Up close with Blake, a glass in your hand
Keeper-led afternoons built around Blake’s routine and his choice to engage. A handful of guests, wine poured a few steps from Blake, and the closest you will ever stand to a Southern White Rhino.
Come spend an afternoon beside a rhino.
A tasting for the wine.
An encounter for the rhino.
Every visit is poured within sight of Blake. The choice is how close you get: a seated flight on the terrace, or the hour with Blake and his Rhino Keepers. Pick the one you want. The exact flight is chosen when you reserve.
Two continents, poured where Blake grazes
Texas and South Africa side by side, guided and unhurried, about an hour at the table. Walk-ins are welcome every day, and a reservation guarantees the table.
The drive out is part of the afternoon.
We sit on US 290 just below the Pedernales, twelve minutes east of Main Street in Fredericksburg, bordered by the river and a meandering creek. Here is the whole way in, from the highway turn to your first pour.
Address
13112 E US 290
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Twelve minutes east of Main Street and the 290 wine trail. Look for the gate right off the highway; you cannot miss it.
Drive times
12min
Fredericksburg, TXMain Street & the 290 trail
13 mi
1:20hours
Austin, TXvia 290 W
~75 mi
1:25hours
San Antonio, TXvia I-10 W and US 87 N
~75 mi
4:00hours
Dallas / Fort Worthvia I-35 S and 290 W
~245 mi
4:30hours
Houston, TXvia I-10 W and 290 W
~240 mi
898 third-party reviews 4.7★ aggregate
And Napa doesn’t even have a rhino.
Few wineries are blending wine and wildlife like Craig Stevens and his wife, Chesney Castleberry.
Come as you are, the habitat is right there.
Nothing is required to spend an afternoon here. Blake has the run of a wide habitat and keeps his own routine, so some afternoons he grazes close to the terrace and some he does not, and you never need an encounter booking to look for him. A Crash, Signature, or Reserve flight gets the same view across the habitat.
Indoor · air conditioned
The tasting room
Cool, seated, and the easy answer on a hot Texas afternoon. Indoor seats are best reserved on weekends.
Open air · walk up
The Savannah patio
Open air, straight out over the habitat, no reservation needed. This is where guests most often spot Blake.
Open air · walk up
The Grove
Shade under the oaks, a glass or a bottle carried out from the bar, and an afternoon that runs as long as you like.
Walk the grounds
Wander freely, all of it. A $10 suggested donation per guest goes to Rhinory Foundation.
Something to eat
Charcuterie and small bites, seasonal, built to pair with the Texas and South Africa pours. No full kitchen, so come hungry for cheese rather than dinner.
The questions asked at the gate.
Hours, house rules, and the small practicalities of an afternoon on a working rhino habitat. What to know before you drive out on the left, what to know once you are through the gate on the right.
Before you come
Do I need a reservation, or can I walk in?
Walk-ins are welcome for the Crash, Signature and Reserve tastings whenever space allows. Friday through Sunday, a reservation is worth making. Every rhino experience needs one in advance, and weekend slots go weeks ahead.
What are your hours?
Open every day, 11 AM to 5:30 PM Central, with the last pour at 4:30 PM.
Does it cost anything to visit the grounds?
There is no entrance fee for the grounds or the tasting room. We suggest a $10 donation per guest, and it goes to Rhinory Foundation for rhino conservation.
Will I get to see Blake?
Usually, yes. Blake has the run of a wide habitat and keeps his own routine, so some afternoons he grazes close to the terrace and some he spends out of sight. We will never promise you a sighting, and you do not need a booking to look for him from the tasting room or the Savannah patio.
Can I bring children?
Tasting is 21+. Children of any age are welcome to walk the grounds and see Blake at a distance.
Is the property accessible?
ADA-accessible parking, tasting room and patio. Service animals are welcome on the tasting deck. Free EV charging on site, with NACS and SAE J1772 connectors.
We are a party of eight or more. What should we do?
Give us a little notice. Eight or more takes some advance planning, and at twenty it becomes a private event. Call 830-992-9526 or send a group inquiry.
Once you are here
What should I wear?
Closed-toe shoes, always. Sneakers, boots or hiking shoes all work, and sandals are not permitted behind the scenes. Dress for a working outdoor habitat.
Is there anything to eat?
Charcuterie and small bites, seasonal, built to pair with the Texas and South Africa pours. There is no full kitchen, so come hungry for cheese rather than dinner.
Can I bring my dog?
Service animals only. This is a working rhino habitat, so pets are better off at home.
It is a hot Texas afternoon. Where do we sit?
The air-conditioned tasting room is open to every guest, and the Grove keeps a good deal of shade. Tell a Rhino Keeper if anyone in your party is heat-sensitive.
How do cancellations and changes work?
Cancel 48 hours ahead for a full refund. Inside 24 hours a booking is non-refundable, because experiences are capacity-capped and staffed by a Rhino Keeper for your party.
Can I take wine home with me?
Every wine you taste is available by the bottle at the bar. Ask a wine educator about shipping before you leave.
We are arriving by shuttle or bus. Anything to know?
Let us know in advance. Commercial transport has its own parking and arrival protocol, and a heads-up keeps the drop-off simple.
Call · 830-992-9526
Anything the list misses, call the tasting room and a real person picks up.