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Texas

Since the 1970s, this state has grown from one to over fifty wineries, even though growth slowed during the economic trials of the late 1980s. Texas has become the fifth largest wine-producing state and the fifth largest wine consumer in the United States. The history of Texas grape growing goes back at least to the 1660s, when Franciscan monks planted MISSION grapes adjacent to their missions. In the 1880s, a Texan by the name of Thomas Volney Munson became a hero to the French when he shipped thousands of ROOTSTOCKS to European vineyards after they’d been attacked by PHYLLOXERA. Texan vineyards initially used native American varieties and HYBRIDS like CHANCELLOR, CHAMBOURCIN, and VIDAL BLANC. In the late 1970s, however, wineries began to move toward European varieties. Today a majority of Texan vineyards grow VITIS VINIFERA grapes including CABERNET FRANC, CABERNET SAUVIGNON, CHARDONNAY, CHENIN BLANC, COLOMBARD, GEWÜRZTRAMINER, MERLOT, MUSCAT, PINOT NOIR, RIESLING, RUBY CABERNET, SAUVIGNON BLANC, and SÉMILLON. Texas now has a number of AVAs including BELL MOUNTAIN, ESCONDIDO VALLEY, MESILLA VALLEY (which it shares with NEW MEXICO), FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS DAVIS MOUNTAINS, TEXAS HIGH PLAINS, and TEXAS HILL COUNTRY. Wineries are scattered throughout the state, but the biggest concentrations are around the city of Lubbock in northwestern Texas (Texas High Plains) and west of Austin in central Texas (Texas Hill Country). There are also wineries near Fort Stockton in western Texas (Texas Davis Mountains) and some north of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Related Links: Texas Davis Mountains AVA, Texas Hill Country AVA

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