Texas Hill Country AVA

Texas Hill Country
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established1991
Years of wine industry51
CountryUnited States
Part ofTexas
Other regions in TexasEscondido Valley AVA, Mesilla Valley AVA, Texas Davis Mountains AVA, Texas High Plains AVA, Texoma AVA
Sub-regionsBell Mountain AVA, Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country AVA
Growing season216–235 days
Climate regionRegion II-III
Precipitation (annual average)24 to 28 in (610–710 mm)
Soil conditionssandy loam over nutrient rich reddish clay
Total area9.6 million acres (15,000 sq mi)
Size of planted vineyards2,000+ acres (810+ ha)
No. of vineyards35+
Grapes producedAglianico, Alicante Bouschet, Barbera, Blanc du Bois, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Cinsault, Graciano, Grenache, Lenoir, Malbec, Marsanne, Merlot, Montepulciano, Mourvèdre, Muscat Canelli, Nero d'Avola, Norton, Petit Sirah, Picpoul, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Tannat, Tempranillo, Touriga Nacional,Vermentino, Viognier, Zinfandel
Varietals producedBordeaux blends, Italian
No. of wineries100+

Texas Hill Country is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Central Texas north and west of the portion of the Balcones Fault which runs west of the cities of San Antonio and Austin, respectively. The 9.6-million-acre (15,000 sq mi) viticultural area expands across the Edwards Plateau. It was established as the nation's 136th and Texas' fourth AVA on November 29, 1991, by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing a petition submitted by Mr. Edwin Auler, on behalf of Hill Country winery and vineyard owners, proposing a viticultural area in central Texas, to be known as "Hill Country." The petitioner subsequently amended the petition to request that the name be changed to "Texas Hill Country." It is the state's southernmost viticultural area and geographically the third largest AVA after Upper Mississippi River Valley and Ohio River Valley. At the outset, there were 40 "commercial and/or significant experimental" vineyards and 10 commercial wineries, but, after 35 years, there are approximately 100 wineries/vineyards. There are two previously established viticultural areas entirely encompassed within Texas Hill Country. The sub-appellations are "Bell Mountain" (1986) and "Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country" (1988), both located within Gillespie County. The plant hardiness zones are 8a, 8b and 9a.

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