History of Texas Wine

TIMELINE OF TEXAS HISTORY

1600s

Spanish missionaries begin cultivating grapes near present-day El Paso.

1800s

European settlers to South and Central Texas start vineyards using grapevine cuttings brought over from their native missionaries.

1843

Thomas Munson is born in Astoria, Illinois.

1876

Thomas Munson moves to Denison, Texas.

1883

Frank Qualia founded Val Verde Winery at Del  Rio. It is the oldest bonded winery currently in  operation in Texas.

1888

The French government awards Thomas Munson the Legion of Honor for his Texas-grown, phylloxera-resistant rootstock that saved France’s wine industry.

1900

As the century turns, Texas has a thriving wine industry with 25 wineries in operation.

1909

Thomas Munson publishes Foundations of American Grape Culture. It becomes the handbook for U.S. grape growers.

1919

Prohibition forces the closing of Texas wine operations.

1933

Prohibition is repealed, and the Texas wine industry begins again on a smaller scale.

1970

Bobby Smith starts a vineyard in Springtown and the Sand Land Grape Grower Association launches operations west of Lubbock. A new  generation of Texas winemaking begins.

1986

Llano Estacado Winery wins a Double Gold award at the prestigious San Francisco Fair Wine Competition, putting Texas wine on the world stage.

1986

The Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festiva l is launched, creating a high-profile showcase  for Texas wine.

2001

The Texas Legislature creates the Texas Wine Marketing Assistance Program.

2004

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo launches  its first International Wine Competition.

2005

Texas has 85 wineries in operation and an additional 19 in development.

2005

The Texas Legislature approves a bill allowing wineries to ship their wines anywhere in the  state.

2009

Texas has 188 wineries and 315 grape growers.

2015

Texas has nearly 350 wineries that contribute $13.2 billion to the Texas economy.

2017

The Texas Department of Agriculture launches UncorkTexasWines.com webpage and Uncork New Possibilities Campaign.

2018

More than 400 wineries across Texas.

2020

Uncork Texas Wines launches the #SipandStaySafe initiative amid pandemic challenges.

2021

Texas has nearly 600 wineries that contribute $20.35 billion to the Texas economy.

2022

The Grape Compromise created further specificity for wines labeled with a Texas county, American Viticultural Area (AVA), or single vineyard site.

2024

Texas wineries are awarded the second-highest number of medals among all states at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

2025

The Texas wine industry has around 600 wineries that contribute $24.39 billion annually to the Texas economy

Texas Wine Timeline

Milestones in Texas Wine History

From early missionary plantings to global recognition, Texas wine has evolved through centuries of tradition, innovation, and resilience.

1600s: Spanish missionaries planted the first grapevines near El Paso.

1883: Frank Qualia founded Val Verde Winery, still in operation today.
Late 1800s: Thomas Munson developed phylloxera-resistant rootstock that saved French vineyards.

Early 1900s: Texas had 25 wineries before Prohibition (1919–1933) shut them down.

1970s: Modern revival of the wine industry began.

2000s–Present: Texas became the 5th-largest wine-producing state, with 600+ wineries and 8 AVAs.

2024: Texas wineries are awarded the second-highest number of medals among all states at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Wine Legends of Texas

Pioneers of Texas Wine:
Celebrating Our Rich Heritage and Influential Figures

Thomas Volney Munson

Pioneer horticulturist based in Denison in the late 1800s. He developed phylloxera-resistant rootstock, which played a critical role in saving the French wine industry. In recognition, he was awarded the French Legion of Honor.

Frank Qualia

In 1883, he founded Val Verde Winery in Del Rio, which remains the longest-operating bonded winery in Texas. His work represents one of the earliest foundations of commercial winemaking in the state.

Bobby Smith

Instrumental in the 1970s revival of Texas viticulture. He established a vineyard in North Texas and co-founded the Sand Land Grape Growers Association, helping to build the modern Texas wine industry.

Texas Wine Revival

Impact of Prohibition and the Revival of Texas Wine

1919–1933

Prohibition brought Texas’ wine industry to a complete stop.

POST-REPEAL

Recovery was slow, and winemaking remained limited for decades.

1970S

A true revival began with the planting of new vineyards and passionate growers returning to the land.

1986

Llano Estacado Winery won Double Gold in San Francisco, gaining international recognition.

Explore Texas Wines

The Current State of Texas Wine

With key legislation passed in 2005 and a rapidly expanding wine scene, Texas has entered a new era. Today, the state’s wineries thrive through direct-to-consumer models, wine clubs, and tourism. As of 2023, Texas is home to over 800 bonded wineries and contributes an estimated $24.39 billion annually to the state economy through wine production, sales, tourism, and related services. With increasing AVA recognition and national awards, Texas is firmly established as one of the leading wine regions in the United States.

Explore Texas Wines

Discover More About Texas WineS

Explore the charm of Texas wineries. Plan your visit, taste award-winning wines,
and discover what makes each region unique.

EXPLORE NOW

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Uncork Texas Wines is an initiative by the Texas Department of Agriculture dedicated to promoting Texas-grown wines, local wineries, grape growers and wine tourism across the state. Discover award-winning varietals, explore AVA regions, and plan your next tasting trip—everything starts with Texas wines.