BY CHLOE YOUNG
5-year growth
How it works
The impact
2017
2022
A majority of Texas wine is grown in the High Plains AVA near Lubbock due to its cooler climate. Many Hill Country wineries also serve selections grown in other states, Elkins said. 5 Soul Wine Co. produces its wine at a facility in Johnson City using grapes from California. “We were able to bring our production, our aging, our blending, everything back into Texas, but still have that ability to have the grapes that we wanted that don’t necessarily grow here,” Operations Manager CJ Arnold said. More vineyards are opening in the Hill Coun- try, however, as the acreage of grapes planted in the area has more than doubled over the last 10 years, Wiese said. Although the Central Texas heat can present challenges, some grape varieties perform well in the area, Elkins said. “Wine and grape growers and wineries have learned a lot in the past two decades—a lot of what works and what doesn’t work in Texas,” said Andreea Botezatu, an associate professor and enology extension specialist with Texas A&M Agrilife Extension.
The Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce has worked to promote local wineries through its Taste Lake Travis event and other pro- gramming, Shultz said. The addition of new wineries, which become local employers, helps bring new jobs and visitors to the area. Other local restaurants and businesses in the area positively benefit from receiving customers from wineries and using their products, she said. “It helps our community with some work- force development that we didn’t always have,” Shultz said. Texas A&M is also seeing more students pursue careers in the wine industry, Botezatu said. The university may consider starting a degree program for its viticulture and enology program, which currently allows students to receive certificates related to grape growing
Total economic impact
$13.08B
$20.35B
Annual wages
$4.33B
$6.91B
Yearly tourism visitors
1.7M
2.02M
Jobs
104,627
141,235
Wine producers
394
443
SOURCE: WINE AMERICA/COMMUNITY IMPACT
and wine making. “I think we’re getting a more engaged workforce,” Elkins said about the Hill Country wine region. “I think that people see this as not a job, but they, a lot of the people here, are seeing this as a career.”
Going forward
Top varieties grown in the Hill Country
the last 15 years now, and the next 10 years are looking like they will continue to expand.” Solaro Estate Winery is adapting to climate change by planting drought-resistant vineyards, owner Robert Fritz said. Miller said he hopes Texas’ wine industry will eventually surpass California’s and become the second-largest wine producing state in the country in the next decade.
Hill Country wineries and organizations say they are projecting continued growth and innovative advancements in the industry. 5 Soul Wine Co. plans to start construction on a new winery in Liberty Hill in six to eight months, Arnold said. “Texas wine is showing no signs of stopping,” said Karen Bonarrigo, secretary of Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association. “We have been in an exponential growth phase for probably
Spanish red wine grape that is new to Texas red wine grape across Texas that thrives above 3,000 feet red wine grape produces wines that are high in alcohol and have earthy notes with soft red fruit flavors Spanish red wine grape traditionally grown in South West France
Tempranillo
Cabernet sauvignon
Mourvèdre
Tannat
SOURCES: TEXAS WINE & GRAPE GROWERS ASSOCIATION, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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