Texas High Plains AVA

Texas High Plains
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established1993
Years of wine industry81
CountryUnited States
Part ofTexas
Other regions in TexasBell 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
Growing season225 to 230 days
Climate regionRegion IV-V
Heat units3800–4400 GDD
Precipitation (annual average)14 to 20 in (360–510 mm)
Soil conditionsGranitic, porphrytic and volcanic rocks, as well as limestone
Total area8 million acres (12,500 sq mi)
Size of planted vineyards3,700+ acres (1,500+ ha)
No. of vineyards18
Grapes producedAglianico, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Cinsault, Dolcetto, Gewurztraminer, Grenache, Malbec, Marsanne, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Mataro, Montepulciano, Muscat Canelli, Orange Muscat, Petit Verdot, Pinot noir,Riesling, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Tannat, Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional, Zinfandel
No. of wineries15

Texas High Plains is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located on the Llano Estacado region of northwestern Texas. It was established as the nation's 144th and Texas' sixth AVA on March 2, 1993, by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing a petition submitted by Clinton M. McPherson, on behalf of High Plains vinegrowers, proposing a viticultural area in the Texas Panhandle to be known as "Texas High Plains." The wine appellation is the second largest AVA in Texas encompassing over 8 million acres (12,500 sq mi). Most of the vineyards are on flat terrain at elevations between 3,000 and 4,000 feet (910–1,220 m) above sea level.
The viticultural area also intensively cultivates cotton, sorghum and wheat as the predominant crops, irrigated from the Ogallala Aquifer. The elevations are between 3,000 and 4,000 feet (910–1,220 m) above sea level. At the outset, vineyards cultivated approximately 2,000 acres (810 ha) with a growing interest in viticulture. There were four wineries active within the viticultural area and nearly half of all commercial wine grapes grown in Texas are cultivated in the Texas High Plains. There are currently 3,700+ acres (1,500+ ha) of cultivation in the High Plains on 18 vineyards sourcing 15 wineries. The High Plains can be extremely dry, so vineyards are also irrigated from the Ogallala Aquifer. The hardiness zones are 7a, 7b and 8a.

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