20-plus wineries, live music, artisan vendors, and the beautiful Piney Woods as your backdrop — the Spring Piney Woods Wine Festival comes to Lindale May 8 and 9.
Most Texans think of the Hill Country when they think of wine country. But head east — deep into the towering pines and rolling red clay of East Texas — and you’ll find something just as impressive and far less crowded. The Piney Woods Wine Trail is home to more than 20 wineries producing award-winning wines in one of the most scenic and under-visited corners of the state. And every second weekend of May, they all come together in one place for one unforgettable weekend.
The Spring Piney Woods Wine Festival runs Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9 at Picker’s Pavilion at Blackberry Square in Lindale — the heart of East Texas wine country and the hometown of Miranda Lambert. This is not a corporate wine expo. It’s a community celebration built by winemakers who know each other, support each other, and want you to love what they’re making.
What the Weekend Looks Like
More than 20 local wineries set up along the festival grounds, pouring their latest vintages and talking you through what makes East Texas wine different from what you’d find anywhere else. The region’s sandy, well-drained soils and humid subtropical climate create conditions that favor muscadine grapes, Blanc du Bois, and a range of varietals that thrive in the East Texas heat in ways they simply can’t further west.
Live music fills the pavilion throughout both days — the kind of relaxed, acoustic backdrop that makes an afternoon of wine tasting stretch naturally into evening. Local artisan vendors line the grounds with handmade goods, giving you something to browse between pours. Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast comparing tasting notes or just looking for a beautiful excuse to escape into the pines for a weekend, this festival delivers.
The Piney Woods Wine Trail
The Piney Woods Wine Trail is a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting wine enthusiasts with the best of the region’s craft. It links more than 20 wineries across East Texas through a self-guided trail featuring rustic farmhouses, cozy tasting rooms, elegant vineyard estates, and vibrant bars — each with its own character and style.
Member wineries include Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards, Red Road Vineyards, and more than a dozen others spread across Smith, Cherokee, and surrounding counties. The trail hosts two signature festivals each year — the Spring Wine Festival every second weekend of May, and the Fall Wine Festival every third weekend of October — both in Lindale, both in partnership with Visit Lindale.
“The trail had a vision and we all are trying to make sure that vision happens,” said one founding winery member. What makes this trail special, beyond the wine itself, is the genuine camaraderie among its members — wineries that compete for business but work together to grow something bigger than any one of them could build alone.
Why Lindale Is Worth the Drive
Lindale sits about 90 minutes east of Dallas on I-20 in Smith County, just north of Tyler. It’s a charming small town with a growing food and arts scene — Blackberry Square itself is an outdoor shopping and events destination that makes the festival grounds feel like a destination in their own right. Pair the festival with a night in Tyler, a drive along the Piney Woods Wine Trail to visit individual tasting rooms, or a stop at Davy Crockett National Forest and you’ve got a full East Texas weekend.
The Fall Wine Festival returns the third weekend of October for anyone who can’t make it in May — same location, same vibe, cooler temperatures.
Event Details
Event: Spring Piney Woods Wine Festival 2026 Dates: Friday, May 8 and Saturday, May 9, 2026 Location: Picker’s Pavilion at Blackberry Square, Lindale, TX 75771 Tickets: Available online in advance Wineries: 20-plus Piney Woods Wine Trail members pouring Activities: Wine tasting, live music, artisan vendors
Piney Woods Wine Trail: pineywoodswinetrail.com Visit Lindale: visitlindale.com City of Lindale: lindaletx.gov — (903) 882-3422 Instagram: Search Piney Woods Wine Trail for updates
