"Wine to me is passion. It's family and friends. It's warmth of heart and generosity of spirit. Wine is art. It's culture. It's the essence of civilization and the art of living..." ----Robert Mondovi
|
 There is something warm and inviting about sharing a glass of wine. It seems to open the heart and the soul and creates a warm circle of intimacy with those whom you share it, like a sweet secret imparted to only those who are deserving of your companionship.
Whether you are searching for that perfect wine for christmas dinner, the holiday party or that special gift for a special friend, you can never go wrong with a nice bottle of wine. Forutnately for Texans and visitors to the Lone Star State, Texas vinters feel they have captured something extraordinary for the 2005 season.
 Texas winemakers owe Mother Nature a big thanks. Not only is 2005 a near record-setting year for grape yields in Texas, but more impressive is the quality and variety of wines the state is producing.
According to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs, "Texas is a big state, and we're fortunate to have a wide range of soils, climates and terrains. This diversity allows an enormous variety of wine grapes that do very well here."
"As growers discover the best options for their regions, we're seeing not only outstanding harvests but a constantly expanding selection of Texas wines."
From West Texas to North Texas to the beautiful Hill Country, vinters are excited about the evolution of the Texas wine industry. The 2005 selection will be exceptional.
Paul Bonarrigo, owner of Bryan's Messina Hof Winery and Resort, said. "We have the Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Pinot Grigio - 10 years ago, nobody was producing these and now, they're getting record yields. The Shiraz has never been this rich before, and it's the largest Pinot Grigio crop in our history."
Texas is the fifth-largest wine-producing state in the nation with more than 100 wineries. And, a recent study indicates that Texans are embracing the wine industry, with Texas wine consumers growing at a faster rate than any other state in the Union. This, say experts, foretells the future. The Texas market is even growing faster than markets in Australia, California, Italy, France or any other wine region in the world.
 Why such great production and popularity? It may be because grapes like the warm Texas soil. In fact, grapes have grown naturally along rivers and streams in Texas for thousands of years. A wide diversity of genetically unique grape species have been identified as native to Texas. These native species have played an important role in providing genetic resistance for grape rootstocks used around the world.
In fact, Texas has been credited with saving the French wine industry. In 1880, the vineyards of France were on the verge of destruction because of a particularly nasty grape disease. This grapevine plague was spread throughout France and put their very economy at risk. French scientist Pierre Viala was selected to find a cure for the plague. Viala's search lead him to Denison, Texas and scientist Thomas Volney Munson. Seeking a solution, Viala and Munson studied the native grapes of Texas. Because the soils of this region of France and those around Denison were very similar, and Munson knew the Texas rootstocks were resistant to the type of disease in France, he suggested that the only way to save the French vineyards was to graft the Texas rootstocks with the French vines. Viala agreed and thousands of bundles of Texas rootstocks were shipped to France to be grafted with the French vineyards. The grafting continues to this day. Viva la Texas!
While October is harvest month for the Texas Wine industry and there are a great many events and festivals held state wide, it brings the wine into perfect timing for the holiday season. This year also brought a new piece of legislature from the state that now allows consumers across the state to have wines shipped directly to their homes, a legislative first for Texas who maintains many "dry" counties.
So with the holidays upon us it is an easy choice to pick a fine Texas wine for that special occasion or gift. Your hardest choice will be which variety from what region. Have fun making the decision and check out more information on the Texas wine industry and it's many vineyards at www.gotexanwine.org.
As Benjamin Franklin once said, "Wine is a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy." Happy Holidays and here's a toast to your happiness!
|
Rio Grande Valley
