Spicewood Vineyards in Texas Hill Country
photo: courtesy of Sarah Lim, Daily Texan
There’s wine in them Texas hills. In the last three years, the number of family-owned wineries in Texas has nearly tripled to 220, and vintners from Lubbock to San Antonio are upping production.
In our 2008 Texas Restaurants guide, which just hit stores, 86% of our surveyors said they typically order wine with a meal. Yet only 5% of them said they drink Texas wine “always or often” when dining out.
“The Texas wine industry is relatively young, so many people aren't aware of what's out there, but it's growing,” said Bobby Champion, Jr., State Coordinator for Wine Marketing, ”and our goal is to get people to choose Texas wines when available and if given the choice.”
The Lone Star State ranks as the fifth-largest wine-producing state and produces two million gallons a year. That sounds like a lot until you consider that California makes 650 million gallons a year.
Those who do drink Texas wine have plenty of varietals to choose from. The state is so big that over 20 grape varieties grow in its diverse microclimates. Viognier, Tempranillo and Malbec thrive in the warm Hill Country, and the cooler climate of the High Plains is ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, according to Dacota Haselwood, executive director of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers’ Association.
– Julie Zeveloff