A soon-to-open Fredericksburg watering hole and restaurant wants to take the snobbery out of sipping wine. Calivence Wine Tasting Bar & Bistro will open in August with handcrafted sake cocktails, an easygoing atmosphere, and flights that pair pours with Texas-sourced “petite entrées.”
Calivence — a portmanteau of “California” and “Provence” — is a culmination of a 25-year journey first started when the private owners fell in love with French wine and hospitality. Eventually, they landed in Los Olivos in the Santa Ynez Valley, where conditions were ideal for growing Bordeaux grapes.
The team planted over three acres of vineyards, adding olive trees, fruit trees, lavender, and a culinary garden to keep with regenerative farming practices and encourage biodiversity. They even built a well on the property to ensure the wines would not have to be made with treated city water.
The wines are made at Calivence’s Los Olivos’ estate.Photo courtesy of Calivence Wine Tasting Bar & Bistro.
Calivence rep Casey Maloney says a chance trip over a decade ago brought the winery to Fredericksburg. The owners have family in Austin, and like many Central Texas travelers, decided to take a weekend trip to the Hill Country. Once they bottled their first vintages in 2022, they were ready to begin work on the tasting room at 419 W Main St., a short walk away from the throng of shops and restaurants on the town’s “Magic Mile.”
The bar is located in one of Gillespie County’s iconic Sunday houses, secondary dwellings popular with late 1800s rural farmers. The small buildings were meant as a convenience in the pre-automobile era, allowing an easier way to attend church services or take care of business in town.
Maloney says the team wanted to pay respect to the building. Construction is still underway, but Calivence has been careful to refinish the historic details and expose the original stone walls. The bar and restaurant will, however, have one newfangled touch. A patio is being added for people watching.
The concept is housed in one of Gillespie County’s iconic Sunday houses.Rendering courtesy of Calivence Wine Tasting Bar & Bistro.
Calivence aims to keep its experience affordable and fun for all levels of wine expertise. Each flight will be accompanied by a small plate meant to bring out the flavors. The exact menu is being finalized, but Maloney mentioned ahi tuna salad, prawns, and sliders as some of the dishes the team is considering.
“Rather than simply tasting wines on their own, guests move through curated pairings that are designed to highlight the synergy between flavor, texture, and aroma,” Maloney explains. “Each course builds on the last, offering a progression that tells a story of seasonality, place, and craftsmanship.”
Guests who are looking for a more casual experience can order wines by the glass or from a bar menu featuring the sake-based sippers.
The bar will serve sake cocktails.Photo courtesy of Calivence Wine Tasting Bar & Bistro.
The grand opening date will be announced in the upcoming weeks. Wine lovers can follow the tasting room’s Instagram account for more details. After the team gives Calivence one final white glove test, it will be open from 11 am-9 pm daily.
“As someone who loves both wine and hospitality, I couldn’t be more excited to bring Calivence to Fredericksburg,” says Maloney. “Our goal is to create something truly special, a space that feels elevated yet completely welcoming, where every guest feels at ease, whether they’re a seasoned wine lover or just beginning their journey. We’ve poured our hearts into every detail, from the locally inspired menu to the thoughtful wine pairings, and I can’t wait to share this experience with our community.”