Texas White Wines, Masteclass by Alana Martinez, Mondial Des Vins Blancs Strasbourg

The 26th edition of the Mondial des Vins Blancs Strasboug is approaching. Let's recall an extremely interesting masterclass from last year's event on "Texas White Wines" presented by Longhorn Cellars winemaker Alana Martinez.

A few words about her.

Before becoming a Winemaker, Alana Martinez worked in the Air Force nuclear mission operations for over a decade where she held the rank of Major. To transition becoming a winemaker, she returned to school where she earned a B.S. in Viticulture and Enology at Texas Tech University.

The spark for her interest in winemaking ignited during her time on the central coast of California where she explored vineyards and became captivated by the science behind grape cultivation and winemaking.

Her winemaking philosophy revolves around crafting the best possible wine that stays true to each grape variety. Alana utilizes fermentation techniques and oak products to enhance flavor while maintaining a delicate balance in the final product. To her, winemaking is an intricate dance between art and science. While there is a solid scientific foundation, it’s the artistic choices made by each winemaker that result in a wide range of outcomes in the finished wine.

Alana embraces the challenges of winemaking with joy, relishing in the constant learning, problem-solving, and the surprises that come with each harvest. Texas winemaking, in particular, presents unique challenges including labor shortages, supply chain issues, and logistical hurdles due to the vast distances between vineyards and wineries in the Texas High Plains and Texas Hill Country regions.

On a personal note, Alana has a deep love for exploring new places and a passion for travel often embarking on adventures with her husband, Greg, and family. She finds solace in her garden and property and her favorite meal is a rich steak dinner paired with sauteed mushrooms and onions and complimented by a full-bodied red wine, such as Longhorn Cellar’s Petit Verdot.

Alana’s expertise extends beyond crafting wines; she has been a wine judge at several international wine competitions including the prestigious Le Mondial Des Vins Blancs in Strasbourg France https://www.mondial-vins-blancs.com/en/ The Kerrville Times featured Alana as Winemaker to Watch in a 2023 feature article Kerrville Daily Times Winemaker Article

Alana is grateful for the opportunity to make great wines at Longhorn Cellars and to meet amazing people at the winery and when hosting wine-tasting events. She is thrilled to be offering custom crush services at the new production facility at Longhorn Cellars.

The presentation

Texas is the site of the first vineyard established in North America by Franciscan priests circa 1662. As European settlers followed the development of mission outposts, they brought more grapevine cuttings, further developing the industry through the 1800s. Today, Texas has more than 4,000 acres of producing vineyard farmland.

Texas has eight AVAs, although many vineyards exist outside the specified AVAs. For a wine to mention an AVA on the label, 85% of the volume of wine must come from grapes grown in that designated region.

Texas grape growers have learned what varieties do well in Texas climate and soil. Texans are proud to share their award-winning Texas wines made with Texas grapes.

Texas has a long history of wine production. The sunny and dry climate of the major winemaking regions in the state have drawn a comparison to Portuguese wines. The state is home to more than 36 members of the Vitis grapevine family with 15 being native to the state, more than any other region on earth. As of 2006, the state had more than 3,200 acres (1,300 ha) planted with Vitis vinifera. The Texan wine industry is continuing its steady pace of expansion and has gained a reputation as an established wine growing region in the United States.