Vineyard

Grapes have almost always grown wild along Texas rivers, and the area is well known for its fertile soil and climate. But vineyards were not cultivated in the area until the Spaniards began their conquest in the 16th century. Later, in 1659, Father Garcia de San Francisco y Zuniga and Father Juan de Salazar cultivated the land as part of their missionary work. They produced sacred wines for their mass in what became Mission Senora de Guadalupe.

In 1876 T.V. Munson moved to Denison, Texas, and was accredited for classifying and breeding numerous grape varieties. Munson was instrumental in helping to control the havoc phylloxera, which was threatening the vineyards in France at the time. Munson's success was rewarded with the Legion of Honor for his work in grafting Texas root stock, (which was immune to Phylloxera) and shipping the species back to France. The wine industry was profitable in Texas until the event of prohibition in the early 1920’s.

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