Small vineyards are struggling in Texas: Scale matters

Some are even pulling out grapes entirely.

Rising costs. Weather risk. Labor swings. One bad year can take them under.

But here’s the part most folks miss

The vineyards that survive (and thrive) are the ones with scale.

Why scale matters in Texas vineyards and ultimately Texas wine 

 

When you farm a handful of acres, every challenge hits harder:

• A narrow band of hail wipes out your whole block.

• A single broken pump delays irrigation.

• One broken tractor derails your spray schedule.

• A late frost? Total disaster.

Boutique farms feel every punch. They don’t have the buffer, or the equipment to absorb it.

But at scale, the game changes.

Mid-to-large vineyards like ours operate with the systems, machinery, and people to keep operations moving even when conditions are tough.

That’s not just a farming advantage. It’s a winemaker advantage. Scale matters.

Scale = consistency you can taste

 

A vineyard with scale is able to:

• Farm efficiently while still prioritizing quality

• Offset tonnage losses in one vineyard with fruit in another

• Keep pricing stable year after year

• Deliver reliable volumes you can plan around

• Maintain equipment, labor, and logistics without scrambling

That means you’re not hoping your grower “makes it through another year.”

You’re working with a partner who will be here - next season, the season after that, and long after that.

Stability isn’t sexy. But in this industry, it’s everything.

Why this matters for winemakers

 

Texas wineries are scaling. Production is scaling. Demand for Texas-grown fruit is scaling.

But the number of vineyards who can reliably supply that growth? That list is getting shorter these days.

This is why working with a large, sophisticated grower isn’t just convenient, it’s risk management for your wine program.

And that means you get fruit you can count on, year after year, harvest after harvest.