Texas Wine Auction is More Than Just Wine

Do you have your ticket for the second annual Texas Wine Auction? This unique event is scheduled for April 29 in Fredericksburg and you don’t want to miss out! Tables are selling fast for the celebrity chef dinner and wine auction.

In 2022, the Texas wine industry contributed 20.35 billion dollars to the state’s economy. The Texas Wine Revolution is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to help support the wine industry in the hill country. The aim is to fund basic wellness and preventive care services for Texas hospitality workers and to promote vineyard research and development through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Programs. Fundraising efforts through the Texas Wine Auction event benefit these two facets which are incredibly important to our industry.

Texas Wine Revolution is thrilled with the money raised from last year’s auction event. As the first event to fund the two beneficiaries, the auction was a big step in building awareness of the needs of the industry. The event’s auction coordinator, Valerie Elkins, says, “We raised 130K in gross receipts in 2023, but after startup and event expenses, we knew we wouldn’t have enough raised to fully kick off our programs. In the meantime, we have been working on several pilot projects to help determine overall and ongoing funding requirements.” The goal for this year’s event is to raise $250K. This should be possible by increasing the number of attendees and soliciting enticing auction items to bring in large bids.

During the dinner, guests will learn more about the efforts of the non-profit. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is working to provide vineyard research and to develop new AVA distinctions. The healthcare initiative launched two pilot projects to determine the types of wellness needs the hospitality community is concerned about. A mobile medical unit to serve the industry is in the planning phase, which includes researching equipment and staffing requirements. Texas Wine Auction plans to offer a few events each year, and they promise more fun, unique events are brewing for 2024.

This 2023 dinner includes eight award-winning chefs from across Texas who will compete against one another to present the best dish of the night. Each chef will be paired with a Texas-based winery to use as inspiration and compliment their dish. The evening will be a progressive dinner with guests sampling bites and wine made from 100% Texas grapes. After savoring every bite, guests will vote for their favorite in multiple categories like “best-paired dish” and “best overall.” The competition element is new to this year’s event and adds a unique flare to an evening filled with indulgence, education, fun, and worthy causes.

Chef Ragan is the owner and executive chef of Salt by Angie, located in Lubbock, and is a Semi-Finalist in Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef. “As a former medical professional, I am honored to participate in an event that will help bring healthcare to my colleagues in the Texas hospitality industry,” said Chef Angie Ragan. “Everyone deserves access to health services, and the money we raise from the auction will go directly toward improving the health of others.”

Here’s a peek at just a few of the auction items provided by Texas wineries that will be available at the event:

• Two nights stay for two people plus wine tasting at Haak Vineyard & Winery in Galveston County.
• Two nights stay for two at Château Wright’s vacation rental plus tasting current wines and a sneak peek into the Vineyard/Winery.
• Treehouse wine tasting and food pairing experience for eight at Sandy Road Vineyards.
• One year Elevation Wine Club membership at Reddy Vineyards.
• Group tour, wine tasting, and food for up to 20 with the owners of Texas Heritage Vineyard.

Additional auction items are being finalized and include:

• Napa Valley wine experience.
• Helicopter tour with a wine tasting.
• Glamping accommodations.
• Staycation in a local resort-style home with an in-home chef experience for up to 18 people.
• Marketing and advertising package, excellent for a business to gain more brand recognition and increase sales.
• Unique art created from a Texas grapevine.
• Co-host a Texas wine podcast.

The event volunteers are thrilled to see involvement wineries from every AVA in our state. The highly anticipated Albert Hotel in downtown Fredericksburg is contributing a private reception at the hotel – once it’s open. And there’s more to come. Follow Texas Wine Auction on Instagram and Facebook and watch for updates on auction items.

Don’t miss out! Tickets and table sponsorships are available at www.texaswineauction.com. Can’t make it this time? There are several ways you can still participate. Consider sending a text to donate. Text TXWINE to 463-252-2700. The auction committee is still accepting in-kind donations for the silent and live auctions. Unique experiences, travel, food, and luxury items do well. No donation is too small, so get involved if you can. You can place bids online to win auction items even if you can’t attend the dinner event. Keep an eye on social media or the website for details and to preview the auction items.