When I first saw the ‘Come Over October’ campaign, I was hooked. It definitely spoke to me and what I most enjoy about wine. Brought to life by Karen MacNeil, wine authority and author of The Wine Bible, the campaign is all about encouraging people to get together with family and friends during the month of October to share some wine and fellowship. I mean, what beverage is more communal than wine? I was thrilled when I saw that the Texas Wine Industry went all in and decided to participate in the campaign, which happens to coincide with Texas Wine Month – but with its own “Come On Over Y’all” spin. Brilliant! Folks are encouraged to gather and share Texas wine with family and friends whether at home or at their favorite Texas winery. I’ve certainly been doing my part. I took several bottles of Texas wine to National Night for my neighbors to try, not to mention pairing wines with dinner. And let me just throw it out there – I don’t have a natural love of Sauvignon Blanc, but the Reddy Vineyards Sauv Blanc is worthy of a do over. A great random grab at HEB for around $18.

The State of the Texas Wine Industry
I had the opportunity to hang out with the folks from Texas Hill Country Wineries, (“THCW”) who are celebrating 25 years of promoting Texas wineries, to get a sense of the state of the Texas wine industry. The industry not only continues to grow, but seems to be bucking many of the trends that seem to negatively affect others in wine. This includes attracting younger consumers (who everyone swears is not drinking wine) as well as continued revenue growth despite national and global decreases. Over 141,000 people are employed by the Texas wine industry to the tune of almost $7 billion in wages, which means supporting families and individuals across the state.
All told, Texas is the 5th largest wine producing state and has over 500 wineries across the state and more than 4,400 acres of vineyards. And it’s big business, with the industry providing a $20.35 billion impact to the state’s economy. Each year, over 2 million people visit Texas wineries. I’m going to add myself to this number next month as Mr. Corkscrew and I going to visit for an anniversary trip.
Sustainability
One of the developments I’ve been most excited about is the increasing role of sustainability in the industry. Whether its one of the major growers like Narra Vineyards in the Texas High Plains (who also makes wines under the Kalasi Cellars brand) converting to organic or Halter Ranch becoming the first vineyard to ever be certified organic in Fredericksburg, TX this year, more and more producers are embracing the benefits of organic viticulture.

Even if they’ve not gone through the formal process of certification, many growers are still employing organic practices. For the folks at Lewis Wines, the goal is to build organic matter and promote fungal populations in the soil. They do this through careful management of cover crops, rotating their own sheep and chickens through the vineyard, not using herbicides, not tilling or ripping the soil, and using organic solutions for disease, pests and fertilization whenever possible. Narra Vineyards has also brought sheep into their vineyards – along with a couple of protective Great Pyrenees.
One really exciting development is the partnership between Ab Astris Winery, Pedernales Cellars, and William Chris Vineyards and Dr. Colleen Miles of Texas State University to work on a sustainability certification for Texas. The team has been working with the folks at Sustainability in Practice (“SIP”) Certified, an organization that I love and which I’ve written about on a couple of occasions. SIP Certified focuses on the 3 P’s of Sustainability – People, Planet, Prosperity – ensuring that both natural and human resources are protected. The hope is that they can create a certification that makes sense for Texas given its unique issues with Pierce’s disease and other fungal conditions.
Texas Wine Growing Regions aka AVAs
Today, Texas has eight American Viticultural Areas (“AVAs”). Some are massive, like the Texas Hill Country AVA, which covers 15,000 square miles or 9 million acres. Some are tiny, such as the Escondido Valley AVA, located in west Texas near Fort Stockton, and was created for a single vineyard and producer. The Texas High Plains AVA produces the bulk of the industry’s fruit – around 85% – but plantings in areas across the state continue to increase. The one I’m a little obsessed with? The Texas Davis Mountain AVA with elevations from 4,500-8,000 feet and its volcanic rock, granite, and limestone soils.

As the industry matures, and farmers and producers continue to learn about the land and the performance of the grapes in various areas, we’re bound to see more AVAs crop up. Currently, there are 3 proposed AVAs – Llano Uplift, Hickory Sands, and Dell Valley. Llano Uplift, nested inside of the large Texas Hill Country AVA seems to be the closest to being unveiled. And I can tell you, that this wine geek is pretty excited about all these developments. Learning about your land, your climate, your terroir, just means better and better wines down the line. And more maps for me to study!
Types of Texas Wines
Given its size, it should come as no surprise that lots of different grapes grow in Texas. We’ve all said it before – Texas is larger than the entire country of France. If you think of all the different types of wines you can get in France, the versatility in Texas should come as no surprise. To be sure, Texas has a diverse climate, with many different microclimates (more still being discovered) which allows for the cultivation of many different grape varietals. I still remember when winemaker John Rivenburgh of Kerrville Hills Winery told me that “the beautiful thing about Texas is not what specific variety we can make, but the diversity of the varieties that we can make.” This couldn’t be more true.
Everything from Spanish and Portuguese, to southern French and Italian varieties are planted in Texas. Of course, traditional Bordeaux varieties are widely represented as well. For red wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Merlot, Mourvèdre, and Sangiovese lead the way in that order.

When it comes to white wines, Blanc Du Bois leads the way. And as much as I keep hearing such great things about different styles of wine made with Blanc du Bois, I haven’t had the opportunity to try much of it. I definitely need to work on that. Beyond Blanc Du Bois, for whites wines Viognier, Muscat Canelli, and Chardonnay are most encountered.
Of course, winemakers have all sorts of other varieties they are excited about. Red varieties like Tannat, Teroldego, and Touriga Nacional have gotten the attention of many winemakers as well as white varieties like Roussanne, Trebbiano, and Vermentino. Given that over 45 varieties are planted in Texas (and growing) growers and winemakers have a lot to work with.
Tourism
As I mentioned, over 2 million people visit Texas wineries each year. So tourism is big business, with the Texas Hill Country just behind Napa and Sonoma when it comes to visitors. The folks at THCW do a great job at consumer outreach and host a number of fun consumer events throughout the yer. Their Passport events are a great way for winelovers to visit multiple wineries during a visit to the area. They do these Passport events four times a year.
The THCW folks also do ‘Road Shows’ visiting various cities in Texas. As I mentioned recently, being in Houston means being a little further from the wine country action, so I love that they bring the wine to us. If you’re in Texas, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity if they come to your city.

Of course, given the sheer scale of the wine regions and the state, ya gotta pick your place. Of course, it all started with the Fredericksburg area, and that is always a great place to visit. But I’ve also enjoyed great wine trips based out of Johnson City, Dripping Springs, and the Highland Lakes areas. You can’t go wrong at any of these.
How People are Celebrating Texas Wine Month
It’s Texas Wine Month, so you know folks are pulling out all the stops and inviting everyone to Come On Over Y’all.
How I’ve Celebrated Come on Over Y’all – So Far




Like really, Come On Over Y’all and dine with us!
Texas Hill Country Wineries Passport Event
Tickets are now on sale for THCW’s Texas Wine Month passport event, which will be happening for the entire month of October at over 45 wineries in the beautiful Hill Country. This year is Texas Hill Country Wineries 25th Anniversary and it’s also the 25th Texas Wine Month Passport!
This marks the third of four self-guided passport events Texas Hill Country Wineries hosts throughout the year, allowing consumers to experience a world of wine at a variety of participating wineries. With the purchase of a digital passport, ticket holders can taste at up to four wineries per day over the course of the month, as well as receive exclusive discounts on bottle purchases. Reservations are recommended, especially for weekend visits.
Passport tickets are $120/couple or $85/individual. This is an incredible valet given how quickly wine tasting fees can add up. $5 from each ticket sold benefits the THCW Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to Texas students working towards a degree in Viticulture, Enology or Hospitality.
Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival
The Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival is a premier culinary and wine experience that showcases food, wine, craft beverages, and all around Texas Hill Country culture. Attendees will be able to experience 25+ Culinary Experiences & Hands-On Culinary Demos. Savor the diverse flavors of the Hill Country, from street tacos and smash burgers crafted on Fredericksburg Cast Iron skillets to elevated barbeque, handmade pasta, manchego, gelato liquor-pour overs and so much more. You can also enhance your experience by adding a seat at some of the interactive culinary demo stages, where you can enjoy hands-on cooking and tasting experiences from some of the Hill Country’s finest chefs!

In addition to the tasty eats, there will be 55+ wines, spirits, beers, and ciders available for attendees to try. Stroll through the Grand Tasting Pavilion, and sip, savor and even bid on your favorites, all supporting a great cause. Between wine tastings, get a little hoppy in the beer garden or experience true grain to glass at the distillery lane and mixology demo stage. Feeling extra bubbly? The Heath Sparkling Garden is the perfect spot to toast the afternoon away!
The festival takes place Friday and Saturday, October 25 and 26. Get your entry badges here. This seems to be the ultimate Come On Over Y’all event!
Wedding Oak Winery
In honor of Texas Wine Month, Wedding Oak Winery is celebrating in several ways with special offerings and events. For this month only, wine lovers can shop a very special, limited wine trio from Wedding Oak Winery — their “98 Point Special” featuring award-winning Texas wines available from October 1st through 28th . They are also hosting Come Over October and Come on Over Y’all where all three Wedding Oak Winery locations will stay open an hour later than usual on Thursdays (open 4:00pm until 7:00pm) throughout the month to foster community and offer specials on snacks and wine. And, Wedding Oak Winery is having a Winemaker Wine Grower Dinner on October 12th that is open to both wine club and non-club members.
Ab Astris Feast and Merriment Dinner

Join Ab Astris for a delicious wine and food pairing dinner at Feast and Merriment on Friday, October 25th at 6:30 PM. This is not a dinner to be missed as Chef Ashley Odom creates incredible dishes and masterfully pairs them with Ab Astris wines. I took a peek at the menu and it looks amazing. Grilled Gulf Oysters, Italian Wedding Soup with Local Pork, Pecorino and Herb Pistou and Espresso and Cacao Crusted Rack of Lamb were just a few of the dishes I saw. Yum!
Dinner is $145 per person and your ticket includes all food, wine and gratuity.
Texas Wine Collective 2024 Brunch with Kim McPherson
Join TWC for an exclusive Brunch with Winemaker Kim McPherson! Meet the renowned winemaker Kim McPherson and enjoy a delightful brunch featuring a selection of his hand-picked wines paired with specially crafted dishes prepared by the talented TWC team. Savor each bite and sip while learning about Kim’s winemaking philosophy and passion for Texas wines.
Brunch takes place, Sunday, October 13th, from 11am – 1pm. Tickets are $55 per person.
Ron Yates Paella Night
Join Ron Yates for Paella Night, on October 12th from 5-7pm. Enjoy a laid-back evening with the Yates crew, featuring delicious paella prepared by Chef Patrick Costello, a culinary instructor at St. Philips. This delicious cuisine will be paired with Ron Yates wine, sangria, and live music. They’ll close the tasting room early for this special event in their beautiful estate vineyard.

Tickets are available for $40 and include a complimentary glass of Wine or Sangria served from the Tasting Room Bar and a plate of paella.
Other events across the Hill Country include:
- Live Music: Enjoy wine paired with live bands at Pedernales Cellars, Dry Comal Creek, Kerrville Hills Winery, and more.
- Interactive Experiences: From painting and a cornhole competition to murder mystery parties and spooky cellar tours at Messina Hof, Texas Wine Collective and others.
- Wine Dinners & Pairings: Enjoy Texas wine while experiencing thoughtfully curated culinary events at Duchman Family Winery, Ron Yates, Texas Wine Collective, Bending Branch, and more.
- THCW San Antonio Road Show: Discover a world of Texas wine in San Antonio on October 24th!
I do hope y’all get in on the fun and toast to Texas Wine Month and the Come On Over Y’all campaign.
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