I was at the Katy Wine Fest the other night and overheard a conversation which I had to interrupt. The wine festival had five Texas wineries pouring wines and Republic National Distributing Company with tables of non-Texas wine.
I was walking by a table when I overheard a woman explaining to a man, “Texas doesn’t grow grapes. They can’t, so they buy the grapes or juice from California.”
After hearing that, I had to stop and interrupt their conversation. I said, “That’s not true. They do grow grapes in Texas.”
She replied to me, “Well maybe they do grow grapes, but the majority of the juice comes from California.”
I said, “Maybe not enough for everybody to use 100% Texas grapes, but they do grow them. The majority of wineries in Texas have some amount of Texas grapes.”
I gave both of them my Texas Wine Lover business card and said if you really want to know about Texas wineries and vineyards, you need to follow our website.
I walked away and started thinking, why would she think that? First, people questioned if Texas even makes wine. Now for some reason they’re wondering if Texas even grows grapes. Why??
Perhaps it’s from what they read on the Internet because of course, if it’s on the Internet, it has to be true (sarcastic). We would love to have ALL Texas wineries use and make 100% Texas wine. But those in the Texas wine industry know that is not realistic at this stage for every winery to do so. Texas grows grapes and it is one of the hardest locations in the country to do so. One year like 2015 may be fantastic for viticulture, but the next year there may be hail or frost damage which drastically damages and reduces the crops. Hence there is the need at those times if wineries want to have wine for their customers, to go elsewhere in order to make wine.
I love Texas wine and want everyone to know that Texas does make fantastic wine from wonderful Texas grapes. But perhaps in the example I encountered, the direction some people are wanting with no California juice or grapes is damaging the Texas wine industry more than it is helping.
What do you think?
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I find it interesting that people insist on comparing Texas to California Rio begin with. It indicates to me that Texas really has not developed its own identity within the wine world. People don’t go to Italy and protest that it’s different than France or vise versa. People don’t confuse Australia with New Zealand yet they insist on comparing us to California.
Good point!
To be fair, it’s taken some while for Texans to arrive at grapes that grow well here. There’s been far too much trying to grow things that the market will recognize, and not enough growing what work well.
I challenge those who are curious to try Texas Tannat side by side with Californian Tannat, South American Tannat and French Madiran. Bending Branch even bottles one from CA fruit and another from TX fruit.
The Texas Tannat comes out on top, IMHO.
I don’t think anybody would argue that it has taken time to find grapes that grow well in Texas. But somehow the consumer is thinking that Texas does not grow grapes at all or growing very little, and are getting the wrong perception that the majority of Texas wine is California.
I think its a matter of education. Maybe our wineries and tasting rooms need to be better at explaining where the grapes come from as they are pouring. Of course people who are truly interested will ask. Funny, I was in Sonoma in June and went to a winery that had used Texas grapes. She may not have shared that information so easily had we not been from Texas. We just have to start spreading the word.
I agree it’s probably a matter of education. Besides the wineries and tasting rooms though, other media sources need to be clear too and perhaps not give the false impression that the majority of Texas wineries do not use Texas grapes.
Whoever says or even thinks that Texas does not grow grapes needs to take a drive out US 290 between Johnson City and Fredericksburg! How short sighted. I might also suggest that they take a trip to Whoie Foods, HEB or Spec’s, not to mention several other retail outlets, and take a look at the Texas section in each establishment. These uninformed, snobby wine consumers have a lot to learn and look forward to!
They should also take a trip to the High Plains and then ask that question again.
Amen!