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In the wine world, it's known as "a good year." The 2010 grape harvest is underway in Texas, and vineyards across the state are reporting the largest yields in years. "The crop looks outstanding both from a quality and quantity perspective," said Dr. Tim Dodd, director of the Texas Wine Marketing Research Institute at Texas Tech University. "The reports I have from the wineries indicate that they will have the largest crop in several years. This will be a substantial boost to the industry and will enable growers to bounce back after a couple of difficult years. It will also encourage further plantings and help the wineries to use Texas-only grapes for their production."
Growers share Dr. Dodd's outlook. Texas weather, after showing its uncooperative side for a couple of years, is rewarding some vineyards with record tonnage."Messina Hof has had the largest crop in our history," said Paul Bonarrigo, owner of Messina Hof Winery and Resort, noting that the winery is working with five new growers this year. "All growers are reporting great yields, and at the crush pad we have had great chemistries. Look out California." Brennan Vineyards is also experiencing a record harvest with white varietals doing particularly well. "We had, by far, the largest harvest in our eight-year history," owner Pat Brennan said. "In general, yields were about 30 percent greater than our generous estimates. I gather the experience across the state was similar." At Haak Vineyards and Winery, the buzz was over Blanc du Bois and the black-Spanish Jacquez varietals. "Our harvest was twice as large as last year, and the quality was also very good," said Raymond Haak, owner. "All of my growers produced record tonnages from their vineyards." Grape yields can be affected by several factors including weather, disease and the experience of the grower. The size of the 2010 harvest is a major boost to Texas winemakers who sometimes have to look outside the state to find enough grapes to meet demand. Les Constable, owner of Brushy Creek Vineyards, said tanks at many wineries were nearly filled to capacity by early September. Tempranillo, Carnelian, Chardonnay and Mourvedre yields were especially good, and he added, "It's much better than recent harvests. Last year, we took in about 30 tons of grapes. This year, it will be over 50 tons." Newsom Vineyards, a longtime wine-grape grower on the South Plains, will be wrapping up its harvest this month. Owner Neal Newsom said all indications are that 2010 will mean "high yields and high quality" for growers across the state.
Growers share Dr. Dodd's outlook. Texas weather, after showing its uncooperative side for a couple of years, is rewarding some vineyards with record tonnage."Messina Hof has had the largest crop in our history," said Paul Bonarrigo, owner of Messina Hof Winery and Resort, noting that the winery is working with five new growers this year. "All growers are reporting great yields, and at the crush pad we have had great chemistries. Look out California." Brennan Vineyards is also experiencing a record harvest with white varietals doing particularly well. "We had, by far, the largest harvest in our eight-year history," owner Pat Brennan said. "In general, yields were about 30 percent greater than our generous estimates. I gather the experience across the state was similar." At Haak Vineyards and Winery, the buzz was over Blanc du Bois and the black-Spanish Jacquez varietals. "Our harvest was twice as large as last year, and the quality was also very good," said Raymond Haak, owner. "All of my growers produced record tonnages from their vineyards." Grape yields can be affected by several factors including weather, disease and the experience of the grower. The size of the 2010 harvest is a major boost to Texas winemakers who sometimes have to look outside the state to find enough grapes to meet demand. Les Constable, owner of Brushy Creek Vineyards, said tanks at many wineries were nearly filled to capacity by early September. Tempranillo, Carnelian, Chardonnay and Mourvedre yields were especially good, and he added, "It's much better than recent harvests. Last year, we took in about 30 tons of grapes. This year, it will be over 50 tons." Newsom Vineyards, a longtime wine-grape grower on the South Plains, will be wrapping up its harvest this month. Owner Neal Newsom said all indications are that 2010 will mean "high yields and high quality" for growers across the state.
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