Due to Pierce ’ s Disease effecting much of Texas ’ growing areas , many local wineries grow their own Blanc du Bois and Lenoir grapes due to their resistance to the disease , and pull resources from the Texas High Plains , specifically Brownfield , which is the largest growing area for Texas grapes in the state .
“ We source the same juice and , or , wine finished product that the people do in Fredericksburg , but imagine having to drive 50 minutes instead of four hours ,” Zimmerman said . “ If you look at our menu online , you ’ ll see that we have a lot of varieties from the Texas High Plains , along with our estate wines , so I think that we can easily rival any experience you can have in the 290 corridor or Fredericksburg , here in your backyard in East Texas .”
“ We ’ re looking to grow that phenomena as well and make East Texas a growth center for Texas grapes and wine ,” Zimmerman added . “ There ’ s a lot of interest in what we ’ re doing here .”
“ The number of Texas wineries has effectively doubled in the last five to seven years ,” West Sandy Creek Winery operator Sandy McGinley added . “ It ’ s really a micro winery explosion across Texas and really everywhere else , but we ’ re super excited to point a spotlight at local craftsmen , local restaurants and local wines here in Walker County and North Montgomery County .”
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We ’ re hoping that will bring people from places like Houston , The Woodlands and Conroe . They don ’ t even realize that we ’ ve got wineries right here , so if you think of it , it ’ s less than an hour drive from Houston to be at the wineries on the trail .
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Photo by Michelle Wulfson
HUNTSVILLE LIVING | MAY-JUNE 2021 | 21