When most people thing Texas wine, they think of the 290 wine tours through Fredericksburg, where wineries are heavy on the experience and gorgeous views – but the wine can often fall flat. I mean, I love a good novelty drink as much as the next, but an almond-flavored champagne and peach wines don’t show off what the state is capable of. Texas actually makes some really great wines – you just have to know what you’re looking for!
Where the grapes are grown
About 80% of the state’s wine grapes are grown in the High Plains, west of Lubbock. The winters are cold and the summers, arid – a perfect climate for growing many of the same grape varietals that excel in Spain, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina. The area around Fredericksburg (Hill Country), by contrast, is warmer year round, resulting in grapes that lack the acidity to produce a well-balanced wine. Less than 20% of the state’s production is grown here, and are often turned into flavored wines or blended with grapes from elsewhere to produce wine.
The varietals that perform best
Texas wineries are relatively new compared to most you’d find in Napa or outside of the US, so you’ll find a lot more experimentation with which varietals grow best. The typical Merlot and Chardonnay grapes that are produced in bulk in other regions grow in Texas, but are commonly used for blends and honestly, aren’t the best products coming out of the state because they don’t take advantage of the unique climate and soil conditions.
Varietals that stand out in Texas are the same that thrive in the Mediterranean. They’re well adapted to the Texas heat and take advantage of the long growing season that the state offers. For whites, outstanding varietals are Albarino, Vermentino, Marsanne, Chenin Blanc, and Viognier. For reds, Mourvedre, Tempranillo, Granache, and Petit Sirah all produce excellent wines.
An interesting side note: When phylloxera (a root insect that cuts off the flow of water and nutrients from the root to the vine) devastates European grapevines in the late 1800’s / early 1900’s, researchers found that many American vines were naturally resistant. To stop the spread, American rootstocks were grafted onto the European vines. Where did a lot of those rootstocks come from? Texas! So some of your favorite European wines are actually grown off Texas vine rootstocks! (Google T.V. Munson of Denison – he’s the researcher who found the solution.)
Wines to buy
Look for wines produced using grapes from the High Plains AVA. I prefer blended wines from Texas – they enable winemakers to showcase the best of the state, using unique grape varietals grown in small quantities. Where possible, stick with Estate wines. A lot of Texas wines are made of sourced grapes, whereas with Estate wines, the winemaker is more directly connected to the entire production process, which for me, is critical to a great finished product.
At Thanksgiving this year, we served wines from Kuhlman Cellars in Stonewall, Texas, off 290 in historic Fredericksburg (although off the common tourist route). Their Thanksgiving trio showcases a red, white, and rosé made to pair with your holiday dishes. All three are blended wines with grapes that are targeted at specific soil types in Texas, some grown in the High Plains and others on the Kuhlman Estate in central Texas.
Use the code lifeonbeacon for free shipping on any order of 3+ bottles on their website: http://www.kuhlmancellars.com/Wines
Where to find them
Specialty Texas food stores like Central Market have the best selection. If you live out of state, nearly all of the vineyards ship for reasonable prices (the other advantage of Texas wines – great wine for $15-35 a bottle!).
Related posts for the wine enthusiast
- Gift Ideas for the Wine Lover
- Tips and Tricks for Traveling with Wine
- Weekend Getaway at Horseshoe Bay (Texas)
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