Discover why Texas wine is poised for prime time
Texas’s wine industry has grown from a handful of producers in the 1980s to several hundred permitted wineries today, earning national acclaim and positioning itself as one of the strongest challengers to established U.S. regions. With eight AVAs and three more awaiting federal approval, the Lone Star State is making a serious bid for the spotlight.
There’s a restless, electric energy in Texas wine right now. From the Hill Country’s rolling vineyards to the wind-swept Texas High Plains, there’s a sense of discovery, grit, and confidence that reminds me of Napa in the 1990s.
The Texas Hill Country recently ranked among the nation’s fastest-growing wine regions in the US.
Texas wines won 295 medals at the 2024 SF Chronicle Wine Competition (second only to California) – and investment in wineries, hospitality, and tourism is booming.
While states like Virginia, Michigan, New York, and Idaho are also growing, Texas’s scale, pace, and rising profile set it apart as the strongest challenger to established US wine regions.
See 14 of the best wines from Texas below. Subscribe to Premium today for full access
A growing wine scene
With eight AVAs currently, three new Texas AVAs – Llano Uplift, Dell Valley, and Hickory Sands – have applications pending with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), but the bureaucratic process is holding up their approvals.
Essential improvements in labelling laws have helped define what’s in the bottle. Today, any wine labelled with a Texas county, AVA, or single-vineyard designation must be made from 100% Texas-grown grapes.
For would-be producers, the only statewide license currently available is the Texas Winery (G) Permit, which allows a licensee to produce, bottle, and label wine; sell it at the winery; self-distribute within the state; ship directly to Texas consumers; and participate in tastings or events – regardless of whether the wine is made from Texas-grown grapes or imported juice.
Of the 872 active Winery (G) Permits, the Texas Department of Agriculture estimates that there are approximately 500 actual wineries statewide, with booming direct-to-consumer sales, supporting over 136,000 jobs statewide.
Texas produces about 3.28 million gallons (12.4 million litres) of wine annually – just 0.4% of U.S. output – but ranks second nationally in wine’s economic impact at $24.39 billion, thanks to its large population and strong in-state consumption.
Texans consume roughly 62 million gallons (234 million litres) of wine each year, most of which is imported from outside the state; yet, nearly all Texas-made wine is sold within its borders.
Wine tourism saw 2.64 million winery visits in Texas last year – and an estimated $685 million in annual visitor spending.
The Texas Hill Country, centred around Fredericksburg, has emerged as the state’s tourism hub, supported by upscale restaurants, new infrastructure, and a spate of new luxury hotels like the tranquil Albert Hotel, or the forthcoming Waldorf Astoria, and a Kimpton hotel project on the west side of Fredericksburg.
‘We get many visitors from Texas’s major cities, along with travellers from across the country and even abroad, drawn by Fredericksburg’s charming small-town, German vibe,’ says Nikhila Narra Davis, owner of Kalasi Cellars.
John Rivenburgh, owner of Rivenburgh Wine and Kerrville Hills Winery and president of Texas Wine Growers, credits the surge in tourism to major quality gains. ‘If you put brand and region aside, these wines can compete on a larger stage,’ he says, ‘even the most discerning wine consumer would be impressed with what we’re making today.’
Slow and steady
Chris Brundrett, co-founder and CEO of William Chris Wine Company, sees Texas’s wine legacy through the eyes of up-and-coming winemakers.
‘The next generation continues to reach up and grab the next rung on the ladder over and over in terms of farming techniques, winemaking, and DTC (direct-to-consumer) experiences,’ he says.
‘We value quality over quantity,’ says Nikhila Davis, whose Texas High Plains-based Narra Vineyards is a key source for several Hill Country estates.
‘We manage our vineyards to produce outstanding fruit rather than maximise yields.’ (Kalasi was also the first Texas winery to adopt optical sorting technology.)
Robert Clay Vineyards proprietor Dan McLaughlin is among the first Texan wineries to implement an allocation-only approach. He says: ‘We’re not expanding production to chase demand. We’re limiting sales to protect our 100% estate-bottled wines.’
And after 45 years of growing grapes in Texas, Dan Gatlin of Inwood Estates Vineyards believes his work in championing low yields to boost polyphenols will help Texas rival top global bottles.”
The road ahead for Texas wine
Dave Bryant, co-founder of The Texas Wine Auction, throws his support behind, ‘the people who do the work – owner-operator vignerons with heart and soul instead of dollars.’
Bryant is among the state’s biggest optimists. He sees huge growth potential, and while Texas is behind in broad winemaking guidance, that too is changing.
One example of top-tier talent pouring into Texas is Napa winemaker Jean Hoefliger of JH Consulting, whose work with William Chris has been, in Bryant’s words, ‘invaluable.’
He sees Hoefliger’s influence as part of a broader trend – experienced voices helping to shape the next generation of Texas winemakers.
William Chris owner Chris Brundrett has been pivotal in advancing Texas wine, notably bringing in Champagne-trained winemaker Seth Urbanek to elevate their sparkling programme – a category poised for growth in the coming years.
For all the momentum, stronger advocacy is needed in restaurants and wine shops. And as local consumption grows and production meets demand, Texas can develop consistent wholesale programs not only nationwide but also for export markets.
Eyeing global opportunities, Claire Richardson, Uplift winemaker and founder of Explore Oeno, cautions that overemphasising ‘Texas wine’ risks alienating potential drinkers before they can engage with the quality and character of the wines.
‘We need a mindset shift toward positioning Texas confidently alongside other world-class regions,’ she urges.
‘Our greatest challenge,’ says Dan Gatlin, ‘will be to convince our Texas industry to conform to global quality standards instead of common overproduction.’
Quality perspective: 2025 harvest at a glance
The Hill Country experienced good rains after bloom, with moderate temperatures throughout spring and early summer. ‘It’s very rare in this area to have no days over 100 until mid July,’ says William Chris winemaker Tony Offill. Heavy rains in late June and early July led to increased humidity, which impacted spray schedules and picking decisions.
Late ripening varieties like Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon ‘fared far better than mid-season Malbec and Syrah,’ he noted. ‘I expect the wines from 2025 will be similar to 2024 – density and richness, approachable young, capable of gaining complexity if aged.’
Dan Gatlin’s son, Spencer, winemaker for his family’s Inwood Estates Vineyards, is bullish about Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo for both 2024 and 2025 vintages. ‘The quality rivals the best of what we’ve seen in the past,’ he says.
Grape acids ‘held on better, and ripening was a little slower,’ notes Claire Richardson. ‘But some vineyards, like those in Mason, saw thirty inches or more of rain, while other Hill Country sites were completely swept away by the devastating floods in July. Some areas were fortunate to remain untouched.”
Everyone agrees that harvest challenges pale in comparison to the flash floods in central Texas. ‘It’s an event that will always be linked to the 2025 vintage for our community,’ Offill says sombrely.
Rivenburgh, who co-owns a vineyard in Hunt with the Johnson family of Houston, saw it destroyed by Kerr County floods on 3 July 2025. Despite the loss, he remains optimistic: ‘I’ve been fortunate to help many growers and winemakers get their start, planting vineyards that have gone on to produce award-winning wine and embody Texas hospitality.
‘My plan over the next few years is to continue that advocacy and work with our legislature to promote Texas agriculture and the qualities that make Texas-grown wine world-class.’
For Bryant: ‘It’s still the wild west,’ and ‘no one owns the high end or the mass market. Like Napa in the 1990s, Texas is full of big stories, drama, and generational change, and it’s on the cusp of something great.’
Texas on the rise: 15 wines from the Lone Star state
Related content
Texas Hill Country for winelovers: the places to know
Texas wine: travel guide plus 10 top bottles worth seeking out
Napa Cabernet 2022: Vintage report and buyer’s guide
Uplift, Lou Adah, Texas Hill Country, Texas, USA, 2024
<p>This 2024 white, a blend of 50% Viognier, 42% Roussanne, and 8% Marsanne, was fermented and aged for eight months in French oak (15% new) and was crafted by Claire Richardson with consulting winemaker Jean Hoefliger. Entirely sourced from the Uplift Vineyard, which surrounds the winery, it opens with a lime-bright nose, complemented by chalky minerality and baking spice nuances over a flinty mineral backbone. Light- to medium-bodied, it is framed by a distinctly saline, mineral-driven character, revealing lingering notes of pressed wildflowers, apricot, white peach, and pluot. A fine line of grip and impressive length keep you returning to the glass. Lou Adah takes its name from ‘Miss Lou’, whose family, over many generations, cultivated the land now home to Uplift’s vineyards in Hoover’s Valley, Hye, Texas, within the Texas Hill Country.</p>
2024
UpliftTexas Hill Country
Augusta Vin, Viognier, Texas High Plains, Texas, USA, 2024
<p>From the Rolland Taylor Vineyard in the Texas High Plains. Hand-picked, fermented in stainless steel, and aged in a mix of new and neutral oak puncheons and smaller barriques. Bright notes of orange peel and lemon zest lead the nose, accented by honeysuckle, vanilla, and subtle toasty oak. The medium-bodied palate offers fantastic silkiness, carrying through to a lengthy, saline finish with a pop of grapefruit and tangerine zest—almost like biting into a fresh kumquat.</p>
2024
Augusta VinTexas High Plains
Rhinory, Viognier, Texas High Plains, Texas, USA, 2024
<p>This is one of the freshest, brightest, and cleanest wines I tasted from this winery. Lifted notes of guava and papaya join with white peach and white flowers. Medium-bodied on the palate, with excellent saline-mineral tension and a lingering finish of salted, crushed almonds. A dynamic white—and one of my favourites from their Texas portfolio. No oak ageing; fermented and aged in stainless steel for about six months, with freshness as the goal.</p>
2024
RhinoryTexas High Plains
William Chris Vineyards, Enchante, Texas Hill Country, Texas, USA, 2023
<p>The 2023 ‘Enchanté’ is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Malbec, and 9% Merlot, barrel-fermented and aged for 20 months in partially new French oak. Richly aromatic, it opens with cassis and dark berry fruit, interlaced with fragrant dark cedar and a subtle hint of dark amber syrup. The full-bodied palate is lush yet structured, framed by noble, generous tannins. Tobacco leaf and sagebrush undertones mingle with a penetrating backbone of saline and wet-slate minerality, leading to a lingering note of cocoa powder spice and a lift of blood orange juiciness. William Chris Vineyards, founded in 2008 by William "Bill" Blackmon and Chris Brundrett, is based outside Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country. Grapes for this Enchanté came from the winery’s Uplift Vineyard and Govel Family Vineyard in Burnet and Gillespie counties, respectively. Just 1,200 cases produced.</p>
2023
William Chris VineyardsTexas Hill Country
Kerrville Hills Winery, Rustic Spur Vineyard Tannat, Texas Hill Country, Texas, USA, 2017
<p>From 2013 plantings in the Rustic Spur Vineyard—the oldest Tannat site on the north-western side of the Pedernales River Valley in the Texas Hill Country—this 100% Tannat is a striking expression of the variety. After 24 months in neutral oak, it emerges with an arresting bouquet of loamy earth, black and redcurrant, ripe plum, warm fruit spice, tobacco leaf, and a touch of molasses. The full-bodied palate is driven by firm, soaring tannins that resolve with poise, carrying layers of brown Indian spice, savoury charcuterie, black tea, pressed wildflowers, and hints of dried fennel and sage. The finish is long, expressive, and finely balanced, revealing a wine of depth, nuance, and regional character.</p>
2017
Kerrville Hills WineryTexas Hill Country
Calais Winery, TX RD Red Wine, Texas High Plains, Texas, USA, 2020
<p>‘RD’ stands for Rive Droite, while Calais’ ‘RG’ bottling refers to Rive Gauche—Ben Calais’ nod to the Right Bank and Left Bank of Bordeaux. This is a deliciously expressive wine, brimming with dark berry fruit, a woodsy earth character, and loads of ripe, rich dark fruit layered with cocoa-nib–sinewed tannins that resolve beautifully through a fragrant baking spice finish. Very polished and highly expressive. A blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot.</p>
2020
Calais WineryTexas High Plains
Uplift, Aglianico, Texas Hill Country, Texas, USA, 2023
<p>From Aglianico vines rooted in the Texas Hill Country’s Llano Uplift, growing in ancient granitic soils and surrounded by dense forest, this wine captures the essence of its place. It offers a distinctly ironstone-like minerality alongside deep forest aromatics of conifer, underbrush, and a medley of fresh herbs and spices. The palate is framed by fine-grained, cedar-edged tannins, a zesty acid backbone, and a long, mineral finish with a dusting of crushed cocoa nibs. Ripe yet bright, with an underlying mineral drive, it would pair beautifully with braised or barbecued meats in sweet sauces, or with hearty pasta dishes. 94% Aglianico, 3% Montepulciano, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon undergo a 24-hour cold soak and are fermented in oak, followed by 16 months of barrel ageing (15% of which is new).</p>
2023
UpliftTexas Hill Country
Augusta Vin, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Texas Hill Country, Texas, USA, 2022
<p>This is a dynamic Cabernet Sauvignon, showing bright black cherry and blackberry fruit layered with graphite minerality and balanced cedarwood notes. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, with more dark berry fruit, loamy earth, and tobacco, while cigar box–textured tannins build toward a long finish accented by cocoa nib.</p>
2022
Augusta VinTexas Hill Country
Blackmon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Texas Hill Country, Texas, USA, 2022
<p>The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon marks the first year winemaker Tony Offill fermented in puncheons. Fermented in barrel and aged for up to 16 months in 20% new French oak. Rich black currant fruit lifts from the glass, layered with graphite nuances, all building on a medium- to full-bodied palate. Mineral-laced, firm tannins frame notes of blood orange and tangerine zest, while spiced plum and cherry compote emerge on the peppery finish. This vintage falls somewhere between the 2020 and 2021 in style, showing excellent consistency.</p>
2022
BlackmonTexas Hill Country
Gatlin Family, Oentrepid X, Texas, USA, 2020
<p>This six-clone Cabernet Sauvignon blend leans heavily on Clone 7 and Clone 169, with four additional clones contributing nuance. In 2020, Dan Gatlin oversaw every aspect of the farming, sourcing from Texas Hill Country sites cropped to six clusters per vine and Texas High Plains sites at around 10 clusters per vine—averaging roughly 2.5 tonnes per hectare. Fermentation took place in open bins with cooling plates, using hand punch-downs over 7–10 days. Each clone was aged separately for 12 months in 40% new French oak, followed by a further 12 months in neutral oak, with blending carried out prior to bottling. The nose is strikingly fragrant, delivering deeply pitched dark berry fruit, dried fennel, sage, and spearmint. Medium-bodied on the palate, it shows blood-orange acidity, crunchy red berry notes, and a touch of strawberry coulis. Concentrated yet lifted, with vibrant acid tension that calls for food pairing.</p>
2020
Gatlin Family
Inwood Estates Vinyeards, Magnus, Texas High Plains, Texas, USA, 2020
<p>The 2020 Magnus from Inwood Estates Vineyards is sourced from a 1.8-hectare site in the Texas High Plains, cropped to just two clusters per vine, yielding a mere 0.5 tonnes per hectare. Fermentation takes place in open bins fitted with cooling plates, with hand punch-downs over 7–10 days, before pressing to barrel and ageing for 24 months in 50% new French oak. The nose is intensely expressive, offering blackberry, black cherry, and blackcurrant alongside tobacco spice, lifted by high-toned notes of dried wild sage and fennel. On the palate, there is real power and concentration—full-bodied with soaring tannins that mellow and resolve beautifully, making way for a lingering finish of blood orange, crushed red berries, and warm baking spices. Winemaker Dan Gatlin describes it as being crafted in the style of Ribera del Duero.</p>
2020
Inwood Estates VinyeardsTexas High Plains
William Chris Vineyards, Artists Blend, Texas Hill Country, Texas, USA, 2023
<p>This blend of 44% Mourvèdre, 32% Grenache, 21% Syrah, and 3% Tannat is from the estate’s Vintage Press Vineyard. The Mourvèdre component is aged in a mix of concrete vessels and large French oak fermenters for 18 days. The rest is aged 15 % new French and 10% Eastern European oak barrels, all for 15 months. Full-bodied yet supple, it has an easy-going generosity, its round, elongated tannins supporting plump, juicy mixed-berry fruit, crushed espresso bean, and smoked paprika. Violet notes abound, joined by a panoply of purple-fruited and floral tones drizzled with blueberry coulis. William Chris Vineyards, founded by William ‘Bill’ Blackmon and Chris Brundrett in 2008 and is based just outside Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country. The wines are made by Tony Offill, with Jean Hoefliger of JH Consulting in Napa Valley acting as consultant since 2020. This is among the finest renditions of the Artist Blend series to date. The label artwork, L’Ardeur, by San Antonio-based artist and musician Taylor S. Monroe, is described by the winery as ‘inspired by jazz and his experience with synaesthesia… capturing the depth and layers of earth, sediment, and fruit that bring wine to life’. Monroe adds that L’Ardeur ‘represents not only the heat these grapes grow in, but also the passion that goes into making, and enjoying, a beautiful bottle of wine’.</p>
2023
William Chris VineyardsTexas Hill Country
French Connection Wines, Counoise, Texas High Plains, Texas, USA, 2023
<p>From Farmhouse Vineyards’ Crookhouse block, which is planted to several Rhône varieties, this wine is made to be enjoyed chilled and to express the character of the variety. Crunchable, with low tannins and low colour, it offers bright, crunchy, sweet red berry fruit, with notes of clove and incense. The mid-palate reveals creamy red cranberry and raspberry fruit, finishing with a wonderfully fragrant potpourri lift. Hand-picked, de-stemmed, and cold-soaked for 10–12 days during fermentation. Sourced from a Tablas Creek ENTAV clone.</p>
2023
French Connection WinesTexas High Plains
Slate Theory Winery, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Texas Hill Country, Texas, USA, 2020
<p>Fermented in bins with punchdowns over 7–10 days, then pressed to 25% new French oak and 75% neutral barrels and aged for 36 months. Sourced from the Slate Mill property in the Texas Hill Country AVA. This is a well-balanced, solid expression of Cabernet from the region, with blackberry and blue fruit aromatics layered with subtle chocolatey notes and graphite nuances. Medium-bodied on the palate, showing a higher pH but balanced acidity. The tannins are fine-grained and firm, supporting supple dark berry fruit. Serve with sliced, well-salted beef and a balsamic reduction.</p>
2020
Slate Theory WineryTexas Hill Country
Rhinory, Mourvèdre Blend, Texas High Plains, Texas, USA, 2023
<p>This shows an immaculate and bright expression of the two varieties, with just enough tannin to frame the wine without distracting from the tart red berry fruit and warm baking spices. Good salinity develops on the back palate, resulting in a spicy, mouthwatering, and acid-driven finish. No oak ageing on this blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Mourvèdre. Fermented and aged in stainless steel for about a year before bottling.</p>
2023
RhinoryTexas High Plains
