Texas Hill Country Wineries (THCW) is celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2024 marking a quarter-century of promoting and elevating the Texas wine industry. Founded in 1999 with eight visionary winery members, THCW’s commitment to showcasing the best of Texas Hill Country’s wines remains steadfast.
The original wineries, including Becker Vineyards, Fall Creek Vineyards, Flat Creek Estate, Sister Creek Vineyards, Texas Hills Vineyards, Fredericksburg Winery, Grape Creek Vineyards, and Spicewood Vineyards, continue to be integral members of THCW. From the outset, the association’s goal was to spotlight their wineries and tasting rooms while championing the excellence of Texas wines. The association’s core purpose remains unchanged—to foster the development of member wineries in the Texas Hill Country American Viticultural Area (AVA) and raise overall awareness of the Texas wine industry.
Susan Auler of Fall Creek Vineyards said, “Ed (Auler) and I planted the first vines at Fall Creek Vineyards, Tow, Texas in 1975, created the Texas Hill Country AVA in 1991, and was a founding member of the Texas Hill Country Wineries Association these past 25 years to position our new region on the world wine map.”
To celebrate this milestone, THCW has planned an anniversary party at Arch Ray in late June. This event will not only be a festive celebration for members but will also be open to the public. Additionally, THCW will engage followers with weekly giveaways on their Instagram account and will share insights into the organization’s rich history.
Founding member Kathy Gilstrap of Texas Hills Vineyards reflected on the last 25 years, “The time has flown by, filled with amazing people and great adventures. What more can you ask for?”
One of THCW’s significant contributions to Texas wine tourism has been the creation of the wine trail passport events. Four of the five original events, Wine Lovers Celebration, Wine & Wildflower Journey, Texas Wine Month Passport, and the Christmas Wine Affair, continue to be hosted by THCW, helping to draw over a million visitors to the region’s picturesque tasting rooms every year. In 2025, THCW will be expanding the passport events to include the Elevated Passport, which will take place from August 9th – 11th, where participating wineries will feature more than just tastings, including food and wine pairings, barrel tastings, verticals, and other unique experiences.
For the past nine years, the organization has hosted the Hill Country Wine Symposium. The three-day event offers a comprehensive exploration of various aspects of the wine industry, and this year’s focus will be Sustainability. The Symposium took place from February 4-7th at Horseshoe Bay Resort.
In line with their commitment to education, THCW established a scholarship fund in 2015, supporting Texas students pursuing degrees or certifications in Viticulture, Enology, and Hospitality. To date, $90,000 has been awarded to 50 deserving students, contributing to the growth and development of the Texas wine community.
In addition, THCW has more recently been hosting traveling Road Shows in major Texas markets, including Austin, Houston, Fort Worth, and San Antonio. In 2024, the Road Shows will take place in The Woodlands, just north of Houston, on April 18th and in San Antonio this fall. The organization also hosts quarterly wine pairing dinners at renowned restaurants and beautiful wineries, featuring member winemakers. This year, dinners will take place at Horseshoe Bay Resort, Hill & Vine, and Carter Creek Winery Resort.
Dr. Richard Becker of Becker Vineyards commented on the success of the Texas Hill Country Wineries 25th anniversary. “This is not a ‘one man band’; it is a team effort. Winemaker Jon Leahy, along with our remarkable array of Texas winegrowers have combined to put Texas wines on the stage with the world’s best! Not surprisingly, the Texas Hill Country has quickly become the number two wine tourism destination in the United States, exceeded only by Napa.”
More people have enjoyed the 25 years of THCW than just the founding winery owners. Jessica Lombard, daughter of owners Vernon and Kathleen Friesenhahn of Sister Creek Vineyards said, “I definitely have some stories from my dad (he adored the winery and told a lot of same stories a lot). I remember picking grapes as a kid for 50 cents a box at Grape Creek Vineyards when the Simes owned Grape Creek. It has been a privilege to grow up in this industry, and so wonderful to see how much it has grown over the years.”
Reflecting on the association’s journey, January Wiese, Executive Director of Texas Hill Country Wineries, shared, “It’s been great to see the association grow and evolve since I became involved 15 years ago. I can’t wait to see more growth in our region and organization in the years to come.”
As Texas Hill Country Wineries celebrates 25 years of excellence, the organization looks forward to continuing its mission of promoting outstanding Texas wines and providing unforgettable experiences for wine enthusiasts. To learn more, visit texashillcountrywineries.org.
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