Write Off the Vine – Texas Wine News: May 25, 2010
Texas Wine Turns Political
By JESSICA MEYERS / The Dallas Morning News
Nestled alongside a buzzing highway and Grapevine’s suburban sprawl lies the future of Texas agriculture. At least Jerry Delaney thinks so. And he has persuaded the Texas Department of Agriculture to help him. Delaney, who planted some of the first grapes in West Texas soil nearly three decades ago and later grew the largest vineyard in North Texas, has watched the state’s wine turn palatable and profitable.
Now a $1.35 billion industry with 200 wineries from Salado to Lubbock, Texas wine benefits from Agriculture Department grants and its Go Texan marketing program. The agency just launched webcasts weaving through eight wine trails and announced a $1.2 million grant for wine-making research.
“Texas wine is on the map,” Delaney said, raising a glass to the 10 acres of pruned vines in front of him. But as budget cuts loom, Democratic agriculture commissioner candidate Hank Gilbert questions whether incumbent Todd Staples should sell grapes over traditional Texas products, particularly beef.
More at: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/05/texas-wine-turns-political.html
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Austin Wine and Music Festival on Memorial Day Weekend
A group of 6 local Hill Country wineries are proud to present the Austin Wine and Music Festival (AWMF) on Memorial Day Weekend at The Domain in Northwest Austin. This uniquely Austin 3-day Texas wine celebration will take place rain or shine. The celebration featuring local wineries, breweries, artisans, vendors and of course, the people! Twenty-three Texas wineries will be in one location, pouring their award winning wines and selling by the glass, bottle and case.
What you will see: Located at The Domain in northwest Austin, the festival grounds are resplendent with beautiful characters and plenty of space to roam, relax and enjoy the splendors of all that is Texas.
What you will hear: http://www.austinwineandmusicfestival.com/music.html Just like our name says, we are featuring over 13 rockin’ musicians and bands. You’ll hear both up and coming stars as well as those who have cut their guitar strings on Texas audiences for generations.
What you will smell: http://www.austinwineandmusicfestival.com/seminars.html Well the obvious is all the wonderful foodie opportunities that will attract Festival goers to fill their Texas appetites. More importantly is the nose of award-winning Texas wineries who’s aromas of fruit make it euphoric.
What you will touch: http://www.austinwineandmusicfestival.com/vendors.html Festival goers will be teased by the wonderful Texas artists and craftsman on site. Just imagine, fine art, home décor, jewelry, olive oil, chocolate and a sundry of Texas created items all for the picking.
What you will taste: http://www.austinwineandmusicfestival.com/wine.html
Last but not least, the whole reason Festival goers spend their time with us on Memorial Day Weekend…the WINE!
Over 20 award-winning Texas wineries will be on hand to showcase the nectar of grapes and the finesse of winemaking. A new addition this year will also be locally made artisan beers http://www.austinwineandmusicfestival.com/beer.html.
The emphasis on local wines, beer, food and entertainment continues with the event proceeds benefiting local Texas based and Texas supporting groups. The Sustainable Food Center who’s mission is to cultivate a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food.
As well as honoring all service men, women and their families, AWMF will be supporting Texas National Guard. $5.00 from every ticket sold or redeemed on Monday 31st benefits the Family Support Foundation, via Radney Foster’s Angel Flight. (http://www.austinwineandmusicfestival.com/beneficiaries.html)
For more information on Austin Wine & Music Festival visit: http://www.AustinWineAndMusicFestival.com
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Video: Texas Hill Country Is Fertile Ground For Wine Lover
Politically, Texas might be a Red State, but when it comes to tourism, it’s the reds and whites, wine that is, that attract a million visitors a year. NY1’s Valarie D’Elia filed the following report.
West of Austin and north of San Antonio is an undulating region of central Texas known as Texas Hill Country. It offers quite the dichotomy; at one moment you can find yourself in the pampering clutches of the Lake Austin Spa Resort and another kicking back in Luckenbach – a spit on the map memorialized in a song by Waylon and Willie. From guitar licks to the Salt Lick, pull in to this Hill Country institution for traditional pit barbecue.
Texas Hill Country’s limestone terrain provides fertile soil for growing grapes. It is home to the state’s largest wine trail, with nearly 25 wineries. Texas is, by the way, the fifth-largest wine producing state in the nation, making an estimated 2.4 million gallons a year.
Torre di Pietra is one that offers more than its share of local flavor. One of the most authentic towns in Hill Country is Fredericksburg, where its German heritage is evident in the buildings along historic Main Street. For a different perspective among the cypress treetops, one of the newest ways to chart the territory is on a zipline tour.
For more information on Texas Hill Country, go to: http://www.ny1.com/content/ny1_living/travel/?ArID=89275
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New Winery Opened in Texas: Hopkins County Home to Texas’ 200th Winery
Texas soon to be the new U.S. Wine Country? Well, it may be headed in that direction, as a local winery, Crump Valley Vineyards, were notified that they have become the 200th Texas Winery.
In October of 2009, LouViney’s made the decision to split the restaurant and winery into two separate businesses. Based on recommendations for economics and growth, it made more sense. LouViney’s restaurant and winery business has been doing very well.
Susann Briggs and Nancy Briggs will own and operate LouViney’s Steakhouse and Seafood Restaurant. With the winery operations moved, the restaurant will be able to grow and add more flavor to the menu.
Travis Crump and Susan Jones will own and operate Crump Valley Vineyards.
More at: http://www.frontporchnewstexas.com/louviney200th051310.htm
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Rockport Festival of Wine & Food, Rockport, TX, May 29-39, 2010
Join fellow Texans and food and wine aficionados for the 14th Annual Rockport Festival of Wine & Food presented by the Texas Maritime Museum on Memorial Day Weekend, May 29-30, 2010. You’ll have a great time with wine, beer, food, music, vendors, and of course, the Coast! Make plans now to attend.
Tickets at the gate, $20 per person/$30 for 2-day pass. Admission includes complimentary wine glass and three taste tickets. All proceeds from the Festival go to support the Texas Maritime Museum- The Official Maritime Museum of Texas.
More at: http://www.texasfestivalofwines.com
Be forthright when citing the $1.35 billion number regarding the Texas Wine industry. That number stems from a report commissioned by TWGGA in 2007 and can be found here:
http://www.txwines.org/forms/TX_Update_Final_082508.pdf
What this report shows is that the economic impact of the Texas wine industry is $1.35 billion as found by a private firm. Half of this figure is IMPLIED money flow, and an additional third is from tourism. If you look at what the wineries themselves actually bring in as revenue, you are looking at less than 5% of that original number. Include the take from the vineyards, and the number still hovers below 10%. This is a very misleading number that proponents of the Texas wine industry love to bat around, but its accuracy in describing the industry is a stretch at best.
The leading wine industry research and consulting firm, MKF Research, prepares wine industry studies for multiple wine industry regions, including the state of California, state of Washington, many subregions of California, Pennsylvania, Oregon, North Carolina, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Missouri, etc., and Texas. The accounting methodology is well tested. If an industry generates revenue for Texas, then the industry is adding value to the state economy.
Say high to the growers and wineries up there in Oregon. They make some fine wines.