Hill Country wine region contributes to $20.35B industry statewide From the cover
The overview
Texas Hill Country wine region Wineries
190
87
183
The Texas Hill Country wine region has experienced tremendous growth in recent years through the opening of new wineries and vineyards. The Hill Country has largely contributed to Texas becoming the fifth-largest wine producing state in the nation with a total economic impact of more than $20 billion, according to a 2022 report by WineAmerica, a national wine industry association. Georgetown’s economic development department started an initiative to attract more wineries to the city in 2010. The search led Grape Creek Vineyards to the square in 2013, and Barons Creek Vineyards in 2019. Although the Hill Country climate comes with challenges, there is a movement toward more wineries growing their own grapes in the area. Dan and Becca Marek, the original owners of The Georgetown Winery, which opened in 2006, continue providing the store with locally grown wine through their two vineyards in Liberty Hill and Rockdale, current co-owner Lori Mann said.
16
71
190
29
Georgetown
29
Leander Cedar Park
71
10
87
Lakeway
130 TOLL
Bee Cave
290
Austin
377
290
Fredericksburg
83
Dripping Springs
183
San Marcos
16
10
377
281
55
35
10
410
173
87
90
90
San Antonio
N
SOURCE: TEXAS HILL COUNTRY WINERIES/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The background
The approach
Wineries. The nonprofit trade organization increased its membership from eight to more than 60 wineries since forming in 1999, Execu- tive Director January Wiese said. Over the last 10 years, the number of wineries has grown significantly across the state. “It is booming,” Texas Agriculture Commis- sioner Sid Miller said about the state’s wine industry in an interview with Community Impact . “It’s one of the fastest growing seg- ments of agriculture.”
Fall Creek Vineyards—one of the first wineries in the Hill Country—was founded by Susan and Ed Auler in 1975 in Tow. By 1991, the Hill Coun- try was recognized as an official grape-growing region known as an American Viticultural Area, or AVA, after Ed Auler submitted a petition to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Susan Auler said. Spanning about 15,000 square miles, the Texas Hill Country is now the third largest AVA in the nation, according to Texas Hill Country
Popular wine destinations in the Hill Country, such as Fredericksburg, attract many visitors, Wiese said. In Georgetown, people can visit two wineries with ties to Fredericksburg. At Barons Creek, customers can expect to sip on more traditional wines grown both near Barcelona, Spain, and in Fredericksburg, George- town General Manager Hanne Walford said. Grape Creek Vineyards is part of Heath Fam- ily Brands, which manages 65 acres across three properties in the Hill Country, CEO Brian Heath said. The Grape Creek vineyard alone produces 45,000-50,000 cases of wine a year.
Texas winery permits allow holders to: Active winery permits in Texas 1,000
Local wineries
+186%
Make their own wine
750
The Georgetown Winery • 715 S. Main St., Georgetown • www.georgetownwinery.com Grape Creek Vineyards • 101 W. Seventh St., Georgetown • www.grapecreek.com
Purchase wine from other wineries
500
250
Self-distribute wine to retailers
0
Sell and ship wine to consumers
2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023
Barons Creek Vineyards • 706 S. Austin Ave., Ste. 201, Georgetown • www.baronscreekvineyards.com
Fiscal years
SOURCE: TEXAS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION/COMMUNITY IMPACT
24
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook