The first ever vineyard in North America was actually planted in Texas by Spanish Missionaries in 1662 near the border of Mexico and New Mexico. Now to the present we are still not as big as other states with wine but we have come along way in a short amount of time.

Texas Hill Country is the largest AVA with an outstanding number of 9 million acres. Where as the Texas High Plaines make up around 8 million acres, but produce 80% of the wine in Texas.

Texas generally has a warm continental climate, similar to many regions of Portugal, Spain, central Italy, and the Rhône Valley. The biggest issues to winemaking in Texas are spring frost, hail, and lack of water. This is why many recognizable grapes, such as Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, are not well suited to Texas winemaking, as they bud early and therefore could be decimated by frost.

Just a brief amount of history that was interesting. Here is the site that gives more depth into Texas wine growing regions.

The writer:COURTNEY SCHIESSL