Raise a Glass

Gorgeous sips and stunning views will have you crushing on this new Hill Country winery

There’s a new winery in the Texas Hill Country, and it will give you all the heart eyes. It might also have you thinking you’re not in the Lone Star State anymore.

Chapelton Vineyards and Winery is located in quaint, historic Washington County, only an hour and change from Houston. But thanks to the elegant surroundings and high-quality experience of the tasting room, it will feel like you are thousands of miles away in Napa Valley.

And that’s exactly what founders Dr. Michelle Lyn and Kurt Lyn wanted. The native Houstonians have a 75-acre ranch in the area, but were pleasantly surprised when a small vineyard they planted thrived.

They initially planned to focus only on Blanc du bois grapes, but after a brief trip to Spain they decided to add Tempranillo and Merlot grapes to the mix. Their first harvest was this past summer, and it wildly exceeded their expectations.

Now, with the holidays in full tilt, there’s no better time to raise a glass to this new destination. Venture to “wine country” for the day, check the box on holiday gifts (amazing wine for everyone on your list!), and even host a family gathering or special event.

Here’s how to make the most of it Chapelton Vineyards:

Schedule a VIP wine tasting and tour
Sure, you can swing by Chapelton for a seated wine tasting, but the VIP tour will let you explore the vineyards with a designated guide. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the onsite production facility and barrel room before tasting five wines in the Lyn Loft, paired with a curated charcuterie board.

Get away for the weekend
You probably won’t want to leave Chapelton — and the Lyns have a solution for that. The Chapelton Villa is a luxe property overlooking the vineyard and within walking distance of the winery. It’s the perfect place to book for a weekend getaway this holiday.

Channel the peacefulness of the Washington County countryside while also being close to other Texas gems like Round Top, Navasota, and Brenham.

Plan a special event
From holiday parties to birthdays, engagements, rehearsal dinners, brunches, and more, Chapelton is a unique place to gather. Celebrate with a beautiful private event space, flexible catering options, and the most gorgeous Instagrammable views.

Join the Wine Club
Chapelton’s Wine Club is the best gift you can give your vino-loving friends — and yourself. The one-time membership fee entitles you to:

quarterly shipments of their incredible pours
savings on all wine purchases, public events, villa stays, and private events
a complimentary tasting every month
quarterly virtual tastings
invites to exclusive events; limited offerings not released to the public
and so much more

Further your crush on Chapelton Vineyards and Winery, and plan your escape to this Napa-in-the-Texas Hill Country destination, here.

Photo courtesy of Chapelton Vineyards

You might forget you're not in Napa.

wine vacation promoted

With or Without Whiz

Houston burger mastermind fires up new pop-up devoted to Philly cheesesteaks

Photo by Michael Ma

Abbas Dhanani is serving up cheesesteaks at his new pop-up.

Abbas Dhanani is at it again. The food influencer-turned-restaurateur behind the CultureMap Tastemaker Award-winning smash burger concept Burger Bodega is firing up a new pop-up concept devoted to another iconic sandwich.

Called Bas’s Cheesesteaks, the new concept will Dhanani’s take on the classic Philly cheesesteak, made with sliced ribeye and white cheese on a seeded hoagie roll — onions and a spicy sauce are optional. A second version swaps the white cheese for Cheez Whiz. Like Burger Bodega, Dhanani is using halal beef for his cheesesteaks.

Bas's Cheesesteaks cheesesteak sandwich The cheesesteak is served on a seeded hoagie roll.Photo by Michael Ma

“We have experimented with cheesesteaks as specials on the menu at Burger Bodega and received amazing feedback,” Dhanani said in a statement. “However, the cheesesteaks at Bas’s are the most refined versions we have done so far. I am excited to bring authentic Philly cheesesteaks to Houston as a new flavor experience while continuing to build on the energy and community we have created at Burger Bodega. This is a huge passion project for me, and I plan to take it step by step, just like Burger Bodega."

As Dhanani notes, he introduced Burger Bodega with a series of pop-ups throughout Houston. To answer the obvious question, of course a restaurant could be in the cards for Bas’s, too.

“I think thats the goal of any new pop-up concept,” Dhanani tells CultureMap. “Like Burger Bodega, we want to take it one step at a time and see where it goes.”

Bas’s Cheesesteaks will have its first pop-up on Monday, June 30 at Burger Bodega’s location (4520 Washington Avenue). In addition to the two cheesesteaks, diners can get fries. Future pop-ups will be announced via Instagram.

As for Burger Bodega’s second location in Katy, Dhanani says it’s still working through securing the necessary permits to begin construction.

news-you-can-eat openings bas's cheesesteaks