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

Get an insider's look at the bottling process.

wine vacation promoted

NYT best dishes

Houston Mediterranean restaurant makes NY Times' best desserts list

Sayad Mediterranean Kitchen/Facebook

Sayad Mediterranean Kitchen is the only Houston restaurant on either list.

The New York Times included four Texas restaurants among its favorite dishes of 2025. Divided into two lists — The 23 Best Restaurant Dishes We Ate Across the U.S. in 2025 and The 14 Best Restaurant Desserts We Ate Across the U.S. in 2025 — the dishes are:

Bad Honey Bunny at Mercado Sin Nombre (Austin)
Ketan Hitam at Yeni’s Fusion (Austin)
Konafa Naama at Sayad Mediterranean Kitchen (Houston)
Picadillo Macaroni and Cheese at 2M Smokehouse (San Antonio)

Times food writer Priya Krishna, who authors the entries for all four Texas dishes, traveled to far west Houston to visit Sayad Mediterranean Kitchen. “The konafa, a signature here, arrives with a molten layer of cheese under a sticky-sweet layer of golden, nutty semolina. The craft is evident, the konafa gone in a few bites,” she writes.

Sayad Mediterranean Kitchen Konafa Naama Don't skip dessert at Sayad Mediterranean Kitchen.KSayad Mediterranean Kitchen/Facebook

In Austin, Krishna praises the rice pudding at Yeni’s Fusion. “This barely sweet version, lush with coconut milk, aromatic with pandan and as soothing as warm porridge, is the gentlest way to end a meal,” she states.

Already hailed as one of America’s best breakfast spots by Bon Appetit, Krishna singles out a honeybun at Mercado Sin Nombre. “The coiled honey bun at this semi-clandestine cafe looks almost cartoonishly perfect, and the heady scent of cardamom and honey hits you before you even take a bite. Somehow, it tastes every bit as plush and elegant as it appears,” she writes.

The picadillo mac and cheese at 2M Smokehouse showcases how the San Antonio restaurant incorporates Mexican flavors into traditional Texas barbecue. “Imagine Hamburger Helper, but spicier, punchier and even more luxuriously creamy. It’s not easy to one-up the singular, thickly spiced brisket here, but the picadillo mac and cheese — which runs as an occasional special — holds its own and then some,” Krishna writes.

The New York Times regularly shines its spotlight on Texas restaurants, In September, it named four establishments — ChòpnBlọk (Houston), Isidore (San Antonio), Lao’d Bar (Austin), and P Thai’s Khao Man Gai & Noodles (Austin) — to its list of America’s 50 Best Restaurants.

news-you-can-eat media lists desserts