In just two years, the revamped Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival has become the go-to Hill Country event for foodies and oenophiles.
This year, the fest has expanded to five days of auxiliary events, culminating with the Saturday, Oct. 25, Grand Tasting at Marktplatz in downtown Fredericksburg.
The event was a smash hit after the fest’s stewardship was assumed last year by the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with Bevvy Group. This year, early bird badges, all-access, weekender and street dinner tickets all sold out quickly, but add-on events and the Grand Tasting are still available.
This year, in the wake of terrible summer flooding, a portion of festival proceeds will benefit the Hill Country Hospitality Relief Fund, organized by the Chamber.
Snap up available event tickets at fbgfoodandwine.com.
Chef’s spotlight
Stephan Pyles is a fifth-generation Texan and founding father of Southwestern Cuisine. The chef, cookbook author, philanthropist, and educator has created 26 restaurants in 8 cities over the past 35 years. He’ll serve his unique dish at the Grand Tasting.
Chef Pyles was the first person in the Southwest to win the James Beard Award for Best Chef and was the first Texan inducted into The Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who of Food and Wine in America. Pyles has been nominated another 12 times by the Beard Foundation for Outstanding Chef in America and has had six restaurants that were finalists for Best New Restaurant in America.
The chef has cooked for dignitaries and celebrities world-wide, including five American presidents and Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, of England.
Chef Pyles has also authored four cookbooks and hosted two seasons of the Emmy-award-winning PBS series “New Tastes from Texas.”
Pyles is a founding board member of the philanthropic organization Share Our Strength, the country’s largest hunger relief organization. He also co-founded The Hunger Link, Dallas’ perishable food program that acts as a conduit between restaurants and hotels and ministries and soup kitchens.
He also contributes to the next generation through his Stephan Pyles Culinary Scholarship, where he has awarded $250,000 to culinary students in Texas. (See Chef Pyles’ recipe in End Notes.)
Ashley Odom, founder of Feast and Merriment in Fredericksburg and sometime-contributor to Rock & Vine, will serve up Mediterranean appetizers at Saturday’s Grand Tasting event. Her menu includes grilled octopus skewers with Calabrian chile, persimmon, and fresh pear, along with semolina-fried artichokes and olives with fennel salt and preserved lemon aioli, as well as anchovy gougères (French cheese puffs) with Delice de Bourgogne (triple cream).
Chef Odom is a self-taught culinary artist influenced by her Louisiana heritage and family matriarchs. Renowned in the region for her elevated comfort food, she blends local Texas ingredients with global flavors, excelling in wild game dishes.
Keidel Hughes, the relative newcomer making waves with her baked goods, will serve up a citrus pistachio Panna Cotta, lemon and orange-infused custard, pomegranate gelee and pistachio cake at the Grand Tasting.
Chef Hughes was born and raised in Fredericksburg, and she developed a passion for the kitchen early on at her parents’ kitchen store, Der Küchen Laden. She honed her culinary skills through baking and cooking at home and later pursued degrees in Entrepreneurship and Nutrition from Samford University in Alabama. In 2023, Hughes moved home and joined the Albert Hotel team and now serves as the Executive Pastry Chef, leading a team in creating pastry delights for Albert’s main restaurant, Keidel Pharmacy and Junebug’s BBQ.
The Festival
“This will be another record-breaking year,” said Jim Mikula, president and CEO of the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce. “While many tickets sold out there are still plenty of tickets and experiences available, including a vibrant lineup of add-on events throughout the week and the flagship Grand Tasting.”
That event features over 75 Texas wineries, breweries, distilleries and culinary partners serving up the goods along with live music, lounges, chef demonstrations and a curated retail market.
• General Admission Badges ($150) include a complimentary wine glass, unlimited tastings, and access starting at 1 p.m.
• VIP Badges ($295) include early entry at noon, an exclusive Grape Creek Vineyards VIP wine glass, and access to the Grape Creek Vineyards VIP Lounge with elevated tastings, shaded seating, and luxury restrooms.
Add-On Highlights
A week of culinary and cultural experiences rounds out the festival schedule, including:
The Vineyard Table — Tuesday, Oct. 21, 6 p.m. at Elk & Main. Community-focused evening honoring Hill Country hospitality, women in wine, and the release of Jerilynne Clifford’s cookbook “The Vineyard Table.” Guests will enjoy inspired bites from Chef Ashley Odom paired with standout Texas wines from female-led or -inspired wineries, live music, and storytelling across Elk & Main’s signature venues.
Opening Night at Albert Hotel — Wednesday, Oct. 22, 5 p.m. Celebrate the festival’s kick-off with William Chris Vineyards as they toast their 15-year anniversary. This lively gathering at Albert Hotel, complete with wine, culinary demos, live music and a customizable accessory bar from Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott, sets the perfect tone for the week ahead.
Tacos & Tequila — Thursday, Oct. 23, noon, at El Quincho. A day party like no other, featuring smoky street tacos, sides, and a welcome tequila pour, with a cash bar offering curated tequila and mezcal cocktails.
Texas Black Tie Barbecue — Thursday, Oct. 23, 6 p.m., at Becker Vineyards. In celebration of Becker Vineyards’ 30th anniversary, top Hill Country pitmasters including Junebug’s BBQ, Leroy’s Tex Mex BBQ and Biergarten and Eaker Barbecue, will serve up elevated smoked fare paired with Becker wines, live music and dancing under the stars.
Texas Wine Auction Barrel Auction — Friday, Oct. 24, 1 p.m., at Slate Theory Winery. An intimate afternoon of barrel tastings, rare wine lots and philanthropy benefiting the Fredericksburg ISD Education Foundation to expand access to mental health counseling for local students.
The Waterfront Brunch— Sunday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m., at Fischer & Wieser Farmstead. A relaxed sendoff to the festival weekend featuring chef-prepared brunch bites, cocktails by Dietz Distillery, and Fischer & Wieser wines at the picturesque farmstead.
Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival is a non-profit organization that showcases the region’s agricultural heritage, culinary experiences and award-winning wineries. Through its programs and events, it supports charitable organizations in the Texas Hill Country, ensuring prosperity and innovation within the community.
See the rest of the food and wine lineup at fbgfoodandwine.com/2025talent.