Commissioner Miller Celebrates Texas Wine Month, Encourages Tourism With New Wine Trail Video Series (10/2/2015)

AUSTIN - Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller kicked off the start of Texas Wine Month today with the release of eight new wine tourism videos highlighting 14 wine trails across the Lone Star State. The wine industry contributes more than $1.8 billion to the Texas economy each year. Commissioner Miller invites everyone to visit Texas wineries throughout the month of October to celebrate Texas Wine Month and taste the flavors of the state’s wine country.

“Texas wineries are a special part of the Lone Star State, and they represent the perfect blend of agriculture and tourism,” Commissioner Miller said. “More than 1.5 million tourists flock to our wineries each year. I encourage you to watch our beautiful new videos and experience the Texas wine industry for yourself. Just watching them on the computer isn’t enough. I encourage everyone to find a wine trail near you and go experience it firsthand during October. After all, October is Texas Wine Month. Remember friends, from the field to the glass, Texas agriculture matters.”

To coincide with Texas Wine Month, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) and GO TEXAN program released the series of new videos, which feature beautiful vineyard scenes and a behind-the-scenes look at the wine-making process. The videos also afford viewers an opportunity to meet the people who make the Texas wine industry special. The wine trails highlighted in the video series take you across the state from the Pineywoods to Lubbock. Click here to visit the GO TEXANTV YouTube channel and watch the videos today.

Texas vineyards offer world-class wines and genuine Texas hospitality to visitors whether they come for a day trip, weekend visit or stay even longer. The state’s booming wine industry represents the perfect marriage of agriculture and tourism. Texas is the No. 5 wine-producing state in the nation and is home to more than 350 wineries. The state’s wineries are as diverse as the Texas landscape and are part of an exciting segment of the agriculture industry.

“It is a thrilling time to visit Texas wineries as they celebrate the end of the harvest in the vineyards and the beginning of the new wine releases,” said Debbie Reynolds, executive director of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association. “The Texas wine industry is vibrant and growing, and truly a favored destination by all native Texans and visitors to our great state. I can’t tell you how excited we are about the harvest this year; it’s the best ever in the history of our industry.”

Commissioner Miller encourages all Texans to watch the beautiful new wine trail videos and visit gotexan.org to find a winery near you. To learn more about the Texas wine industry and GO TEXAN, contact Wendy Womack at (512) 463-7170 or Wendy.Womack@TexasAgriculture.gov.