Released April 4, 2007
HOUSTON, Texas - During the last decade, the Texas wine industry quietly blossomed into the nation's fifth- largest producer of wine grapes, according to Fritz Westover, Gulf Coast regional viticulture extension associate for Texas Cooperative Extension.
Extension has developed a statewide viticulture program under the direction of Ed Hellman, Extension viticulture specialist at Lubbock, by hiring experts to serve each of the state's distinct wine growing regions.
Westover and the other associates focus on improving wine grape production practices that enhance the economic impact of the grape and wine industry in their region, Hellman, said.
Westover described his four primary goals as:
- Working with established growers to improve profitability.
- Helping new and potential growers with initial decisions such as which variety to grow or soil suitability.
- Providing educational information through the Texas Winegrape Network Web site, workshops and seasonal field meetings.
- Researching and evaluating grape varieties for the Gulf Coast and pest and disease control.
"In the Gulf Coast, the grape berry moth is an insect problem for some growers," he said. "There is very little research that has been done in the Gulf Coast to determine both the life cycle and best control methods.
"I also help them with their disease control management because the Gulf Coast has a lot of fungal pathogens in the vineyard that maybe dryer portions of the state don't experience."
According to the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association, more than 3,700 acres are in grape production, and there are 138 wineries statewide. Grape growing and wine making contribute nearly $1 billion to the state economy. Westover said that approximately 100-200 acres of total Texas production are in the Gulf Coast region.
"The Gulf Coast (grape production) is continually contributing to that economic impact," Westover said. "There are about one or two people every week that call my office asking about starting a new vineyard or inquiring about expanding viticulture in this region."
Westover described the hot, humid climate of Southeast Texas as a challenging region, because of increased disease pressure and the persistence of Pierce's disease, a bacterial pathogen and a major limiting factor to grape production in the Gulf Coast. However, there are several varieties that are tolerant to Pierce's disease.
"Examples of those grapes would be Blanc du Bois, a white varietal developed at (University of) Florida and Black Spanish, which is a red varietal used to make port-style wines," he said. "I will offer existing and prospective grape growers educational workshops as well as personal consultation on topics such as disease control, increasing profitability and canopy patterns."
The larger wineries sell through major distributors such as grocery or spirits stores, Westover said. Smaller wineries typically sell direct to the consumer through internet marketing and tourism. And wineries of all sizes conduct tours and tastings, which make popular weekend day trip.
Westover said there are likely several cultural influences causing the Texas grape growing and wine making industry to boom. Wine consumption is up among younger adults over beer or stronger alcoholic beverages, and there has been a recent spotlight on the health benefits of drinking wine.
"It's a really exciting time to be part of the viticulture program in the Gulf Coast that is expanding so quick and that has such good team support all around the state through Texas Cooperative Extension," he said. Westover works from the Harris County office of extension and can be reached atFAWestover@ag.tamu.edu or (281) 855-5608.
The other regional Extension viticulturists are:
- West Texas: Teresa Burns in Lubbock at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center. She can be reached at thburns@ag.tamu.edu or (806) 746-6101.
- North Texas: Fran Pontasch in Stephenville at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center. She can be reached at fmpontasch@ag.tamu.edu or (254) 968-4144.
- Hill Country: Penny Adams in Fredericksburg at the Extension building. She can be reached atpsadams@ag.tamu.edu or 830-997-3452. For more information, Texans can visit the Extension viticulture program's Web site, http://winegrapes.tamu.edu/.
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http://agnews.tamu.edu/dailynews/stories/HORT/Apr0407a.htm
Contacts: Fritz Westover, (281) 855-5600, FAWestover@ag.tamu.edu
Lorri Jones, (281) 855-5620, Ljones@ag.tamu.edu
Tim McAlavy, (806) 746-6101, t-mcalavy@tamu.edu
