Wines from Southern US States on show at the London International Wine Fair - Stand R21

Wineries from the Southern United States will be exhibiting at this year’s London International Wine Fair.

The activity is being organised by The Southern US Trade Association (SUSTA) in order to help the wineries establish distribution in the UK. The regions represented will be Texas and Virginia.

The wine industry in these states is growing fast. Texas is now the fifth largest wine producing state in the US, and Virginia ranks 10th.

The main reason for this growth is the increasing interest in wines domestically, and the decline in other traditional agricultural sectors. In Texas, wine grapes have replaced cotton and grain crops because of the higher yield potential offered by grapes.

“Wines from the southern states are becoming more and more popular both in the US and abroad, so we are now undertaking a big push to assist as many wineries as possible to gain distribution in the UK as it widely acknowledged to be one of the most important export markets”, explains Terry Ovalle, State Marketing Coordinator for International Programs, Texas Department of Agriculture.

Wineries exhibiting:

Fall Creek Vineyards

Fall Creek Vineyards was established in 1975 by Texas businessman/rancher, Ed Auler and his wife, Susan. The vineyards are located eighty miles northwest of Austin in the Texas Hill Country where the sandy loam soil, warm days and cool breezes off Lake Buchanan provide an excellent microclimate for growing premium wine grapes.

Williamsburg Winery

Williamsburg Winery is Virginia’s largest winery with an annual production of some 60,000 cases. With approximately 100 wineries in Virginia, the Williamsburg Winery accounts for almost one-quarter of all wine production in Virginia.

The Williamsburg Winery was established in 1985 by the Duffeler family. The first wine produced, Governor’s White, was released in 1988 and won a Gold Medal within two weeks. Wines produced here are appealing to a broad range of wine lovers, from the occasional wine drinker to the wine enthusiast. Grapes planted include:

• Cayuga
• Petite Verdot
• Merlot
• Traiminette
• Vidal Blanc
• Cabernet Franc

Worldwide Marketing Corporation

An International trade and consulting company based in Georgia, Worldwide Marketing Corporation supplies US wines and spirits to countries all over the world.

Texas

Texas has more than 220 family-owned vineyards covering 3,700 acres, according to a 2007 Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association report. The Texas wine industry contributes more than $1 billion a year to the state’s economy and supports about 8,000 jobs for Texans.

Texas grapes include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Merlot. Texas wineries are also doing great work with grapes such as Sangiovese, Syrah, Riesling, Blanc du Bois and Viognier.

The main reason for this growth is the increasing interest in wines domestically, and the decline in other traditional agricultural sectors. In Texas, farmers are turning to wine grapes as a way to diversify their agriculture operations.

Virignia

Now home to more than 100 wineries and over 2,500 acres of vineyard, Virginia boasts a vast array of award-winning wines. Virginia wine is growing – in reputation, quality and appreciation.

Virginia’s wine industry has come a long way from its inception and continues to grow exponentially. In 1979, Virginia had just six wineries, and a little over 15 years ago a total of 29 wineries were producing 75,000 cases of wine. By 2001, the Commonwealth's wine industry had grown to 75 wineries, producing more than 285,000 cases of wine. And the industry continues to expand.

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