The Wine Society of Texas (WST) is pleased to announce that it will provide up to $11,000 in scholarships to worthy students or individuals pursuing wine and winery education, internship, field study, research work, grape growing, winemaking, and marketing in the state of Texas.
On Friday, January 2nd, the Wine Society of Texas (WST), a 501c3 non-profit educational organization, announced that it will be accepting applications for its annual Scholarship Program. To apply for the grant, individuals must be: (a) attending institutions in the State of Texas studying viticulture and oenology, or (b) pursuing winery internships in Texas, or (c) involved with Texas winemaking or field studies/wine education, or (d) involved in promoting the education of grape growing and winemaking in the State of Texas. Scholarships will be awarded based on the quality of the applications. Our scholarship program is consistent with the founding idea of WST and its continuing mission to help promote Texas winemakers and grape growers, enhance the appreciation of wines, foster the knowledge of oenology and viticulture, and support charitable activities.
According to Ms. Shirley Choate, WST President, “Our membership is extremely excited about being able to continue to offer up to this monetary level in scholarships over the last few years. At our 2025 state meeting in Johnson City, we were able to raise money through our live and silent auctions, plus generous donations from two of the wineries, online donations, and donations from our individual chapters. This demonstrates our continued commitment to supporting talented individuals, attending Texas institutions, who are the future of the wine and hospitality industry in Texas, as the appreciation and reputation of Texas wines continues to grow both locally and nationally. We are so proud to be able to continue to support and give assistance to deserving students in 2026 and will continue to do so in the future.”
WST has given out over $137,000 in scholarships over 23 years. These awards have been used for a variety of purposes – research for the Texas wine industry including Pierce’s disease, Wine Symposium and Conferences, financial assistance for students pursuing Viticulture, Horticulture, Winemaking, or Hotel Management programs, wine sommelier studies, wine marketing, and authors of books about the history of Texas wines and the wine Industry.
The WST will be accepting applications up to March 14, 2026. All applications must be returned by this date, fully completed, and with all necessary documents, to The Wine Society of Texas. Applicants are required to fill out the WST Scholarship Application, which will be reviewed by the WST Scholarship Committee. The committee may recommend single or multiple awards depending on the quality of applications received. All decisions will be final and applying does not guarantee receiving a scholarship. The WST scholarship award(s) will be announced on or about April 18, 2026.
For more information about the WST, our scholarship program, or to apply, please visit our website at www.winesocietyoftexas.org.
The Wine Society of Texas (www.winesocietyoftexas.org), headquartered in Midland, Texas, was started in 1996 and received its 501(c) 3 non-profit status in 1999. It has about 160 members around the State of Texas. The WST mission is to enhance the appreciation of wine, especially Texas wines; educate the experienced as well as the beginning wine taster; promote the Texas winemakers and grape growers; foster the knowledge of oenology and viticulture; help in charitable activities throughout the state of Texas; and promote the responsible consumption of wine. It organizes events that promote appreciation of wine through education in a comfortable social setting. The WST offers annual grants from its Scholarship Fund to assist in wine education, internships, and field training.
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