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21 Yet across the wine 15 countries (yes, plural) of ike California’s, whose wine industry Texas, the minds (like the it references as often as possible, the times) they are a-changin’. 6 4 early Texas wine industry looked to the As part of any agricultural 22 “noble varietals” of Burgundy and Bordeaux. enterprise, attrition has seen Unlike California, it may be deciding—one the standard-issue grapes vineyard at a time—that this was pretty replaced by tempranillo much a lousy idea. and albariño from Spain, As the state celebrates Texas Wine Month sangiovese from Italy, and even some each October, it’s worth remembering syrah and roussanne from the hot-climate one thing and coming to grips with valley of the Rhone. This evolution of Texas another. First, the pioneers who chose wines should, Kane says, change the image to grow cabernet, merlot, pinot noir and of the wine business in Texas in less than a chardonnay were only going with grapes generation. Here are three Texas wines Kane they thought would find a market in Texas says will let you embrace the future right now. and across America. And there’s never a sin in that. But second, the grape growers and ALAMOSA WINE CELLARS VIOGNIER 2010 winemakers who’ve followed those early Hailing from Texas Hill Country, pioneers from the ’70s now tend to see their Alamosa has been one of the evangelists of future with the hotter-weather grapes of the Mediterranean varietals. The viognier weighs Mediterranean world. in with a rich old-world style featuring the Texas? Hot weather? Who knew? right amount of tropical fruit and a long “We spent 30 years trying to convince finish of white peach. At Alamosa as well as people we were Bordeaux and Burgundy,” says Becker Vineyards, viognier is finding a new Russell D. Kane of Houston, author life far from the Rhone. of “The Wineslinger Chronicles: Texas on the Vine.” “We aren’t Bordeaux, MCPHERSON CELLARS ALBARINO 2011 and we sure as hell ain’t Burgundy. It’s A fellow named “Doc” McPherson was one amazing to me that we took so long of the Texas wine industry’s pioneers. Today to figure that out. I guess if you plant his heirs are going great guns up around a hundred acres of something, it’s Lubbock, known in wine circles as the Texas hard to change your mind.” High Plain AVA. This refreshing white wine, RD
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1. Alamosa Win e Cellars 2. Becker Vine yards 3. Bell Springs Winery 4. Bending Bra nch Winery 5. Chisholm Trai l Winery 6. Comfort Cell ars Winery 7. Driftwood Estate Winery 8. Dry Comal Creek Vineyard s
8 9. Duchman Family Winery 10. Fall Creek Vineyards 11. Fiesta Win ery 12. Flat Creek Estate 13. Fredericksb urg Winery 14. Grape Cre ek Vineyards 15. Kerrville Hills Winery 16. McReynolds Winery
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& Graphic 17. Pedernales s Cellars 18. Perissos 25. Spicewood Vineyards and Vineyards Winery 19. Pillar Bluf 26. Stone Hou f Vineyards se Vineyard 20. Rancho Pon 27. Texas Hills Vine te Vineyard yard 21. Santa Mar 28. Texas Leg ia Cellars ato Winery 22. Singing Wat 29. Torre di Piet er Vineyards ra Vineyards 23. Sister Cre 30. Westcave ek Vineyards Cellars Winery 24. Solaro Esta 31. William Chr te is Vineyards 32. Wimberley Valley Winery 33. Woodrose Winery
famous in Spain, features scents of peach, pear and mango with a crisp, food-friendly finish. LLANO ESTACADO TEMPRANILLO 2010 Grapes from Newsom Vineyards, also based in the High Plains, give this red wine all that lovers of the Spanish grape famous in the Rioja region appreciate and then some. Look for accents of smoke, cedar and tobacco to combine with dark black cherry. HILL COUNTRY HEAVEN Texas boasts the second most popular wine destination in the country, second only to Napa/Sonoma. Scan this code to learn more. You can also visit bitly.com/txwinevideo
John DeMers Covering food and wine for more than 25 years, John DeMers hosts “Delicious Mischief” on NewsRadio 740 KTRH. He recently released Follow the Smoke: 14,783 Miles of Great Texas Barbecue.
John DeMers Covering food and wine for more than 25 years, John DeMers hosts “Delicious Mischief” on NewsRadio 740 KTRH. He recently released Follow the Smoke: 14,783 Miles of Great Texas Barbecue.
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