Texas Hill Country Wineries Grower Field Day and Benefit events have already raised over $27,000 for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Viticulture and Fruit Lab.
The “Grower Field Day and Consumer Education Seminar and Dinner” will be held starting at noon November 22 at Bending Branch Winery, 142 Lindner Branch Trail in Comfort. The event, presented by Texas Hill Country Wineries and sponsored by Bending Branch Winery and Hoover Valley Vineyards, will benefit the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Viticulture and Fruit Lab in Fredericksburg.
“This program will focus on both grower and consumer education related to area viticulture,” said Jim Kamas, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist in pomology and viticulture, Fredericksburg. “The overall thrust of the program will be how to identify and implement sustainable vineyard practices.”
Kamas said he is grateful for the efforts of the Texas Hill Country Wineries organization and area wineries for their financial support of the lab. “This support will allow us to do additional research on those issues having a negative impact on wine grape yield and quality, as well as other issues affecting Hill Country and statewide viticulture,” he said.
Program registration begins at 11:30 am and attendees are asked to arrive before noon.
The event begins with lunch from noon to 1 pm, followed by the presentation “Bending Branch Philosophy” by John Rivenburgh of the winery.
Educational presentations and speakers will be:
- Tools for Sustainable Grape Disease Management, David Drews, agriculture and food safety representative, BioSafe Systems, LLC.
- Development of a Phage Based Bio-Control System for Pierce’s Disease, Dr, Carlos Gonzales, professor of plant bacteriology, Texas A&M University, College Station.
- Sustainability, Jim Kamas and Jacy Lewis, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Viticulture and Fruit Lab.
- Your Vine Is Sick, Now What Do You Do?, Sheila McBride, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Viticulture and Fruit Lab.
- Enhancing Grape Extraction, Dr. Bob Young, Bending Branch Winery.
Presentations will be followed by a question-and-answer session to begin at 4:45 pm, then a wine break at 5:15 pm.
The cost for the field day alone, which includes lunch, is $50.
January Wiese, executive director of Texas Hill Country Wineries, said, “We’re hoping to raise another $10,000-plus for the lab from this event.”
Wiese said she hopes program attendees will also participate in the evening’s benefit dinner. “We know those attending the dinner will enjoy the delicious flavors of Spain with Leslie Horne of Aurelia’s Chorizo, who will prepare her famous paella,” she said. “Served right off the fire, this dish will not cease to amaze, especially when paired with Bending Branch wines.”
The cost for dinner alone is $75 per person and the cost for the field day, including lunch, along with the benefit dinner is $125 per person.
“Because seating is limited, we ask those interested in participating in dinner or attending both the field program and dinner to purchase tickets by November 19,” Wiese said.
For more information and to register, contact Wiese at 872-216-9463 or january@texaswinetrail.com. Tickets can be ordered online at http://texaswinetrail.com/store/item/grower-field-day