Texas Wine Industry

"The Texas wine industry’s growth has been phenomenal over the last two years, with the number of wineries increasing from 54 to 85 during that short time. Currently, 19 additional wineries are pending state approval bringing the number of wineries to 104. The Texas wine industry is fortunate to have such a committed group of talented people striving for the same goal - producing and selling great Texas wines". Texas Department of Agriculture

"DID YOU KNOW? With a total economic impact of more than $170 million a year, the Texas wine industry is deeply rooted in the Lone Star State’s future. Wine operations extend from the Panhandle to the sandy shores of the Gulf Coast. Currently, Texas has more than 85 wineries and is the nation’s fifth-largest wine producing state." Texas Department of Agriculture

How a Texan Saved the French Wine Industry

"Thomas Volney Munson (1843-1913), the internationally known horticulturist from Denison, Texas developed over 300 varieties of new grape varieties specifically for the American South and Southwest. He is perhaps best known for his work in fighting the phylloxera epidemic of the late nineteenth century, which nearly wiped out the world’s vineyards. His solution – grafting Vitis vinifera onto certain resistant native rootstocks from Texas – earned him the Chevalier du Mérite Agricole in the French Legion of Honor and numerous accolades from around the world. Munson belonged to and was honored by a number of viticultural and scientific associations and was considered a leader in the new scientific movement of the time for his cutting-edge work in breeding plant varieties, some of which are still important in modern viticulture and research." http://www.tvmunson.org/

Texas - The Mediterranean of the USA

In the north, summers are hot and winters are cold, so frost can be a problem. Summer hailstorms can ruin a year's vineyard efforts in minutes. Further south, rainfall may encourage rot and disease. At times, the north wind can blast for days at a time and at considerable strength. From the winemaker's perspective, this description could likely describe a walk through Texas roughly following a path from Lubbock to Houston. However, the region described is not Texas but is the Rhone valley of France and the cold north wind is not a Texas "Blue Norther" but rather the classic French "Mistral."
http://vintagetexas.com/culinary_thymes_sep2003.htm