One day of Naval History and Wine in Fredericksburg, Texas

Blue Bonnet Café, Marble Falls, Texas

My trip to Fredericksburg began bright and early with a stop for breakfast at the Blue Bonnet Café in Marble Falls, Texas.  This café has been open since 1929.  The restaurant’s name came from the bluebonnet hat, not the Texas wildflower.  In 1981, John and Belinda Kemper bought the Café and have been serving up some of the best food and pie in the country.  Be sure to stop by and have a slice.

http://www.bluebonnetcafe.net/home

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE PACIFIC WAR

The National Museum of the Pacific War is an enormous museum dedicated to the story of the eight million who served in the Pacific War and the over 100,000 who died there. In fact, your ticket is good for two days here, and you will need every minute to thoroughly review the artifacts and displays. Admiral Chester Nimitz is also honored at the museum.  In fact, he is the reason the museum is located in Fredericksburg. Nimitz’s boyhood home is located adjacent to the museum, and his role in the Pacific theater is legendary.

The museum boasts many artifacts from the Pacific War, including a submarine that served in the Pearl Harbor attack and a door from the U.S.S. Arizona that was sunk during the Pearl Harbor air raid. There are many uniforms, rifles, and items that have been donated to the museums by servicemen or their families.  The docents here are well-versed about the war. They can relate details of each gallery, should you have questions about any of the battles. 

WALK THROUGH TIME

You will learn about each battle in the Pacific Islands and the price our troops paid.  The thirty-three-thousand-square-foot space, containing some of the nine hundred artifacts, takes some time to absorb.  Upon entering the museum, you walk through a timeline of the war’s history.  You begin with Japan’s massive increase in military power, the Pearl Harbor attack, to the enormous challenge of gearing up for war, and the quick enlistment of troops who would do battle in the Pacific, through each Pacific battle, and the final solution of the use of two atomic bomb

MARINES IN THE PACIFIC

My father was a Marine who served in the battles of both Tarawa and Iwo Jima.  He never talked much about the war, as many of his generation did not.  Seeing actual footage of the battles and the toll it took in lives, I can understand why he didn’t want to discuss it. He did tell me about the shacks he stood guard over while stationed in Tinian.  Turns out, he was guarding the atomic bomb.

This is an impressive museum that tells the story of the Pacific Theatre of World War II like no other. While history buffs will be enthralled with what they can learn here, this is a place where everyone can learn more about their county’s history.

http://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/

Fredericksburg is a prominent wine-growing region. I was able to visit and sample wines from two of the area’s vineyards.

GRAPE CREEK WINERY

I was looking forward to enjoying more Texas wines after discovering them in Austin some years ago.  Grape Creek selections are known for their well-balanced wines.

My friend and I joined Jim Overman, our Tasting Ambassador, at the tasting table for a sample of seven of Grape Creek wines. Jim is retired and has lots of stories and knowledge to impart about the wines.  He explained that Texas was akin to Italy in its climate.

WINE TASTING

I was looking forward to enjoying more Texas wines since I had discovered them when I was in Austin some years ago.  Grape Creek selections are known for their well-balanced wines.

My friend and I joined Jim Overman, our Tasting Ambassador, at the tasting table for a sample of seven of Grape Creek wines. Jim is retired and has lots of stories and knowledge to impart about the wines.  He explained that Texas was akin to Italy in its climate.

Jim, our wine Tasting Ambassador, led us through the wide range of Grape Creek wines from the Viognier to the Mosaic. The good thing about Grape Creek, Jim told us, is that “Every category of wine, from dry whites to reds, to the sweets, is a good wine.”

Grape Creek is a wine club vineyard, so you cannot buy their wines except through the wine club or at its locations in Fredericksburg or Georgetown. There are four wine clubs: The Black Label Club, The Mixed Club, The White Label Club, and The Sweet Club.  They will ship or you can pick up at their two locations.  The clue ships 5 times a year in 3-, 6-, or 12-bottle shipments.

My friend and I each chose a bottle based on our very different tastes. The Petit Sirah for me and the Muscat Canelli for him.  This was a welcoming and enjoyable tasting room. Seek it out when you’re in Fredericksburg.

https://www.grapecreek.com/

LOST DRAW WINERY

I visited Lost Draw’s tasting room at the invitation of the local Convention and Visitors Bureau. I must say, it was a great choice for my all-too-brief visit to Fredericksburg. Texas wines are known for their unique flavor profiles. Lost Draw’s winemaker, Andy Timmons, is the second largest grape grower in the state and the largest grape supplier to vineyards in the state.

And Lost Draw serves up some fine vintages. They are the largest grower of Mourvedre in the state.  Their Tempranillo is very popular in the tasting room.

WINE TASTING

My friend and I were treated to a tasting of five wine selections. My favorite among the five was the Rousanne, a Texas Chardonnay.  Lost Draw is a small-batch winery, meaning they produce 100 to 150 cases of each wine.  They create some 25 wines per year.  A wine club winery offers four membership levels and ships 4, 6, or 12 bottles per shipment.  Lost Draw is the only Texas winery that offers free shipping to its members.

http://www.lostdrawcellars.com/