For those looking for a unique wine tasting experience, hop on the six-hour wine train experience in Central Texas, taking passengers from Cedar Park to the Wedding Oak Winery in Burnet.

Hop on the Wedding Oak Wine Train and enjoy a two-hour train ride each way. The spring wine train departs at 11 a.m. and returns at 5 p.m. You’ll taste five different wines while enjoying an intimate talk with members of the Wedding Oak family. You’ll appreciate the views of the San Gabriel River and Texas Hill Country while sipping and listening to fun facts.

You may even learn some interesting info from the train expert on the way, like the fact you’ll pass by marble slabs that were used to create the Capital Metro building.

After making your way to Burnet, you’ll get to enjoy a two hour layover at Wedding Oak Winery, and surprise, savor more wine! 

In 2012, Wedding Oak opened its doors as San Saba Wine Cellars, but got hit with a cease and desist letter from a wine company with the same name. They changed the name to Wedding Oak, which got its name from a majestic 400 year old oak tree that grows about 2.5 miles northwest from the San Saba winery. The tree is huge, and takes multiple people to wrap arms around it. The stately tree has been the symbolic site for numerous ceremonies and weddings, beginning with Native Americans to early settlers and continuing to this day.

Deep-Rooted History

The winery is located in the historic 1888 badger building, right in the heart of Burnet’s town Square. It was repurposed in 2019, which took about a year, but they were able to keep the original walls and building. The stairs were built out of the original rafters that were on the roof. 

There’s plenty of history and transformations behind the building. For one, the original telephone company was actually built upstairs. Second, there used to be a mud wrestling pit by the window in the winery (back when people still enjoyed wet T-shirt contests). They would fill the pit with water to create a mud pit, then bring in actual alligators to wrestle them. Crazy right? Third, the building was also a dance hall for 20 years, so when people in their 60s and 70s come back to the winery they love reminiscing on their good times when it was a teen dance hall.

Wine Flies When You’re Having Fun

Be sure to purchase a bottle and sip slowly in the stunning tasting room, complete with two-story views, and a patio and rooftop terrace. Full size servings, bottles to-go, and food are available for purchase. Speaking of which, the pizza there makes a perfect pairing with the tasty wine. The pizza dough is fermented for days; it was so delicious I wanted seconds! You can also purchase other food from the surrounding area and enjoy it on the patio deck.

Wedding Oak doesn’t produce any of the wine there at the tasting room, but they do produce it at their Wedding Oak location in San Saba. They have three locations in Texas: San Saba, Fredericksburg, and Burnet. 

Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks are available for purchase on the return trip. Alcohol will not be served and may not be consumed on the return trip for safety reasons. 

Upcoming Events

The Wine Train runs every month  – usually the last Sunday of the month – although that is subject to change. Sometimes they’ll skip some summer months when it gets too hot. The air conditioning on these vintage train cars can’t always keep up with the heat. Be sure to follow their events page here. 

Christmas time is super exciting! There is no wine train since they do the “Polar Express”. It’s super cute during Christmas time and the kids love it. You’ll see the littles in their pajamas holding onto their teddy bears waiting to get on the train. Other special events are done with the train, such as fundraisers and even a speakeasy night on the train. How fun does that sound?

The Wedding Oak Wine Train is one of those experiences you should try at least once in your life. It’s perfect to catch up with old friends while sipping on some tasty wine, learning the history behind it, and taking in views of the South San Gabriel River and Texas Hill Country. The train allows you to just slow down and sip for a while. This would be great for celebrations, such as a birthday, pre-bachelorette party, or even just everyday day-drinking for Sunday Funday!

Want a specific seat, want to sit with another group, or need help booking? Call Cassidy at 512-915-2340 or email reservations@austinsteamtrain.org Tuesday- Friday.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cover Photo Jennifer Swanson

Leean Vargas is the Highlight Reel newsletter editor at Texas Lifestyle Magazine and an honors graduate of Texas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. She is a concert enthusiast who loves traveling, photography, good food, and discovering new hangout spots in her beloved city, Austin, Texas.