The Texas High Plains AVA in Northwest Texas provides optimal grape-growing conditions—high elevation, flat terrain, low rainfall, temperature shifts, and low disease risk—producing wines with strong intensity and character.

Established: 1993
Planted Area: 8.8 million acres; around 3,000 planted
Climate: Cold, semi-arid
Soil Type: Calcareous soils, rich red sand, and clay over alkaline-rich caliche
Prominent Grape Varieties Grown: Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier, and Roussanne.

The Texoma AVA is the newest AVA in Texas, established in 2005 along the Texas- Oklahoma border. It is a historic center for grape research, notably by worldrenowned horticulturist and grape breeder, T.V. Munson.

Established: 2005
Elevation: 600–1300 feet
Climate: Cool
Soil Type: Sandy
Annual Rainfall: 30–40 inches
Prominent Grape Varieties Grown: Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Grenache, and Chardonnay.

The Mesilla Valley AVA, mostly located in New Mexico, includes parts of Texas where grapes are typically used in New Mexico wines. The region, located in the Little Rockies, is extremely dry, receiving only about 10 inches of rain annually.

Established: 1985
Elevation: 3000–4000 feet
Climate: Dry, arid
Soil Type: Sandy loam, gravel
Annual Rainfall: 10 inches
Prominent Grape Varieties Grown: Red Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo.

The Texas Hill Country, in central Texas, is a varied grape-growing region with diverse soils and climate. Its limestone and clay soils enhance wine quality by adding minerality and structure.

Established: 1991
Climate: Continental, hot summers/cool winters, humid climate
– threats of Pierce’s Disease
Soil Type: Limestone, granite, clay, gravel, alluvial, sandstone soils
Prominent Grape Varieties Grown: Tannat, Petite Syrah, Tempranillo, Aglianico, and Syrah.

Escondido Valley AVA was created for a single vineyard and producer located in the small area just east of the Davis Mountain AVA.

Established: 1992
Elevation: 2800–3200 feet
Climate: Semi-arid
Soil Type: Sandy loam, gravel
Annual Rainfall: 15 inches

The highest elevation of the state, the Texas Davis Mountains are located in the “Little Rockies” to the west, nearest to the city of Fort Davis.

Established: 1998
Elevation: 4500–8300 feet
Acres: 307,000 acres
Climate: Cold desert
Soil Type: Volcanic rock, granite, limestone
Annual Rainfall: 20 inches
Prominent Grape Varieties Grown: Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Fredericksburg is situated inside of Gillespie County and within the Texas Hill Country AVA, but with enough notable differences to be considered its own AVA.

Established: 1988
Elevation: 1400–2000 feet
Climate: Humid, subtropical
Soil Type: Alluvial, flint, iron-rich clay
Annual Rainfall: 29 inches
Prominent Grape Varieties Grown: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Petite Sirah, and Grenache

The Llano Uplift is currently under consideration to be a new AVA. It covers about 1.3 million acres in the northern half of the Texas Hill Country AVA, and entirely encompasses the small Bell Mountain AVA.

Elevation: 825–2250 feet
Climate: Subtropical
Annual Rainfall: 26–32 inches
Soil Type: Alluvial, sandy loam, granite

Situated entirely on the western borders of the proposed Llano Uplift AVA and bordering the Edwards Plateau, the Hickory Sands District is also under consideration to be a new AVA.

Elevation: 1300–2200 feet
Climate: Subtropical
Annual Rainfall: 25 inches
Soil Type: Granite, sandstone, iron-rich clay.