Texas ranks among America’s top five wine-producing states, with more than 500 wineries stretching from the Panhandle to the Hill Country. The modern industry took root in the 1970s, but education quickly became the backbone of its growth. Research at Texas Tech University’s Department of Plant and Soil Science and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Viticulture Program has made Texas a leader in warm-climate grape growing and sustainable vineyard management.
Professional training thrives in private institutions. The Texas Wine School, based in Houston, is the state’s leading Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) provider, offering Levels 1–4 and advanced Wine Scholar Guild certifications. Its alumni include sommeliers, winemakers, and educators across the state. In Fredericksburg, the Hill Country Wine Academy focuses on wine education for tourism and tasting-room staff, complementing the region’s booming wine-trail economy. The Dallas Wine Education Center also hosts WSET programs and professional tasting workshops for North Texas hospitality professionals.
