And the month-long festivities will start next week with a special luncheon at Fearing’s (Hi, Susan!). After that, our slogan for the next 30 days will be: Go Out. Go Eat. GO TEXAN. Read SideDish. Ok, I added the last part but the good folks at the Texas Agricultural Department have been working hard to promote all things Texan and we will support them here.
If you can’t make it to Fearing’s on October 1st, click here to find another restaurant participating in the first-ever statewide dine-out day. These restaurants will offer special Texas menu items and wine pairings and many of them have pledged to donate a portion of the day’s proceeds to Texas food banks. Win, win, win.
In the mean time, here are some fun food foodie facts about Texas:
– Last year, approximately 28,000 sample glasses of Texas wine were poured at the State Fair Wine Garden. (And I didn’t even go last year!)
– Texas is the fifth-largest wine producing state, with 163 wineries producing an estimated 2.4 million gallons a year. There are more than 280 vineyards that cover 3,100 acres. (People, we can’t be fifth at anything. Forget that California Cab. Drink Texas.)
– Of the nearly $1.35 billion that Texas wines contribute to the state’s economy, a majority is directly related to tourism. (Oh, for a second I thought that read “voyeurism.” Tourism/voyeurism? Is there much of a difference? Who cares, drinking wine is healthy for Texas.)
– Nearly 1 million tourists visit Texas wineries each year. (Seriously? That’s all? Go to a Texas winery now. It’s the perfect time of the year. Let’s get that number way up.)
– There are 8 viticultural areas in Texas: the Texas Hill Country viticultural area is the second-largest in the U.S., covering 15,000 square miles. (Yes, viticulture is a big word, but these stats are coming from agri-types, so it’s up to you to get smart. Vinticulture is just a fancy Latin word for growing grapes.)
– The Texas Hill Country is the #2 wine destination, just behind Napa-Sonoma, according to an Orbitz survey. (Screw Orbitz, let’s measure the snob factor in Napa-Sonoma–that will bring those numbers down. Next.)
– Texas has dedicated more than $4.5 million to supporting and growing the Texas wine industry. (And hopefully after writing this post, my check will be in the mail.)
– Varietals that show promise in Texas include, among others, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Viognier and Syrah. (OK kids, breathe into it. You’ve tasted all of those grapes even though you may not have known it. The next time you reach for a Chardonnay, pick out a Viognier. (Becker makes a bitchin’ one. I think the pleasantness of the wine and the lower price will win you over. Plus, they rhyme!)
