Record Grape Harvest Helps Texas Wineries

LUBBOCK COUNTY -- "This year is probably the largest crop of grapes in the history of Texas," said Phillip Anderson, General Manager of Caprock Winery.

He says this year's weather conditions were perfect for grape growing.

"We didn't have a late freeze and we had an early harvest and we had a lot of people that planted grapes that should have been ready last year and they weren't because we had such a tough year so this year was doubly good," said Anderson.

"All the rains came the right time in my opinion. We were able to get the quality we were looking for in the vineyard," said Chris Hull, winemaker at Llano Estacado Winery.

Caprock's competition has also seen an above average crop. Hull said this is one of the best harvests he's seen.

He said, "I started in 96 here at llano and I can remember a number of really good harvests, I think this does rank at close to the top."

Last year was a rough year for local grape crops, but this year's great harvest has them well on the way to recovery.

"2011 was kind of a detrimental year, I think at least for the vineyards we work with due to the heat, due to the drought, due to the freeze that we had early on. Compared to that, this year is leaps and bounds above we had higher yields, I think higher quality in the vineyards," said Hull.

Anderson said, "In 2011 we had an early freeze then we had some late hail storms and so a lot of people we had contracts for twenty-five tons and we would get nothing or two or three tons. This year we had contracts fro 25 tons and they were calling us saying will you take 30 tons? And that was great.

From grape growers to wineries, the entire local wine community stands to benefit from this record crop

"We are generating so much money in Texas and particularly in the high plains because of the grapes and we have a year like last year where we don't get very grapes. Many it impacts people all the way down the line this year is going to make for a lot of happy farmers," said Anderson.