Safely sipping sauvignon

Uber rolls out service for Fredericksburg and favorite Hill Country wineries

Uber is making wine tasting in the Hill Country a little easier.

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Ride-hailing company Uber is now making it easier to safely sip wine in the Hill Country.

The ride-hailing company recently introduced its service in Fredericksburg, a town at the heart of the country’s second largest grape-growing and winemaking region. The Fredericksburg area is home to more than 40 vineyards and wineries.

“Whether you are headed to dinner with friends or visiting one of the many vineyards or wineries in the area, Uber offers access to an affordable and convenient way to get around town,” Trevor Theunissen, Uber’s public affairs lead in Texas, says in an announcement about the Fredericksburg launch.

Uber isn’t the only option for visitors to sample Frederickburg’s vino without fear of traveling tipsy, but it’s arguably the most prominent. A dozen wine tour and shuttle companies currently operate in the area, according to the Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau. In addition, Austin-based My Ride TX provides an app that connects customers in Fredericksburg with independent drivers.

Uber says its Fredericksburg rollout was made possible after new statewide regulations paved the way for Uber and its chief rival, Lyft, to restart service in Austin. Under the law, drivers for the companies are not required to undergo fingerprint-based background checks.

The state law supersedes a City of Austin ordinance that mandated such checks for ride-hailing drivers. The ordinance triggered Uber’s and Lyft’s departure from the Austin market in May 2016. Uber and Lyft returned to the Austin market one year later after the state law was revised.

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Airport News

South Dallas' Bonton Farms to do innovative storefront at DFW Airport

DFW Airport

Bonton Farms stand at DFW Airport

South Dallas-based Bonton Farms is bringing some of its farm-fresh goods to the airport. According to a release, the urban farm and cafe will open a travel essentials store at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport.

The store will be located in Terminal A and offer jams, jellies, sauces, and fresh goods — part of a partnership between DFW Airport and Marshall Retail Group (MRG).

This will be the first Bonton Farms location outside of its flagship at 6911 Bexar St. The market is slated to open in 2026 after an expansion of Terminal A is completed.

Through this collaboration, Bonton Farms will be able to offer its sustainable products to not just local residents but also global travelers.

“We are deeply grateful for this groundbreaking partnership with WHSmith and DFW Airport,” says Bonton Farms president Gabrielle Madison in a statement. “This opportunity is transformative not only for our organization but also for the Bonton community. For many residents, this may be their first connection with the airport — whether through new employment opportunities or even, one day, becoming concession vendors themselves."

In addition to Bonton Farms’ offerings, the new store will offer other sustainable products from North Texas businesses. Some of the featured local vendors include:

Sons Coffee: Specialty coffee from Fort Worth featuring freshly brewed drip coffee
Lettuce Cook: Gourmet grab-and-go salads and sandwiches from Fort Worth
Pearl Honey Spreads: A woman/minority-owned business in Fort Worth specializing in honey-based treats

“Our partnership with DFW aligns with our company’s mission to deliver hyper-local products in partnership with emerging local businesses to global travelers," says Roddy McOwan, chief development officer at WHSmith North America, which owns MRG, in a statement.

“We are thrilled to award this exciting new contract to MRG and Bonton Farms as part of our ongoing effort to expand DFW's world-class shopping and dining options,” says Ken Buchanan, DFW's executive VP of revenue management and customer experience, in a statement. “This partnership underscores our commitment to supporting small, diverse, and locally rooted businesses — enabling them to tap into the airport’s economic growth as we expand our concessions footprint.”

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