Drinking with a view is an enticing perk for wine-loving travelers, and postcard-perfect vistas are only made better when seen from within a train car.
Snaking its way through the Piney Woods of East Texas, the Texas State Railroad Wine in the Pines experience offers the chance to sample local pours and enjoy dinner besides a lake. The adult-only, 4-hour-long trip departs from Palestine, Texas, on a vintage train.
This year, wine lovers can book one of three tastings: on April 24, on July 18, and on Sept. 12. Each journey kicks off at 5 p.m. local time, returning passengers back at 9:30 p.m.
After hopping on board, passengers sip a variety of 2-ounce pours of local Texas wines and nibble on a complimentary appetizer. After arriving in the city of Rusk, passengers will stop and indulge in dinner outside by a lake.
Passengers will also receive a commemorative take-home souvenir wine glass and can purchase additional glasses of wine on the return trip. Non-alcoholic drinks will also be available on board and train cars are stocked with snacks.
Tickets for the experience start at $121. Small groups of up to eight people can also book the entire caboose on the train for a fee of $1,000. The train includes Art Deco-inspired cars with plush couches, a glass-top dome car, a car outfitted with leather armchairs and cocktail tables, and an ADA-compliant car.
Overall, Texas is known for its robust wine production, growing more than 70 grape varieties, according to Texas Wine Growers. The state boasts more than 191 active wineries, per the American Winery Guide. Nowhere is that more apparent than in cities like Fredericksburg and Grapevine, which is home to its own wine-centric hotel, the Urban Wine Trail, and the largest wine festival in the Southwest, GrapeFest.
In addition to wine tours, the Texas State Railroad hosts a variety of other themed events from the Speakeasy Special, a celebration of 1920s music, food, and dress; Pints in the Pines, a beer-centric journey with local ales; and a Fall Harvest Lunch complete with complimentary Champagne and sparkling cider.
Beyond Texas, there are several other wine trains travelers can board across the globe. In California, the Napa Valley Wine Train offers a series of journeys that take travelers past rolling hills and vineyards. While in France, a seven-day rail experience takes travelers through Champagne, Alsace, and Burgundy, offering the chance to sample dozens of wines.
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