October is Texas Wine Month
Texas has a 14+ Billion Dollar Wine Industry and growing fast. I predict Texas will be the second largest wine producer in the country in the next two years. The Texas Department of Agriculture has designated the entire month of October as Texas Wine Month. October was selected since the grape harvest is normally finished and wine being made from those grapes. The celebration officially starts with the opening of the Texas State Fair in Dallas on Friday, September 29th. The Texas Wine Garden features the BEST of Texas wines with an array of reds (7), whites (5), rose’ (), and sparkling (5) wines to choose from. Enjoy these Texas wine through out the time the State Fair is in session which is through Sunday, October 22nd.
If you want to start the celebration early, attend the 37th Annual GrapeFest in Grapevine is this weekend and is deemed the largest wine festival in the Southwest. Texas wines will dominate the scene with wines from California and other areas. Sip and compare Texas wines with those from other areas and you will understand why Texas keeps raking in the Gold Medals in wine competition. Texas is making some outstanding wines as proven in this year’s San Francisco Chronicle Wine competition where Texas wines took 13 BEST of show, 23 Double Gold Medals and more than a hundred Gold Medals. The Grapevine Wine Fest will provide you with lots of opportunities to check out some of the 80 grape varietals grown in Texas vineyards. Festival organizers brag, “The People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic sponsored by Audi Grapevine is the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the nation and exclusively features Texas wines.” This weekend event will provide you with many opportunities to experience a wide variety of different genre’ of wines and enhance your wine palette.
The Woodlands Market Street will be converted into a wine celebration for three hours with plenty of wines to satisfy any palate. The H-E-B Wine Walk brings a large array of incredible flavors of the wine world to Market Street on October 5, 2023 from 6 to 9 p.m. In keeping with tradition, the event will feature fine fare from The Woodlands restaurants along with live music and exhibits by artisan vendors. Attendees will receive a keepsake glass to enjoy wine samples with industry experts sharing their newest and most popular selections. This is a great opportunity to compare Texas Wines from Llano Estacado and other Texas wineries with wines from throughout the world.
For a low key approach to celebrating Texas wines, visit one or more of the 19 Texas Wine Trails. The oldest and most popular wine trail is the Texas Hill Wine Country area, being the number two most visited wine region in the country. The wine country around Fredericksburg has become noted as a popular wine tourist region. Texas has wine trails all over the State from Houston, Conroe-Huntsville, west of Conroe, Lubbock, Dallas, North Texas, East Texas, and Texas High Plains. For more information on these wine trails, visit www.txwines.org/wine-trails/ for lists of wine trails with their wineries along with maps. Plan ahead to map out your wine travels since many Texas wineries will be hosting concerts and special events to celebrate Texas Wine Month. Also check Beds and Breakfast at wineries like Messina Hof and Grape Creek. It in interesting to wake up on winery grounds and witness the activities of Texas wineries. Raise a glass of Texas Wine to celebrate Texas Wine Month. If you don’t want to travel, then head to your nearby HEB, Kroger’s or SPEC’s for Texas Wines!