Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/528936
July 2015 WINES&VINES 73 WINE EAST WINE INDUSTRY NEWS A ustin, Texas—Over Memo- rial Day weekend, the Texas Hill Country wine region west of Austin experienced heavy rains and flooding. While vineyards are usually planted on higher elevations, the rain im- p a c t e d b o t h v i n e y a r d s a n d wineries. "It's crazy," Ed Hellman, pro- fessor of viticulture at Texas Tech University and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension told Wines & Vines. "We've gone from extreme drought to flooding. Across the state, we're way above normal rainfall. The High Plains, espe- cially, have seen more rainfall." John Rivenburgh, director of winery and vineyard management at Bending Branch Winery in Comfort, Texas, reported that their vineyards in the Texas Hill Country received 13 inches of rain in 12 hours on May 23. According to Rivenburgh, roads and bridges were out, ranchers lost fences, and there was mud everywhere. Hellman said he was con- cerned that the rainfall in the vine- yards on the High Plains near Lubbock, Texas, would result in more fungal disease than usual, adding that he's seen some pho- mopsis. Powdery mildew and black rot are also a problem. He said, however, "If we can dodge the hail bullet and keep diseases under control, the grapes look great. We could have the largest crop we've ever had." The increase in potential crop load comes partly from new vine- yards bearing fruit and partly be- cause this is the first frost-free spring since 2012. On May 26, the Texas House of Representatives approved leg- islation that would allocate a por- tion of wine sales and excise tax revenue to wine marketing, edu- cation and research programs. The Texas State Senate passed Senate Bill 881 on May 5, and it was awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott's signature at press time. The legislation modifies Texas' Alcoholic Beverage Code, which provides for tax revenue alloca- tions and exceptions for certain wine-related revenue. The bill would fund research and develop- ment of Texas wine from revenue collected from sales and excise taxes on wine sold in Texas. Up to $2 million would be allocated per year from 2015 until 2025 to pro- grams at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Tech Uni- versity Viticulture and Enology program, the Texas Wine Market- ing Research Institute at Texas Tech University and the T.V. Mun- son Viticulture and Enology Cen- ter of the Grayson County Junior College District. —Linda Jones McKee Wine East Covering Eastern North America Good Legislative News Follows Texas Rainstorms Guests at Becker Vineyards in Stone- wall, Texas, took shelter in the cellar during a tornado warning May 25, when the High Plains area of Texas experienced heavy rains and storms.