The vineyards at Fall Creek Vineyards in November. (Elle Bent/Community Impact)Community Impact shares, "Texas ranks fifth in the United States for wine production, said Colleen Myles, specialist of Texas wine and Texas State University professor. Estimated at $13 billion, the industry in Texas brings in tourists to its approximate 4,500 acres of vineyards. The Dripping Springs area, known as the gateway to the Hill Country, has become a travel destination thanks to wineries with tourists visiting vineyards, hotels and local businesses.

The Hill Country is an American Viticultural Area, or AVA, a wine-growing region designated by U.S. Department of Treasury. The area was designated in 1991 and serves as a tourism hub for Texas. The grapes grown in this area are typically harvested in early summer due to being unable to survive the Texas heat. Geographically, the area is characterized by its hills, which feature limestone and sandstone outcrops, several types of soil and moderate rainfall.

The first vineyard planted in the Texas Hill Country was Fall Creek Vineyards in 1975, according to the winery. However, grapes were first grown in Texas in 1682, planted by Spanish missionaries near El Paso about a century before California.

To determine what is a Texas wine, there are four designations that a bottle can be labeled with. For the AVA label to be listed on the bottle, it must have used at least 85% of local grapes. For a vineyard to use its own label, 95% of grapes must have come from the vineyard. To label the bottle as a Texas wine requires 75% of the grapes to be from Texas."

A guide to Texas grapes:

Pinot grigio

  • White wine grape
  • Typically grayish-blue color
  • Wines produced vary in color

Blanc du Bois

  • American hybrid primarily grown in Southeast Texas
  • Typically used to make white table wine

Trebbiano

  • White wine grape
  • Dry
  • One of the most widely planted grapes in the world

Mustang

  • Native to Southern U.S., including Texas
  • Red or rosé

Mourvèdre

  • Red wine
  • Contains tannins
  • High in alcohol

Tempranillo

  • Spicy, berry flavored
  • Red wine grape
  • Originated in Spain
  • Dry red wine

Cabernet franc

  • Grows best in South Plains and North Texas
  • Red wine
  • Lighter than cabernet sauvignon

Cabernet sauvignon

  • Red wine grape
  • Dry
  • Originated in France

A noncomprehensive list of wineries in Driftwood, Dripping Springs and South Austin:

Driftwood:

Driftwood Estate Winery

Address: 4001 Elder Hill Road, Driftwood

Duchman Family Winery

Address: 13308 FM 150 W., Driftwood

Fall Creek Vineyards

Address: 18059-A FM 1826, Driftwood

Wimberley Valley Winery

Address: 2825 Lone Man Mountain Road, Driftwood

Dripping Springs:

Bell Springs Winery

Address: 3700 Bell Springs Road, Dripping Springs

Hamilton Pool Vineyards

Address: 25711 Hamilton Pool Road, Dripping Springs

Hawk’s Shadow Estate Winery and Vineyards

Address: 7500 McGregor Lane, Dripping Springs

Henly Vineyards

Address: 1171 Windy Hills Road, Dripping Springs

Solaro Estate Winery

Address: 13111 Silver Creek Road, Dripping Springs

Summer Revival Wine Co.

Address: 665 W. Hwy. 290, Dripping Springs

South Austin:

C.L. Butaud Wines

Address: 12345 Pauls Valley Road, Ste. 2, Austin


Source: Community Impact

Written by: Elle Bent

Published: December 27, 2022


Posted by Grossman & Jones Group on

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