This year’s grape harvest in the Texas Hill Country is predicted to be early and excellent — AKA one of the best in Texas history! Barring any unexpected weather challenges, the 2017 crop looks great in terms of yield and quality in both the Texas Hill Country and Texas High Plains AVAs.
Here’s a snapshot of what to expect from some of our favorite Texas wineries:
Harvest began this week with Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon grapes. The preliminary outlook is looking good. Cooler temperatures leading into the summer yielded higher acids. Looking forward to this year’s vintage in the bottle!
Bending Branch Winery is among the first wineries in Texas that have already begun harvesting, with some early-ripening Blanc du Bois and Sauvignon Blanc already in the door from custom crush clients.
After going through the warmest winter on record and very early bud break, Brennan Vineyards was understandably concerned about a devastating late freeze, which thankfully did not happen.
The winery is expecting a large crop of exceptional quality from the Salt Lick Vineyards here in the Hill Country. Only one of their vineyards in the High Plains received hail in the early spring; everything else there is very good.
Milder than usual winter temperatures saw Kuhlken Vineyards awakening and bud breaking earlier than what is normally expected. Its two blocks of Tempranillo well on their way through veraison and Grenache not far behind.
Harvest in the Texas Hill Country is definitely ahead of schedule with Spicewood Vineyards expecting to harvest its estate Sauvignon Blanc and Tempranillo the week of July 16. An early harvest is a good omen for Spicewood Vineyards.
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