Take 1431 west from Lago Vista, a left on Singleton Bend Road and another on Singleton Bend East, and follow the scent of woodsmoke to the Bistro at Flat Creek Estate.
Not only a vineyard and winery, Flat Creek Estate is a fine destination for delicious food that fuses Hill Country fresh with international style. Local artists also sell jewelry, gifts, and cards from the adjacent Tasting Room.
Reservations for the Bistro are required and easy to come by: call 512-267-6310. Gratuities are not accepted, but you’re welcome to leave a donation for the nonprofit World of Children.
Fine and Homely Fare
A three-course menu complete with wine pairing designed by executive chef Sean Fulford is served Friday and Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $55 per person. The Bistro also serves simpler fare cooked over a wood fire from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday (here’s a sample menu).
For a culinary adventure, try the carnitas pizza — red chile mole, pickled Spanish onion, and slow-cooked pork on a thin crust combine smoky and bright flavors. The arugula salad is a mound of fresh, peppery leaves tossed in vinaigrette with seared shiitake mushrooms and served with a toast point spread in goat cheese. The cheesecake is a decadent treat. Hill Country Brunch on Saturday and Sunday is served 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Dine al Fresco
Plan ahead for a walk and picnic in the vineyard; you can reserve one of three picnic tables away from the main buildings. Several areas around the tasting room and Bistro offer outdoor seating as well.
A picnic pack is $65 and includes a bottle of non-reserve wine and enough cheese, fresh fruit, and crusty bread to serve two to four people. Two souvenir wine glasses, a cheese spreader, and a reusable bag are yours for keeps. The picnics are available with reservations Tuesday through Sunday (RSVP here).
Production tours with educational wine tastings are given from November 21 through June 6 for $17.50. You can reserve a tour for up to eight people.
Stay the Night
You can even decide to spend the night in the Vintner’s Quarters. Up to six guests can stay there. It has three queen-sized beds (one downstairs in the master bedroom, two upstairs in the loft), one bathroom, a living area, and a kitchen. The patio overlooks the vineyard.
Locally Owned, Locally Run
Flat Creek Estate is run by people who live on the North Shore of Lake Travis. Lago Vista, Jonestown, and Point Venture are all mentioned when you ask the staff where they live.
Dining room manager April hails from Lago. Servers Erica and Aaron live in the Singleton Bend neighborhood and were patrons for years. The owners, Rick and Madelyn Naber, suggested they help out on weekends.
Come visit the Bistro at Flat Creek Estate. Whether autumn has painted the Spanish oaks burnt orange or spring wildflowers are blooming, the winding road out to Flat Creek always displays the Hill Country’s natural beauty.
And when you stop, the mouthwatering aroma of wood-fired cooking will make you glad you made the drive.
