The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently questioned if Texas could become a world-class wine region, according to The Houston Chronicle.
Texas is now the fifth largest wine producer, according to Wine Vines Analytics. The industry generated $1.88 billion for the state in economic activity in 2013, a Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association Report said. And winemakers have increased production by a third since 2010—turning out 1.8 million cases last year, WSJ reports.
Texas Hill Country, located near Austin, has been receiving attention in recent years from wine connoisseurs. But the WSJ notes that the future of wine might be in West Texas or the Texas Panhandle in Terry County.
“A long-standing drought and falling cotton prices are also enticing more of them to plant grapes. A vineyard costs more than $10,000 an acre to put in, but can generate as much revenue as 40 acres of cotton with a fraction of the water use,” according to Andy Timmons, a longtime grape grower.
Brent Hogue is one farmer who is optimistic that wine has a bountiful future in the Lone Star State.
“I’m a West Texas boy who drinks beer,” said Hogue, whose family is now growing Merlot and Albariño grapes alongside cotton. “With grapes, we can hopefully survive in the farm.”