It was no accident that Vijay and Subada Reddy found their way to the Texas High Plains. As passionate scientists with a five-generation family history in farming, the Reddys settled in the Texas High Plains town of Lubbock in 1971. Already known for cotton farming, the Reddys were among the early pioneers in the region’s dramatic expansion as an extraordinary winegrowing region in the 1990s.
According to the Texas Wine Grape Growers Guide, a publication produced by Texas A&M University, there were plenty of opportunities for the Reddys to make their mark in the industry. In fact, the guide recorded growth in grape plantings and wine productions from 1,400 gallons in the late 1970s to 1.6 million gallons in the late 1990s.
The Reddys, who own the second oldest active vineyard in Terry County, relied on the Texas Grape Growers Guide as they began selecting the grapes they wanted to cultivate, a number that stands at 38 varieties today, making Reddy Vineyards the most diverse vineyard in the state.
During the period of growth that saw the Reddys plant their 400-plus acres, the state was welcoming a bevy of other Texas grape growers. In a short span, the vineyard holdings in the state swelled to an impressive 12,000-plus acre spread over eight wine-growing regions.
The Texas High Plains AVA, a region that includes Amarillo, Brownfield, Lubbock, and other towns spread out in the Texas Panhandle, is where Reddy Vineyards is located. There are more than 4,000 acres planted with wine grapes in this corner of the state, where the vineyards stretch out along flatlands and mesas and grapes thrive in the region’s higher elevations, averaging 3,500 feet above sea level.
The Vineyards in Texas High Plains are planted at a high elevation of 3,305 feet and benefit from a long growing season with warm days and cool nights. Sandy loam soils with deep limestone deposits protect the vines from pests while forcing the vines to produce grapes with concentrated flavors. This unique terroir, unlike anywhere else in Texas, allows the Reddys to grow grapes with exceptional balance, depth, flavor, and intensity.
This unique terroir also allows the Reddys to cultivate a wide selection of grapes. Among the varieties that the Reddys grow are Agliancio, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Montepulciano, Mourvèdre, Muscat Canelli, Negroamaro, Orange Muscat, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Pinot Gris, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Viognier.
The Texas High Plains is nearly four times the size of the state’s next largest American Viticultural Area (AVA), the Texas Hill Country. And while the Texas Hill Country is home to over 50 wineries, it’s the Texas High Plains where 85 percent of the entire state’s wine grapes are produced.
The Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association, the industry’s champion, tracks the successes of Texas winegrowers, including the $13.1 billion dollars that grapes and wine contribute to its bottom line. It is also the authority on where to go and what to do—an important resource for wine lovers. From wine festivals that take place all over Texas to the more than 75 grape varieties that are grown and used to make Texas wines, the Texas Grape Growers Association is a one-stop source of information about Texas wine.
Texas winegrowers take great pride in their work and are diligent in protecting the authenticity ofTexas wines—wines made with grapes grown only in Texas. The Reddys go a step further and make all of their wines with only 100 percent estate-grown Texas fruit. With their exquisite vineyard and boutique winery, the Reddys will continue to pioneer the Texas wine industry for years to come.
Visit Reddy Vineyards in the panhandle of Texas to see what West Texas grape growers do best—grow premium fine wine grapes to make Texas’s best wines.
