When you think of Texas wines, terroir is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. (If you are from outside of Texas, the first thing that comes to mind might be, “They make wine in Texas?”) The Grower Project is working to change that, though.
The Grower Project works with Texas grape growers to produce outstanding terroir-driven, single vineyard wines, and I was fortunate enough recently to try their The Grower Project ‘The Source’ Sangiovese 2018 at a recent tasting.
These Sangiovese grapes were grown in the Texas High Plains appellation on vines that are over 50 years old. Think about how incredible that is for a moment: Over 50 years ago, a farmer decided to plant grape vines in a region with virtually no wine market to speak of. The first Texas appellation wouldn’t exist for another 15 to 20 years, and the Texas High Plains appellation wouldn’t be designated for nearly 30 more years. For 50 years, though, these growers tended their vines, investing in the future.
There’s something really hopeful and beautiful about that to me, and I could taste that faith in these vines in the glass. This was an incredibly earthy medium-bodied wine with notes of raspberry, cranberry, and cherry jam. It was aged in stainless steel to really allow the essence of the terroir to shine through.
If you find a bottle from The Grower Project, pick it up and discover what Texas terroir is really all about.
🛍: @texas_ava
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