Texas is now the home to more than 125 wineries.  This is a great expansion over just the last few years.  Many of these wineries have received regional and national recognition for the quality of their wines.

 

Wine production is not new to Texas.  It was first recorded in1662 as the missions expanded across New Spain.  A very different selection of grape varieties were grown then, but most were lost during prohibition when only Val Verde winery, founded in 1883, managed to continue in business.  Now, most of the grapes produced for wine represent the varieties commonly grown in the Old World.

 

Over 300 vineyards produce grapes that are used for wine making.  They are grown throughout the state, but most come from one of the recognized viticulture areas. 

These areas are:

Texas High Plains (centered on Lubbock)

Mesilla Valley (by El Paso)

Texas Hill Country (around Fredericksburg)

Escondido Valley (east of Ft. Stockton)

Texas Davis Mountains (near Ft. Davis)

Grapes from other areas are simply identified as Texas.

The most common red grape varieties grown in Texas are:

Cabernet sauvignon

Merlot

Ruby Cabernet

Sangiovese

Cabernet franc

Zinfandel

Lenoir

Norton (Cynthiana)

The most common white grapes grown in Texas are:

Chardonnay

Chenin blanc

Sauvignon blanc

Muscat canelli

Riesling

Blanc du Bois