Blog contributed by Emily Searle, Agribusiness Marketing and Sales Coordinator, Rowland Taylor Vineyards
At Rowland Taylor Vineyards, we are dedicated to the Irreplaceable™ – producing exceptional Texas-grown grapes for exceptional Texas wine. For us, grape growing isn’t just about farming; it’s about fostering relationships, building trust, and cultivating a product that winemakers can count on year after year.
Securing contracts with wineries is essential to ensuring a successful harvest, but beyond the paperwork, it’s about creating partnerships that strengthen the Texas wine industry as a whole. Here’s a closer look at what that journey looks like through our eyes, and how it helps move Texas wine forward.
Finding Buyers: Connecting Through Shared Texas Roots
The first step in securing a grape contract is finding the right buyers: those who not only value quality fruit but also believe in supporting Texas-grown grapes. Whether it’s wineries, custom crush operations, or boutique winemakers, we see the opportunity to deepen our roots in our community.
One of the most meaningful ways we’ve made connections is through the Texas Wine Growers (TWG). As proud TWG members, we’re aligned with a mission that matters – promoting wines made with 100% Texas-grown fruit. Our membership has introduced us to like-minded producers who believe that authentic, traceable, Texas-made wines are the future.
Selling Texas-grown grapes to Texas wineries isn’t just good business, it’s good stewardship. It keeps our dollars, our identity, and our innovation right here in Texas.
Partnering with wineries like Calais Winery/French Connection Wines and Ab Astris, we are proving that Texas fruit and wines can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with wines from any region. Together, we’re making wines that don’t just say “Texas” on the label – they taste like Texas in every glass.
Online platforms like Texas Wine Lover and regional grape exchanges also help us connect with new partners. But often, making personal connections is one of the most effective ways we’ve secured contracts. We love getting out there, visiting wineries, and learning more about their challenges. Understanding their needs allows us to offer solutions, and many of our strongest partnerships have started with a simple conversation about farming practices, available varietals, and pricing.
The Contracting Process: Aligning on Quality and Purpose
Once a winery confirms their needs, the contracting process sets expectations and builds mutual confidence. We contract per ton and establish upfront what quality metrics matter most – sugar content, pH levels, ripeness targets, and more.
Texas is a big state, and with our vineyard based in the High Plains, many of our winery partners are hours away in the Hill Country or beyond. That distance makes communication and logistics even more vital. Who determines harvest? How is transport handled? Are there backup plans in case of rain? We aim to answer these questions before the first cluster is clipped.
Payment terms vary, but we always prioritize transparency. Whether buyers pay at harvest or post-fermentation, clear terms keep trust intact.
Challenges: Weather, Distance, and the Road Less Traveled
Like any agricultural venture, grape growing in Texas has its hurdles – market shifts, extreme weather, and the ever-present risk of crop loss. But we see these challenges as part of the calling. When the market dips or a storm rolls through, we return to what anchors us: faith, resilience, and a long view of the harvests still to come.
Quality disputes can happen, especially in extreme growing years. When they do, we choose integrity over ego. If something falls short, we own it. That commitment to honesty preserves our name – and the wines our grapes go into.
Logistics and distance between vineyard and winery partners can also be a strain, especially with the timing sensitivity of harvest. But even in those moments, our goal is the same: deliver Texas-grown fruit that makes Texas wine shine.
Why It Matters: Growing Texas Wine, One Contract at a Time
Grape contracts are more than business, they’re the bedrock of a shared commitment to build a stronger Texas wine industry. Every time a winery chooses to buy Texas fruit, they’re choosing to invest in this state – its soil, its growers, its story.
At Rowland Taylor Vineyards, we’re proud to help wineries leave their own unique fingerprint on our grapes, transforming them into wines that are truly, unapologetically Texan. These aren’t just wines with a story. They’re wines with a source—and that source matters.
Final Thoughts: Growing with Purpose, Growing for Texas
Securing grape contracts isn’t just about moving fruit, it’s about strategy, persistence, and relationship-building. At Rowland Taylor Vineyards, we approach this process with humility and dedication, always striving to grow the best fruit possible for the best wine. By understanding the process, preparing for challenges, and staying committed to excellence, we forge strong partnerships that will sustain our vineyard and the wineries we serve for years. We take pride in being a Texas grower and allowing wineries to leave their unique fingerprint on our grapes, transforming them into wines that are exceptional for their portfolio.
After all, at the heart of it all, we are dedicated to Striving for the Irreplaceable™ – and that means growing grapes, relationships, trust, and a future built on quality and integrity.
Texas Wine Growers Member Rowland Taylor grows about 60 acres of grapes in the High Plains and about 5 acres of grapes in the Gulf Coast.
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