Our Town: Brownfield Grape Festival

LUBBOCK, Texas (KJTV) - There are nearly four thousand acres of vineyards in Terry County. That’s more than any other place in Texas. For many, the fruit is exported to support the rest of the state.

“There are many, many varieties of grapes planted here in terry county, so many different types of wines are produced with grapes produced here,” Lorena Valencia, with the Brownfield Chamber of Commerce, said.

While many Texans may think of the Hill Country when they pick up a bottle of wine, the label can be deceptive.

“A lot of people do assume that, because there are so many wineries down in the Fredericksburg area and in Grapevine, that those should be the Grape Capital of Texas, but no. This is where all the grapes come from,” Valencia said.

Since 2013, Valencia says that industry has propped up Brownfield and Terry County. She says no business related to grape growing closed during the pandemic.

“It employs so many people that otherwise would have to go somewhere else,” she said.

To honor that contribution, Brownfield is throwing its Vineyard Festival at the end of July. The two-day event will host tasting and tours, including a vineyard and a crush facility.

“You get to see all the aspects from the vine to the bottle,” Valencia said.

It’s set for July 30 and 31 at Reddy vineyards. Tickets can be purchased online.

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