Texas High Plains Wine Trail Officially Launches
The birth of the Texas Wine Industry after the end of Prohibition in 1933 took place in 1976 on the Texas High Plains. “Doc” McPherson tried growing grapes in his backyard and found success so he decided to start a winery in Lubbock, Texas. As a Texas Tech University Professor, he knew all about teaching and found some challenges since there had been three generations of personnel at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) who had never permitted a winery. He taught them well and started Llano Estacado Winery south of Lubbock in an area designated by local voters years earlier as a “wet area” where alcohol could be sold. It was several years later that State Laws were changed to allow wineries in “dry areas” or areas that chose not sell alcohol beverages. This initial start by the Texas Wine Industry was slow with three new wineries in 1980 and 50 wineries in 2005. “Doc” McPherson took me through a personal tour of his winery and showed me the original twelve-inch thick walls surrounding the initial fermentation tanks. He told me these walls were thick since he was afraid of people shooting his tanks. Llano Estacado Winery is located at what called the “Hub of the Bible Belt.”
The Texas wine Industry relies heavily on “Doc’s” early grape growing because he found the perfect niche to grow grapes. The Texas High Plains is above 3,500 feet above mean sea level which provides cool night temperatures in the 50’s in the growing season and has few bugs and fungus/mold. In addition, there are less allergens on the Texas High Plains which means that people with allergies can enjoy red wines made from Texas High Plains’ grapes without the side effects of those red wines from California. As a result, vineyards have sprouted up throughout the Texas High Plains, producing about 85% of Texas’ wine grape crop. These vineyards have been selling their grapes to various Texas wineries. As time progressed, these grape growers started to make wine with some of the grapes they grow. Since these grape growers know which of their grapes are the best, they save those grapes for their own wineries. These wineries are evolving to be known as some of Texas’ best wineries since they use Texas’ best grapes. The number of these Texas High Plains Wineries has grown over the years. In April of this year, fourteen Texas High Plains wineries and one meadery banded together to launch the Texas High Plains Wine Trail. These wineries include:
• Adelphos Cellars in Lorenzo
• Bingham Family Vineyards in Meadow
• Bolen Vineyards in Smyer
• English Newsom Cellars in Lubbock
• Happy Bear Meadery in Wilson
• Idalou Harvest in Idalou
• Llano Estacado in Lubbock
• Oswald Vineyards in Brownfield
• Prairie Chick Winery and Milieu in Levelland
• Reddy Vineyards in Brownfield
• Triple D Winery and Event Center in Brownfield
• Whitehouse Parker, Farm House in Brownfield
• Williams Ranch Vineyards in Plains
• Y Knot Vineyards in Seagraves
• Yellow House Cellars in Tahoka
The Texas High Plains Wine Trail is not located in what many call rolling hills or valleys or a forest. The land is flat, but the people are wholesome with most of these wineries being family-owned which means you are assured of the best hospitality. During the day, the wind blows, but the nights are adorned with some of the best nightscapes of stars you will find anywhere. The Texas High Plains might not be the most romantic place in the world, but the wines, people, and night skies make up for that providing you numerous opportunities to make memories!
Around the World Wine Event
Friday night is the time for the postponed charity wine event I started fifteen years ago called “Around the World in 180 Minutes,’ benefitting Bridgewood Farms which is a wonderful facility for special adults. Patrons will receive a special wine glass and Passport. That Passport outline each of the twelve wine regions featured at the event with a page for each wine region. Your Passport will be stamped at each wine region. Llano Estacado will be representing the Texas wine region. Tickets can be purchased online at www.BridgewoodFarms.org. I hope to see you there!