The Texas Excessive Plains AVA Is One of many Largest AVAs within the U.S.

Within the southern a part of the Texas Panhandle (that is the a part of the state that juts up like a smokestack), you will discover the Llano Estacado, a excessive mesa characterised by rolling plains so far as the attention can see. Right here, agriculture reigns king, and driving alongside the highways, you will see fields bursting with cotton, corn, and peanuts. Nevertheless, what most individuals won’t know is that the fields listed here are additionally filled with grapes, and you’ll find one of many largest wine grape-growing areas in Texas—and the U.S.—proper right here.

Generally known as the Excessive Plains American Viticultural Space, this space produces 80 % of all of the wine grapes grown in Texas, far outpacing its extra well-known sibling, the Texas Hill Nation. The Excessive Plains AVA is the second largest within the state (after the Hill Nation) and encompasses round 8 million acres.

Though the Panhandle appears comparatively flat, its elevation gently rises the additional west you journey, and ranges anyplace between 2,800 to 4,000 ft above sea degree. This greater elevation, mixed with low to average ranges of rainfall, temperature, and dry climate, all come collectively to type a fairly ultimate atmosphere for rising wine grapes.

“The area enjoys cooler nights that assist grapes keep contemporary and balanced, even in our scorching local weather,” says Madison Regis White, a sommelier and the hospitality director at McPherson Cellars, a vineyard based mostly in Lubbock, Texas. “The low humidity is one other large plus, because it helps stop frequent vine points like illness, rot, and pests, and the sandy loam soil drains nicely, conserving the roots wholesome.”

Texas is, after all, recognized for its toasty summers—however these dry, scorching days really encourage grapes to mature and ripen to ultimate sugar ranges, which helps set the wines’ acidity. Grapes that develop nicely right here can deal with hail, pesky spring frosts, and the ever-changing climate of the Excessive Plains (because the saying goes, for those who do not just like the climate, simply wait 5 minutes). The Llano Estacado is definitely able to supporting a large range of grape varietals: over 75 sorts of wine grapes are grown right here, together with tempranillo, sangiovese, mourvèdre, cabernet sauvignon, viognier, and pinot noir.

Vignerons have grown grapes and fermented wine within the Excessive Plains for the reason that mid-Seventies, however the area did not formally get its AVA standing till 1993. Vineyards right here provide wine to wineries all through the state, however you possibly can pattern the Excessive Plains’ best proper the place the grapes are grown.

Llano Estacado Vineyard, the state’s second oldest vineyard and the oldest vineyard within the Excessive Plains, was established in Lubbock in 1976 and often makes use of domestically grown grapes, together with in its “clay block” merlot—a gold medal winner on the 2024 Lone Star Worldwide Wine Competitors. Positioned about 10 minutes from downtown, the vineyard has a tasting room and a cute patio for out of doors sipping. There are additionally vineyard excursions accessible for these .

Within the coronary heart of Lubbock, you’ll find McPherson Cellars, which was based in honor of winemaker Kim McPherson’s father, Clinton “Doc” McPherson, a pioneer of the trendy Texas wind trade. Doc McPherson experimented with planting completely different sorts of grape varietals within the Excessive Plains in the course of the ‘60s to see which labored greatest within the scorching, dry area and helped set up the Excessive Plains AVA. McPherson Cellars primarily focuses on sangiovese, however it’s also possible to sip on whites and rosés right here as nicely.

The Excessive Plains additionally get loads of love from Hill Nation wineries—the Panhandle does, in spite of everything, produce the overwhelming majority of the grapes grown within the state.

“I’m impressed by the Petit Verdot that we’ve acquired from Narra Vineyards and Newsom Vineyards, because the grape selection does nicely within the scorching rising local weather of Texas,” says Jennifer Cernosek, the final supervisor of Bending Department Vineyard, situated in Consolation, Texas. “The layered taste complexity and wealthy notes of black cherry and darkish berries make the Petit Verdot get up nicely by itself as a single-variety wine, regardless that Petit Verdot has classically been used for mixing.”

And although this wine area will not be as nicely referred to as the massive gamers like Napa or Sonoma simply but, it is slowly accumulating extra awards, accolades, and recognition 12 months after 12 months.

“The Texas Excessive Plains AVA is proving it may well maintain its personal alongside prime wine areas around the globe,” says Regis White. “Growers achieve expertise every year, winery acreages proceed to increase, and winemakers are honing their abilities and producing standout wines that hold getting higher.”