Weighing the Opportunities

Pros and Cons
As you consider growing wine grapes after reading the Texas Wine Grape Guide, here's a checklist of Pros and Cons.

• The Texas wine industry is well established, contributing $100 million to the state's economy.

• Wine sales in Texas are currently $500 million a year and the market is growing.

• Land is available for about $1,000 to $4,000 an acre in some of the state's best grape-growing areas.

• A new state law is easing restrictions against selling and shipping wine to dry areas of Texas, which should increase demand.

• Financing for vineyard start-up costs may be possible through the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority.

• Diversifying into new crops such as wine grapes has potential to offer added income.

• Vineyard cultivation requires significant investments of time and money.

• Vineyard cultivation is labor-intensive and labor shortages may be a potential issue.

• Texas vineyards face formidable weather challenges - heat, intense sunlight, unwanted rainfall, early fall freezes, late spring frosts, hail and wind.

• Pierce's disease, viruses, fungi and pests must be battled for success. Pierce's disease, in particular, may be an insurmountable problem in some areas.

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