HOUSTON (CW39) – Roaming in the fields of Blanc du Bois. I made the trip to Richmond, Texas to spend a lovely afternoon with Paul Bonarrigo, CEO and Head Winemaker of Messina Hof Winery. The grape growing season started in March and early April. The harvest for this location is normally late July or early August.

“It might be a little later this year because of the colder weather we’ve had this season,” said Paul.

Messina Hof also owns an estate in the High Plains near Lubbock, which is where most wine grapes are grown in the state of Texas.

“This season will continue until September, or even October,” he adds.

What do these grapes need to thrive?

“This region is very humid, there is a lot of humidity, which helps the vines to grow well. Sunlight is something Texas has a lot. Sunlight helps the vines to be healthy. The heat is good up to a point, once you get to around 105 degrees the plant will start to shut down. Paul said.

This can affect the ability of the plant to fully ripen the fruit. But humidity can help.

Paul says, “It is not extremely damaging, but it plays a role of challenge.”

June is the rainiest month in Houston. Then we see another peak of precipitation in September and October. Water management is an incredibly complex thing in vineyards. The vines are quite durable when it comes to water. They don’t need as much water as other crops like corn or cotton. You don’t want too much rain during the ripening season.

“You have to make sure they have just enough water to grow well, but not so much that it dilutes the quality of the fruit,” Paul says.

So, about the grapes that grow here …

“Blanc du Bois is a cross between indigenous grape varieties and classic grape varieties such as Muscat,” Paul informs us.

While not as cold hardy as the varieties you see in the northern states, it does have some inherent strength. Fortunately, the trees were dormant during the winter storm in February, minimizing impacts. Hailstorms, however. Wreak havoc on cultures across the country.

Texas is the nation’s leader in hail claims, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. It really has an impact on the agricultural scene.

Paul adds, “Hail is definitely something we are looking for.”

They work these vines entirely by hand.

“This allows us to pick the best fruit for the winemaking process,” he says.

Soon, says Paul, he wants to allow the community to get involved in the picking and crushing of the grapes here …

“It’s really telling how wine becomes what it is,” says Paul.

Teach them the entire process from farm to fermentation.

He adds that “it really recalls the tradition in Italy, where the whole community participated in the picking of the grapes”

This Friday, don’t forget your glasses! We go from the outside / in to see the impact of time on the taste and the fermentation process of a perfectly poured glass.