When most people think of Texas, images of cowboys, horses, cattle, and oil come to mind. Not Wine! Texas has a rich "grape culture" that spans three centuries and precedes the introduction of wine grapes to California by almost one hundred years.

In 1650 Franciscan monks established a mission at Ysleta on the Rio Grande near El Paso Their Black Spanish grape vines and fruit trees supplied churches and missions both near and far with sacramental wine and brandy.

During the 19th century, European immigrant winemakers brought with them foreign rootstock. In 1870, Thomas V. Munson (the "Father of Texas Viticulture") saved almost the entire European wine industry by shipping carloads of phylloxera resistant native Texas rootstocks. He also developed over 300 varieties of grapes better suited to the environment of Texas and the Midwest.

The Prohibition Act in the United States almost completely shut down the wine industry in Texas, leaving only the Val Verde Winery (est. 1883) in Del Rio. The winery is still open today.

Today's Texas winemakers are still fighting the old prohibition laws and cautiously learning about their own unique environments. Though native Texas rootstock is resistant to phylloxera, other enemies such as cotton root rot and Pierce's disease can (and have) completely destroy a vineyard.

Texas currently has over 60 wineries and is now the nation's fifth largest wine producing state. Still, "Texas" is not a name that appears frequently on wine lists. Llano Estacado's 1986 Chardonnay won a double gold at the San Francisco Fair wine competition. Since then, Texas wine has been medalling in both international and national competitions. But the state's winemakers are still struggling to gain respect. Consumer knowledge and better distribution is the key.

Most of the grapes are grown on the plains of West Texas around the Lubbock and Ft. Stockton areas. These areas are relatively free of the pest problems (like Pierce's Disease and Phylloxera) experienced in other regions of the state and country. West Texas also offers almost perfect soil and climate condition (sunny hot days with a drastic temperature change at night).

Over 50% of the known grape species in the world call Texas home. Texans produces great wine from the all your common varieties like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovesse. Our wineries are constantly planting and grafting different viniferous to see what exactly will produce the highest quality of wine possible.

Texans love supporting other Texans and their products.

The Texas wine industry will break into the world's wine market soon. Let's help the industry by buying Texas wines to both personally enjoy and to share with family and friends. I'm going to be collecting a variety of Texas wines so that I can enjoy it now, and also cellaring and comparing the same wine from the same wine maker as his vines mature.

Our wines are just now beginning to gain recognition in Texas' restaurants and retail markets. Local wine distributors are opening their warehouses and starting a more active role in marketing our Texas wines. Respect has been a very slow process, and rightfully so, why should a distributor's representative spend any extra time pushing a Texas wine to a local restaurateur when they both know that the majority of wine enthusiasts would rather spend their money on a California wine. They may not know anything about the winery or it's wine, only that it comes from California.

We have an opportunity to directly influence the wine market here in Texas. Less than three percent of the wines sold in our wine markets are Texas wines. Take off the blinders and enjoy something that we Texans have basically all to ourselves at this time. If you don't see any Texas wines on your favorite restaurants wine list, ask why!!

The following pages promote our way of bringing the joys of experiencing wine to you through our tours. Even if you can't join us, please mark us as a favorite site. We are constantly updating events, awards, and even new wineries as they develop.

But most importantly, buy and enjoy Texas wines.

Join a Texas Wine Club, or, ask your market for more Texas wine

At this stage in the game, most of our wineries are too small to get adequate representation by a distributor because of the limitations. Those that do commit are represented almost exclusively in the market area where their winery is from. Example: If you lived in Austin, Houston, or San Antonio and wanted to try Kiepersol Estates' Shiraz (near Tyler). You would have to:
1. Drive to the winery.
2. Call Kiepersol Estates and have them ship the wine directly to you, or,
3. Have your distributor order the wine for you (maybe with a half to full case minimum).

I'm trying to start a "Texas Wine Club" that will send a selection of wine at specific intervals that aren't available in local or national markets. Right now, my hands are tied due to Texas' and other state's laws slowly changing to the new Supreme Court's decision to open up state lines for shippling. It will be a couple of years before all the states are caught up to the new shipping laws.