Texoma AVA

Texoma AVA sits on the south side of Lake Texoma and the Red River along the Texas-Oklahoma border, covering portions of Montague, Cooke, Grayson, and Fannin counties. The name Texoma is a portmanteau of Texas and Oklahoma, reflecting its border position. At 2.3 million acres, it ranks as the third largest AVA in Texas after the Texas Hill Country and Texas High Plains. Elevations range from 597 to 1,271 feet above sea level, and the region sits 60-100 miles north of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

• Spans 3,650 square miles across four north Texas counties
• Elevations from 597 to 1,271 feet (182 to 387 meters)
• Lake Texoma moderates temperature extremes and reduces frost damage
• Third largest AVA in Texas by area

Texoma has a humid subtropical climate with temperate winters and warm to hot summers. Annual rainfall ranges from 30 to 40 inches, and diurnal temperature variation of 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit preserves acidity and aromatic complexity in the grapes. Spring frosts are a regular risk, making later-budding varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon better suited to the region than earlier-budding alternatives. The soils span 36 series including silty loam, clay, and alluvial types. High sand content makes them naturally phylloxera-resistant, eliminating the need for grafted rootstocks in many vineyards.

• Humid subtropical climate with 30-40 inches of annual rainfall
• Diurnal temperature swings of 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit support acid retention
• 36 soil series identified as suitable for viticulture
• Naturally phylloxera-resistant soils due to high sand content

The Texoma region has a winemaking history rooted in the 19th century, when German and French settlers established early vineyards. The most consequential figure in the region's history is T.V. Munson, a renowned American horticulturist and viticulturist who conducted experimental vineyard work and phylloxera resistance research in the late 1800s. Munson developed phylloxera-resistant rootstocks by grafting Vitis vinifera onto native American rootstocks, a technique that saved the French wine industry from the devastating phylloxera epidemic of the 1870s. He called the region a 'grape paradise.' Today, Grayson County College maintains the T.V. Munson Memorial Vineyard, preserving 65 of the 300 grape varieties Munson developed, and offers an associate degree in viticulture and enology.

• German and French settlers established vines in the region during the 19th century
• T.V. Munson's grafting research in the late 1800s saved the French wine industry from phylloxera
• Grayson County College maintains 65 of Munson's 300 developed grape varieties
• Grayson County College offers an associate degree in viticulture and enology

Texoma grows a broad range of varieties suited to its warm climate and phylloxera-resistant soils. Red plantings include Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Pinot Noir, with GSM blends producing balanced, fruit-forward, medium-bodied wines with soft tannins and savory spice. White varieties include Chardonnay, Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, Picpoul Blanc, and the hybrid Blanc du Bois, as well as the hybrid red Chambourcin. The European-influenced white lineup produces wines with a cooler-climate character, aided by the region's diurnal temperature range.

• GSM blends are a signature style, delivering fruit-forward reds with soft tannins and savory spice
• Rhone whites including Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier thrive in the warm climate
• Blanc du Bois and Chambourcin are hybrid varieties well-adapted to humidity
• Later-budding Cabernet Sauvignon carries lower spring frost risk than earlier-budding varieties

As of 2025, Texoma AVA hosts nine resident wineries and six vineyards. Notable producers include Munson Memorial Vineyard at Grayson County College, Hidden Hangar Vineyard and Winery, Hartman Vineyard, Breaking Bud Vineyard, 5 Fifty-Five Vineyard and Winery, Edge of the Lake Vineyard, and Lonesome Vine. The proximity to Dallas-Fort Worth, just 60 to 100 miles to the south, provides a significant urban market for the region's wines and supports ongoing investment in the local wine industry.

• Nine resident wineries and six vineyards operate within the AVA as of 2025
• Munson Memorial Vineyard at Grayson County College anchors the region's educational mission
• Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area provides a major nearby consumer market
• Hidden Hangar, Hartman Vineyard, and 5 Fifty-Five Vineyard are among the established producers