At Rio Farms

1. Growing Grapes in
Texas
Justin Scheiner, Ph.D.
Associate Professor &
Viticulture Specialist

2. Gross Receipts by Year for Wine, Beer, and Liquor
Source: Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission

3. Wine Consumption in Texas
Wine consumption (2021): 73.3 million gallons, 2.19 gallons per person
0
1,000,000
2,000,000
3,000,000
4,000,000
5,000,000
6,000,000
7,000,000
8,000,000
Wine consumption by month in Texas (2004-2021)
Gallons
of
wine
per
month
Source: Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission

4. Wine Consumption in Texas
Wine consumption (2021): 73.3 million gallons, 2.19 gallons per person
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
Gallons
per
person
per
year
Per Capita Consumption in Texas (2004-2021)
Source: Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission

5. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION
U.S. Wine consumption after prohibition
Source: Wine Institute
Bottles
per
person
1934 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

6. MODERATE CONSUMPTION OF RED
WINE IS CONSIDERED HEART HEALTHY.

7. Total Wine Consumption by Country in 2018
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Billions
of
Bottles
Source: Wine Institute, 2018

8. Wine Consumption Per Capita by Country in 2018
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Bottles
per
person
per
year
Source: Wine Institute, 2018

9. 10
6
237
8
1
3
12
5
9
1
2
7
11
39
46
5
4
1
1
1
5
3
14
31
4
Map from The New York Times
WINERIES IN THE U.S. 1963

10. 82
70
700
22
30
1
5
35
17
4
15
8
36
49
108
58
8
7
4
9
39
18
21
11
4
5
2
10
1
1
4
1
19
3
4
11
1
8
3
1
Map from The New York Times
WINERIES IN THE U.S. 1988

11. 872
492
3,839
68
341
20
174
108
68
107
135
230
202
405
217
44
22
160
275
71
50
4
31
62
62
20
12
128
74
81
19
5
53
83
11
37
41
7
5
12
25
34
36
29
Map from The New York Times
WINERIES IN THE U.S. 2013
Approximately 750 million gallons

12. Total bearing acres: 1,000,700
Total yield: 7.36 million tons
Source: USDA-NASS
1.03 million tons 0.45 million tons
4.66 million tons
1.14 million tons
U.S. Grape Production Statistics

13. Grape Acreage
1. California
2. Washington
3. New York
4. Oregon
5. Pennsylvania
6. Michigan
7. Virginia
8. Texas
9. North Carolina
10. Georgia
U.S. Grape Production

15. Texas Wine Industry at a Glance
►Wineries (TABC Winery Permits): 796 (921 federal permits)
►Wineries in over half of the counties in Texas
►Annual production approximately 4 million gallons
►5th in wine production in U.S.

16. Texas Wine Industry at a Glance
►Vineyards in over half of the counties across the state
►Over 70 varieties grown
Distribution of Vineyards
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
Series1
Series2
Acres
Yield
Year
Total
acres
Average
yield
(tons/acre)
1
2
3
3
4
5
6

17. Texas Wine Industry
Highlights
►Production: 20 million bottles a
year (5th in U.S.)
►Consumption: 300 million bottles
a year
►Tourism: approximately 2 million
a year (2nd most visited wine
region in U.S. – Hill Country)

18. -100
-50
0
50
100
150
200
250
Percent
Change
High Plains
West Texas
North Texas Hill Country
Gulf Coast
Change in Grape Acreage 2010 - 2019
Cabernet
Sauvignon
12%
Tempranillo
8%
Merlot
6%
Mourvedre
5%
Black Spanish
4%
Sangiovese
4%
Cabernet Franc
2%
Malbec
3%
Syrah
3%
Tannat
2%
Petit Verdot
2% Zinfandel
2%
Petite Sirah
2%
Grenache
1%
Blanc Du Bois
5%
Vigonier
3%
Muscate Canelli
3%
Chardonnay
2%
Riesling
2%
Rousanne
2%
Other, 25%
ACREAGE IN TEXAS
PERCENT TOTAL IN 2019
Source: USDA NASS
+333%
+390%
+244%
Exclusively Winegrapes

19. Approximately 5-8,000 named grape varieties worldwide

21. Grape Advantages of the RGV
►Very long growing season
►Lower rainfall than areas east
►Good soil

22. Common Risks of Growing Grapes in Texas
Pierce’s Disease Fungal Disease Herbicide Drift Hail

23. Winter Injury

24. Blanc Du Bois
• Released from the University of
Florida in 1987
• High wine quality potential
• Early bud break
• Very short season (115-120 days
from bud break to harvest)

25. Black Spanish
• Unknown origin and parentage
• Consistent producer
• Aesthetic
• Powdery mildew resistant
• Wine has unique flavor

26. Ambulo Blanc: 62.5% Cabernet
Sauvignon, 12.5% Carignane, and
12.5% Chardonnay
Caminante Blanc: 62.5 %
Cabernet Sauvignon, 12.5%
Chardonnay, and 12.5%
Carignane
Paseante Noir: 50% Zinfandel, 25% Petite
Sirah, and 12.5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Errante Noir: 50% Sylvaner and 12.5% each of
Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, &
Chardonnay
Camminare Noir: 50% Petite Sirah
and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon

27. Name: Southern Sensation
Seedless
►PD tolerant
►Seedless
►Thin skin
►Crunchy texture
►Large clusters
►Good vigor on own roots
►Joint release: Texas A&M and U. Arkansas
►Availability: Double A Vineyards, Bob Wells
Nursery

28. Southern Sensation Seedless
Scheiner et al., 2022, HORTSCIENCE 57(2):345–348. 2022. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI16226-2

29. Viticulture & Enology Resources
►Website: winegrapes.tamu.edu
►Guides (e.g., Starting a Vineyard in Texas)
►Factsheets (e.g., Grape Variety Profile, Four Essential Tests for a New Vineyard Site)
►Texas AgriLife Extension Enology YouTube
►Social Media (Facebook, Instagram)
►Email updates by regional program specialists
►Programs: Prospective Grower Workshop to Advanced Viticulture Short Course

30. Texas A&M Viticulture & Enology Team
Michael Cook,
Viticulture
Fran Pontasch,
Viticulture
Dr. Justin Scheiner,
Viticulture
Danny Hillin,
Viticulture
Jim Kamas,
Viticulture
Jacy Lewis,
Viticulture
Bri Crowley,
Viticulture
Dr. Andreea
Botezatu, Enology
Dr. Amit Dhingra,
Viticulture
Unnamed,
Viticulture
Dr. Larry Stein

32. Species of Grapes Native to Texas
V. acerfolia (mapleleaf grape)
V. aestivalis (summer grape)
V. arizonica (canyon grape)
V. x champinii (Champins grape)
V. x doaniana
V. cinerea (graybark grape, winter grape)
V. monticola (sweet mountain grape)
V. mustangensis (mustang grape)
V. palmata (catbird grape)
V. riparia (riverbank grape)
M. rotundifolia (muscadine grape)
V. rupestris (sand grape)
V. vulpina (frost grape)

33. Thomas Volney (T.V.) Munson
Chevalier du Merite Agricole -1888

34. Vitis vinifera

35. V. vinifera is susceptible to many diseases.

36. What about organic grape production?

37. The Achilles Heel of Organic Production
Black Rot (Guidnardia bidwellii)
spores
Spores are blown by
wind or splashed by
rain to new tissue.
Spores germinate
and start new
infections.
New infections
produce more spores
and infection
continues to spread.
spores
Spores are
produced from
infected tissue.

38. The Achilles Heel of Organic Production
Black Rot (Guidnardia bidwellii)

39. The other fun guys.
►Downy mildew
►Powdery mildew
►Anthracnose
►Phomopsis
►Bunch rots
►Grapevine trunk disease
More rain = More disease = Higher Production Costs
Botrytis
AKA Noble Rot

40. Ephram Wales Bull – Concord, MA

41. Vitis labrusca x Vitis vinifera - 1800s
568,000 gal of wine produced in Ohio in 1859

42. Phylloxera vastrix (the devestator)
Introduced into Europe in 1850s

43. Thomas Volney (T.V.) Munson
“I have found my grape paradise”

44. Species of Grapes Native to Texas
V. acerfolia (mapleleaf grape)
V. aestivalis (summer grape)
V. arizonica (canyon grape)
V. x champinii (Champins grape)
V. x doaniana
V. cinerea (graybark grape, winter grape)
V. monticola (sweet mountain grape)
V. mustangensis (mustang grape)
V. palmata (catbird grape)
V. riparia (riverbank grape)
M. rotundifolia (muscadine grape)
V. rupestris (sand grape)
V. vulpina (frost grape)

45. Thomas Volney (T.V.) Munson
Chevalier du Merite Agricole -1888

46. There’s a little bit of Texas in every wine.

47. Most wild grapevines are either male or female.
Female (pistillate) Male (staminate) Perfect (hermaphroditic)
FAQ: Why doesn’t my grapevine produce fruit?

48. Growing Grapes in Harris Co.

49. Availability ≠ Suitability

50. Table Grapes & Raisins: Hot and Dry

52. How Do They Do That - Raisins
►Mostly white grapes: Thompson Seedless, Selma Pete
paper trays
dry on vine (DOV)

53. Victoria Red Flame Seedless Thompson Seedless

54. Victoria Red
Attributes:
►Texas Superstar®
►PD tolerant
►Thin skin
►Crunchy texture
►Good flavor
►Large berries
►Clusters ≥1lb
►Productive
►Can be harvested
over a month-long
period

55. Victoria Red
Problems:
►Seeded
►Can be weak on
own roots
►Potential for winter
injury
►Powdery mildew
►Marginal leaf
necrosis and leaf
drop
Victoria Red

58. Powdery Mildew

59. Champanel
• Champanel: Interspecific hybrid (V. champinii x‘Worden’) developed by
T.V. Munson in 1893. Medium to large clusters with large black berries
that have a jelly-like pulp. The fruit of Champanel makes excellent jelly,
and may be used to make a fruity flavored wine.
Flavors somewhat similar to Concord Large slip-skin berries Downward growth habit

60. Grape Leaf Folder
Champanel (and Mustang grape) is highly susceptible, but the pest is easily controlled with insecticide.

61. Lomanto
Lomanto: Interspecific hybrid (‘Salado’ x ‘Pense’) developed by T.V.
Munson in 1902. Slightly compact clusters with medium black berries.
Lomanto makes an exceptionally deep colored red wine, juice and jelly.
Can be trained high and allow canopy to sprawl or
low with canopy positioned upright
Moderate susceptibility
to black rot

62. Lomanto

63. Blanc
Du Soleil
► PD resistant white wine grape
► ‘Stover’ x ‘Blanc Du Bois’
► Joint TAMU/FAMU release in
2022
► Trial locations in TX: Austin,
Burleson, Goliad Co.

64. Blanc Du
Soleil
Characteristics:
► Early to mid bud break
► Intermediate growth habit
► Moderate yield potential
► Moderate vigor
► Excellent fungal disease
resistance
► High wine quality potential
(Pinot Gris-like)

65. Fruit Characteristics
Own-root, 10’x 6’ spacing
►Cluster architecture: moderately compact
►Berry weight: 2.02 ± 0.08 g
►Cluster weight: 90.4 ± 11.4 g
►Total soluble solids: 16.86 ± 0.15 %
►Juice pH: 3.04 ± 0.03
►Titratable Acidity: 9.01 ± 0.08 g/L
►Yield: 2.38 ± 0.14 tons/acre

66. Muscadines
►Disease resistant
►Aesthetic
►High quality fruit
►Acid soils
►Female and self-fertile
cultivars

67. Muscadines
Positives:
► Pierce’s disease tolerance
► Great fungal disease resistance
► Productive
► Big berries
► Can be harvested over a long period of
time
► Dramatic improvements with breeding
(edible skin, range of flavors, perfect
flowered, seedlessness)
Negatives:
► Almost all are seeded
► Require acidic soils
► Many have tough skin

68. Alachua Albemarle Black Beauty Black Fry
Creek Eudora Ison Janet
Lane Nesbitt Noble Southern Home
Southland Supreme Sweet Mix Thomas
Carlos Darlene Dixie Red Florida Fry
Fry Hall Janebell Late Fry
Magnolia Pineapple Scarlett Scuppernong
Sweet Jenny Tara Triumph Welder

69. Razzmatazz
OhMy!
Large fruited
numbered selection

71. Muscadines are not adapted
to alkaline soil (or water)

72. Micronutrient deficiency due to high soil pH Corrected with repeat application of iron

74. Grapes can be grown in many
ways (training systems).

75. Farms

76. Success on Tough Sites
Soil drainage and nutrition
►organic matter
►mulch
►soil testing & nutrient additions
►berming
Crop and cultivar selection

77. May, 2016 January, 2017
June, 2017
June, 2018 April, 2019 June, 2020

78. April, 2019 September, 2019 March, 2020
June, 2020 September, 2020 September, 2021

80. Texas Wines
►We can grow anything
►We have a hot climate and some cool climate varieties may have a
different flavor profile
►If you like Chardonnays, try Roussanne
►If you like big reds then try Tannat, Sagrantino, Petite Sirah
►If you like aromatic white wines, try Blanc Du Bois
►If you like Pinot Grigio, try Vermintino
►If you like Italian reds, try Sangiovese
►If you like medium reds, try Aglianico, Montepulciano, Tempranillo
►If you like lighter reds, try Dolcetto or Zinfandel

81. Basic Winemaking Steps
1. Extract juice from fruit
2. Add yeast and any other ingredients
3. Wait for 1 to 2 weeks for fermentation to finish
4. Siphon or strain wine away from solids, repeat until wine is clear
5. Bottle
6. Age

82. Home Winemaking Supplies
1. Fruit or other fermentation substrate
2. Yeast
3. Fermentation vessel
4. Airlock
5. Stopper
6. Strainer
7. Tubing
8. Carboy
9. Bottles
10. Closures

83. jscheiner@tamu.edu

85. Earth-Kind Grapes
Goal: to identify grape cultivars for homeowner use that are
aesthetically pleasing, produce high-quality fruit for fresh eating,
making jelly or wine, are easy to maintain
How: scientific research conducted across the state of Texas