The Texas High Plains AVA is an American Viticultural Area located on the Llano Estacado region of Texas.[3] The appellation is the second largest American Viticultural Area in Texas, and covers an area of over 270,000 acres (422 sq mi). Most of the vineyards are on flat terrain at elevations between 3,000 feet (914 m) and 4,000 feet (1,219 m) above sea level. The Texas plains can be extremely dry, so most vineyards are irrigated with water from the Ogallala Aquifer.[2] The hardiness zones are 7a and 7b.[4]
| Wine region | |
 | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1993[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | Texas |
| Other regions in Texas | Bell Mountain AVA, Escondido Valley AVA, Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country AVA, Mesilla Valley AVA, Texas Davis Mountains AVA, Texas Hill Country AVA, Texoma AVA |
| Climate region | Continental |
| Soil conditions | Granitic, porphrytic and volcanic rocks, as well as limestone[2] |
| Total area | 270,000 acres (422 sq mi)[2] |
| Size of planted vineyards | 50 acres (20 ha)[2] |
| Grapes produced | Aglianico, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Montepulciano, Muscat Canelli, Orange Muscat, Pinot noir, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, Tempranillo, Viognier |
Wineries
editThere are at least six wineries located within the Texas High Plains AVA, although many wineries outside of the AVA source grapes from the high plains including Caprock Winery (the first publicly held Winery in the state) and Llano Estacado Winery.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "§ 9.144 Texas High Plains" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations. July 10, 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2007.
- ^ a b c d "Texas High Plains (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
- ^ "The Wine Growing Regions of Texas". Go Texas Wine. Texas Department of Agriculture. 2006. Archived from the original on December 27, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2007.
- ^ "USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map". United States Department of Agriculture. 2012.
- ^ "List of Wineries by County". Wine Society of Texas. 2006. Archived from the original on August 10, 2007. Retrieved December 16, 2007.