The Tasting Panel magazine

July 2010

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The TDA produces wine guides and bro- chures, and it partners with the state tourism office on the eight registered wine trails. Social media are important, so the TDA created gotexanwine.org, where viewers can watch short WineCasts on the industry. I liked Kim McPherson’s (McPherson Cellars, Lubbock) interview about lesser-known but potential gold- mine Texas varietals Viogner and Sangiovese. After visiting four wineries, visitors can redeem the relatively new “passport,” part of a program that rewards private tastings with wine accessories and such. “It was really developed for our in-state population, but we’re finding that some of those redeeming the passports are out-of-state visitors,” explains Bobby Champion. According to some estimates, Texas is the second most popular wine destination in the country behind Napa/Sonoma. So whenever national publications mention Texas as a wine country destination, it’s always mentioned in conjunction with Napa/Sonoma. Bobby Champion says that will end: “Texas is unique. We need to just showcase Texas as Texas. Some day, with time, the comparisons to Napa will drop off.” On this day, Bobby Champion then joins a group of writers, sommeliers, and other inter- ested oenophiles in a Texas Two-Sip. These are TDA-sponsored blind wine tastings, with Texas versus the world, regularly given to consumers and other interested oenophiles. “We need to focus inside our state so Texans keep driving the popularity of Texas wines. Once that happens, everyone else will take notice,” says Bobby Champion. And rest assured, Bobby Champion is ready to direct your attention to today’s Texas wines. july 2010 / the tasting panel / 91 As State Coordinator for Wine Marketing, Bobby Champion directs the way to a bright future for Texas wines.

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