2023 Texas Grape Yield Severely Cut by Spring Freezes

PLANTERSVILLE, Texas — The Texas wine industry is reeling from what vintners are describing as a catastrophic growing season, as a combination of extreme weather events decimated the 2023 grape harvest. For many local producers, the fields that usually promise a bountiful autumn are instead sitting empty, forcing wineries to look across state lines to keep their businesses afloat.

At Bernhardt Winery in Plantersville, the situation is dire. Owner Jerry Bernhardt, who has navigated the challenges of Texas viticulture for years, described the season as the worst crop year in the state’s history. The damage began with an unseasonably warm mid-March, which triggered early bud break in the vines. That growth was quickly met with a brutal, unseasonably late freeze in late March and early April.

The late-spring frost acted as a death knell for the delicate, newly emerged buds. The impact was compounded by the lingering stress of a severe freeze in December 2022, which experts believe had already compromised the overall health and resilience of the vines.

The numbers reveal the scale of the disaster. Bernhardt’s estate vineyard in Plantersville, which normally yields between five and six tons of grapes, produced exactly zero pounds of fruit this year.

The devastation was not limited to the Gulf Coast region. The Texas High Plains, an area responsible for the majority of the state’s wine grape production, suffered an 80 to 90 percent loss. Bernhardt noted that his primary suppliers in the High Plains, who provided 28 tons of fruit to the winery last year, were able to deliver a meager three tons this harvest.

This shortfall has sent shockwaves through the industry, forcing winery owners to rethink their operations to ensure their doors remain open. With local supply chains effectively broken for the current vintage, wineries like Bernhardt are pivoting to out-of-state sourcing. By bringing in fruit from established growing regions in California, Washington, and Oregon, and blending it with existing stocks from the 2022 harvest, wineries hope to maintain their brand offerings despite the lack of local product.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension specialists have noted that the 2023 season serves as a stark reminder of the volatility inherent in Texas agriculture. While Texas wines have gained national acclaim in recent years for their distinct terroir and resilience, the compounding effects of climate instability present an ongoing challenge for growers.

For local consumers, the impact will be felt in the coming years as the current vintage hits the shelves. The scarcity of Texas-grown grapes will inevitably lead to higher production costs and a notable shift in the origin of the juice found in many bottles labeled as Texas wine.

As the industry looks toward the 2024 season, many growers are evaluating new methods for frost protection and vine management to mitigate the risk of future climate-driven crop failures. However, for many vintners in the state, the focus remains on surviving this current, unprecedented lean year.

For more information on the state of the Texas wine industry and updates from the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association, visit twgga.org.