The Texas Department of Agriculture has declared October as Texas Wine Month. The grapes have been harvested and the wines are fermenting. This is a very busy month for Texas wineries as they are slowly returning to their normal schedules of eight and ten hour days from their 12 to 18 hour days during the time when grapes are being harvested and brought to the wineries for de-stemming and crushing to make wines. The vineyards are now being checked after harvest in preparation for the coming winter dormancy of those grape vines.
Celebrations across Texas during Texas Wine Month have taken on a different affair during the pandemic. Wine Trail events usually are highlighted in October. However, the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail Event for October has been cancelled. The Texas Hill country Wine Trail is still on, but the winery participation is about half of what it normally is. Some wineries have opted to have only curbside pickups while other wineries have outdoor events paired with food trucks. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has re-defined one of its criteria allowing wineries and bars to re-open as food establishments selling at 51% food and non-alcohol products. Wineries like Bernhardt Winery near Plantersville, Blue Epiphany in Conroe, Whitley Vineyards in Montgomery, Wild Stallion Vineyards in Spring, Haak Winery in Santa Fe, and Messina Hof Winery are open under limited provisions. Reservations to attend events such as concerts are a MUST. Bernhardt Winery’s events include:
• October 10th- Houston Hill Country Artisan Market and concert featuring Jonah Miles
• October 11th – Already Gone Concert, a tribute band for the Eagles
• October 18th – Leslie Lugo Variety Band
• October 24th – Houston Hill Country Artisan Market and concert featuring A J Santana
• October 25th – OMG H-Town Concert
• November 1st – Johnny and the Spinsations in Concert
For more information and reservations, go to www.BernhardtWinery.com.
Whitley Vineyards will be open only on Thursdays for the month of October for the weekly Montgomery Sip and Stroll 4:30 to 7:30
Messina Hof Winery in Bryan hosts a virtual 5K run on October 18th. Chef Chris from their onsite Vintage House Restaurant hosts cooking demonstrations on October 18th. Visit Messina Hof’s Spooky Wine Cellars on October 23rd and 24th with a special haunting visit on October 30th. Reservations are a MUST so go online at www.MessinaHof.com for information and reservations.
The Cress Family invites you to their Wild Stallion Vineyards on West Rayford Road, west of Gosling Road in Spring for a variety of evening concerts. Tonight, the FAB FIVE will play through the Beetles Music. Nick and The Groove Band has an outdoor concert on October 16th, Derek Spence appears on October 23rd with a tribute concert to George Strait, ending with Already Gone in concert on October 30th. Make your reservations at www.WildStallionVineyards.com.
Enjoy a variety of virtual wine tasting on ZOOM and FaceBook with Texas Wineries like William Chris, Bending Branch Winery, Becker Vineyards, and more. It is so easy to go online to enjoy these tastings in the privacy of your own home.
Even though our Texas Wineries are plagued by the pandemic, we are much better off than the wineries in California who have to deal with COVID 19 restrictions, record-breaking fires, smoke-tainted grapes, hot temperatures, and several medium earthquakes. California has had over three dozen wineries destroyed or severely damaged by the rampaging fires. Their wet season starts soon with anticipated mud slides. We need to keep our California wineries in our prayers. Texans can celebrate our Texas Wine Month with an outstanding grape harvest, some grapes with outstanding quality which will allow our Texas Wineries to earn a lot more medals with our wonderful Texas grapes. Support our wine industry and buy wines!