grounds.
My only complaint with the rooms was the heat pump was somewhat loud where we were located! That’s probably hard to prevent when staying in the country, so I recommend downloading a white noise app and using it for the night.
Dining at the Vineyard at Florence
The Vineyard at Florence has a full service restaurant and bar, Farmers Commons, serving brunch and dinner, and it is delightful! They have a wide variety of options, and if you’ve ever wanted more from the menu at a winery, you’re know how great this is!
Check out my video snippets of the Vineyard at Florence Resort to see a little more, especially of the restaurant.
I love that you can order from Farmers Commons from any of the common areas on the property. We were hanging out on the deck with a complimentary glass of check-in wine, and we were attended to right away.
For a snack early in the day, we had the meaty flatbread pizza, and the akaushi beef on it was melt in your mouth. It was devoured handily.
For dinner, we started with the wood fired caesar salad – highly recommend! The grilled flavor on this really made it great.
My husband had the ribs, and I had the akaushi Farmers Uncommon beef burger (I am a sucker for a burger with a fried green tomato or onion ring on it). The ribs were a little dry, but still decent for dinner. My burger was tender. All of the dinner food had very generous portions.
Perhaps the best part about the dining experience is the staff. I can’t say enough how awesome the staff were. Everyone we encountered was super friendly and ready to serve with a smile. Our dinner waiter allowed us to sample a few wines until we found just the right one! Don’t worry, their sommelier is also wandering around to help at dinner time.
Of course, the wine is good. But, I was pleasantly surprised that our cocktails were on point, too! I don’t always expect a good cocktail at a wine bar, but Farmers Commons had a fully stocked bar and bar menu, and the drinks we ordered were just right. We tried a Negroni and Irish whiskey.
For breakfast the next morning, I had the garden omelet, and it was amazing! A garden omelet can sometimes be underseasoned, but this one was perfection. My husband had the loaded croissant, and he agreed, the brunch food was delicious and filling. Again, the servers were accommodating and friendly!
If you live in Georgetown and just want a lovely evening out, try Farmers Commons to mix it up.
Wine Tasting at the Vineyard at Florence
While we certainly sampled a few of the wines, we did not end up at the tasting room! Our timing just didn’t allow for it, so I certainly need to go back.
The tasting room building is gorgeous and reminiscent of Italian villas. Their website boasts award winning wines, including a temprenillo (how did I miss that temp!!?).
When you stay on property, you are welcomed with a complimentary glass of wine, house white or house red. The house white is on the sweet side, but very smooth. And the house red is dry and robust, just like I like it.
Event Spaces at The Vineyard at Florence
It seemed like the Vineyard at Florence would be able to accommodate multiple events on any given weekend. There were multiple gorgeous spots for a ceremony to take place outdoors. And with the accommodations, your guests will be quite comfortable.
Amenities at the Vineyard at Florence
Gym, Pool, and Spa
The property has a small gym, a pool, and boasts a spa! We didn’t get to experience those things this trip, but it’s impressive that they are available. I guess I better go back soon, ha! Just note, these amenities are a bit farther up the property, so you will want to drive over.
Hiking
There is plenty of space on the grounds to hike around, but the idea of “trails” was a bit oversold, in my opinion. The trails are essentially cattle paths with gates, and some were padlocked during our stay. The trails do include an apiary with beehives, which is pretty cool! Bring shoes you can get dirty since there are active cattle on property.
If you’re a runner, there is a long road with a great hill into a nearby neighborhood that is perfect for a morning workout.
While enjoying wine and flatbread on the deck, we saw people with their dogs. I believe the resort is pet-friendly, so definitely call and ask if you want to bring your pup!
Night Life at the Vineyard at Florence
There is a game room on property with billiards, chess, and sometimes live music until 10pm. 10 is a little early for me on a getaway, but it was great to have a place to hang out all the same.
I would love to see the game room have some more game additions or be a little larger, too.
Being an hour away from the city, the stargazing is incredible. It’s so peaceful at night! Make sure to look up on a clear night.
I know I will be back to the Vineyard at Florence resort. I’ll see you there!
