07.11.2023

Today’s Forecast

103º | Mostly sunny | 6% chance of rain | Sunrise 6:37 a.m. | Sunset 8:35 p.m.

🍷 Stop and smell the rosé

Drink Up: Let’s talk about the incredible potential of Texas wine

A gif of a hand swirling a glass of wine with rows of vines in the background

Kelsey Kramer describes Texas wine as “old world style,” lean, earthy, and ever-changing. | Gif by ATXtoday

Imagine an iceberg with a small peak floating above the water. Below the surface, the ice stretches down far below, to what seems like an impossibly distant point. According to the experts, that’s what the future of Texas wine looks like.

Texas’ nearly 400-year-old wine making industry contributes $13.1 billion each year to the state’s economy and draws in 1.7 million visitors annually. That makes Texas the second-most visited wine region in the US, behind Napa Valley.

Local winemakers say this is just the beginning. We spoke with Kelsey Kramer, director of education for the award-winning William Chris Wine Company, about the growing popularity and recognition of the local wine industry.

Old world style in a new world region

When San Antonio-raised Kelsey first tried Texas wine, she was surprised. “It was a different style than I expected from a new world wine region.” Kelsey describes Texas wine as “old world in style”: lean, earthy, and ever-changing.

“I think most people don’t expect the elegance of Texas wine ... there’s just underneath a liveliness to all of it,” she said.

A room with curved tables and a rug in the floor, and wine bottles lining the walls. — Learn about Texas wine and try a tasting or food pairing at William Chris Vineyard’s Hye location.
|
Photo by ATXtoday

“There’s so much more that Texas tastes like”

Texans know that Texas wine is good, Kelsey said, but spreading that knowledge to others is the next challenge. Professionals in the wine industry are working hard to make that happen, and she said the level of Texas wine education spreading throughout the US and world has been heartening.

That work appears to have paid off. Last fall, William Chris Vineyards was recognized as the the No. 56 vineyard in the world, joining just six other US vineyards on the list and becoming the first ever Texas winery to be featured.

But if you thought local vintners would stop there, you’d be sorely mistaken.

Find out why

Asked

Do you drink Texas wine?

Click the button below to let us know your favorite bottles + brands.

Share your recommendations

Events

Tuesday, July 11

Babywearing Barre Fitness Workout | Tuesday, July 11 | 10-11 a.m. | Ballet Austin, 501 W. 3rd St., Austin | $60 | Practice wellness while holding your baby at this class.

Wednesday, July 12

Wine Wednesday | Wednesday, July 12 | 5-11 p.m. | Wanderlust Wine Co., 610 N. I-35, Austin | Free | Enjoy 50% off all wines on tap at Wanderlust Wine Co.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Austin FC Watch Party | Wednesday, July 12 | 9:30-11:30 p.m. | The Brewtorium, 6015 Dillard Cir., Austin | Cost of purchase | Watch the game with Los Verdes, Austin FC’s supporter group, and get $1 off beer during the game.

Thursday, July 13

The Drop-In | Thursday, July 13-Thursday, Aug. 10 | 7 p.m. | The Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin | Free | Watch live music at the Long Center’s brand new, 3D-printed stage every Thursday this summer.
Drink Up deal: Grassy Thursdays | Thursday, July 13 | 7-10 p.m. | St. Elmo Brewing Company, 440 E. St Elmo Rd., Austin | Free | Enjoy live bluegrass music — and don’t forget to mention ATXtoday at checkout for a free Carl.

Friday, July 14

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” | Friday, July 14 | 8-11 p.m. | Community First! Village, 9301 Hog Eye Rd., Austin | Free-$25 | Enjoy a movie on the big screen of Community Cinema.
Roald Dahl’s “Matilda the Musical“ | Now-Saturday, Aug. 12 | 8:15-10:30 p.m. | Zilker Hillside Theater, 2206 William Barton Dr., Austin | Free | Roald Dahl’s classic tale of a young girl discovering her magic comes to life at Zilker Park.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

State

Texas legislators announced a $18 billion proposed path for property tax relief yesterday. Under the current plan, $12 billion will be allocated for reducing school property tax rates, and every homeowner who homesteads their home will receive a $100,000 exemption. (KXAN)

Edu

A new, 10,000-sqft center at Austin Community College’s Highland campus gives kids a hands-on introduction to in-demand careers like advanced manufacturing, robotics, and biosciences. The Make It Center opens to the public this fall. (KUT)

Number

22 million. That’s how many people could be living in Austin in the year 2100, according to a new report by MoveBuddha. The analysis — which varies from city projections — predicts the Capital City will rank No. 3 largest in the country at that point, behind other Texas cities Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth. (KXAN)

Announced

Uchi is expanding from the Capital City to the Big Apple. The Austin favorite will open a space in New York City in 2025 and soon expand to locations in Los Angeles and Scottsdale, Arizona as well. (Eater Austin)

Sports

Yesterday, the Washington Nationals drafted Travis Sykora, a Round Rock ISD pitcher and Texas recruit. Travis, who threw a 101 mph fastball this past season, was selected No. 71 overall. (Austin American-Statesman)

Gallery

Strange lights in the sky? No worries — these flying objects are fully identified. Satellites from Elon Musk’s Starlink project appear to be the culprit behind a string of lights that hovered over Central Texas on Monday morning.

Trending

It’s Amazon Prime Day. Browse deals including up to 75% off Amazon devices, 60% off Gap apparel, and 40% off appliances from Ninja, Keurig, and Breville.*

Cause

🐾 Paws, pets, and pours

Support Austin Pets Alive! and drink for free with the new Pours for Pets passport

Support shelter animals with the new Austin Pets Alive! Pours for Pets passport. | Photo provided by Austin Pets Alive!

A month-long bar crawl that supports shelter animals? Sounds pawsitively purrfect.

Austin Pets Alive! launched Pours for Pets, a passport-style event that gives the bearer free beverages at 15 local bars and breweries. If you stop at every spot on the passport by the end of July, your name will be entered into a drawing for a bonus prize.

Participating businesses include:

Bouldin Acres
Central Machine Works
Radio Coffee & Beer
St. Elmo Brewing
Wanderlust Wine Co.
See the full list.

Order your passport for $45, and pick it up at any of Austin Pets Alive! Thrift locations.

Share ATXtoday

Share the good news. Get rewarded.

Have someone who needs to stay in the know? Get amazing rewards for every new subscriber you bring by sharing your unique referral link (below).

Facebook

Twitter

{{profile.vars.rh_totref_5}} friends are looped into all things local because of you.

Claim your rewards

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
London

From the editor

I love talking about Hill Country wineries, because I’m a Hill Country girl through and through.

I grew up in Marble Falls, but I have quite a bit of family in Hye and Fredericksburg. It’s been wild to see the growth of the wine industry on that little stretch of Hwy. 290, and I’ve only had the chance to try a handful of spots. Do you have any recommendations for my next day trip out west?

Missed our previous newsletter?

›

Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY