The Movie (in the Park)

The Wine Roads of Texas

As the festival winds down for the evening Sunday night, the park will be transformed into an outdoor movie theater by our friends at the Alamo Draft House. Sit back and relax on a blanket under the stars while watching the new KLRU-produced documentary which tells story of The Wine Roads of Texas!

KLRU-TV, the Public Television station in Austin, Texas, in partnership with Wes Marshall, author of The Wine Roads of Texas, presents the documentary mini-series The Wine Roads Of Texas. Featuring three half-hour programs highlighting the inspiring stories of the pioneers of the Texas wine industry.

Episode one starts off in the most romantic part of Texas, the Hill Country, a region known for its great wines and beautiful wineries. The segment will include visits to Becker Vineyards, Flat Creek Estate, Alamosa Vineyards, and Fall Creek Vineyards. Viewers will also meet Alphonse Dotson, a former pro football star who is now an award-winning grape grower at Certenberg Vineyards. Other highlights of the first episode include a trip to Cafe 909 in Marble Falls and tips about the varietals of the Hill Country from Wes Marshall. The program will also feature the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival.

Episode two covers the High Plains and West Texas, the region where the modern Texas wine industry was born. Thesegment features the wines of the High Plains and Borderlands as The Wine Roads of Texas heads west. Wineries visited include Llano Estacado, Pheasant Ridge, Cap*Rock and Val Verde. Viewers will meet one of the pioneers of the Texas wine industry, Bobby Cox, and visit Maiya's Restaurant in Marfa. Wes Marshall will also look at the West Texas wine varieties that are receiving world-wide recognition.

Episode three covers the region stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to North Texas, home to dozens of wineries and colorful wine makers. The segment will tour the Prairies and Coast region of Texas stretching from the Metroplex in the north to Galveston and Houston in the south. Featured wineries include Haak Vineyards, Messina Hof Winery, Homestead Winery, and Cross Roads Winery. This episode includes a visit to Stephen Pyle's Restaurant in Dallas, an internationally renowned destination and a trip to Grapevine for Winefest.

In addition to visiting wineries, viewers also see top Chefs prepare meals featuring Texas wines, learn about the varietals of the different regions, and experience some of the festivals that celebrate Texas wine.

"It was a great collaboration with the community and had financial support from HEB, the Texas Wine and Food Foundation and the wine industry," said Executive Producer Tom Spencer. "I think that audiences will be delighted to learn how Texas wines have come of age after they watch Wine Roads."

Tom Spencer and Wes Marshall were executive producers and Emmy-award winning filmmaker Dutch Rall was lead shooter, editor and director. Ray Benson served as the narrator and musicians who contributed original music include local favorite Justin Sherburn.

The Wine Roads of Texas is a production of KLRU-TV. Major funding for The Wine Roads of Texas was provided by H-E-B. Seed funding for the production was provided in part through a grant from The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas. Additional funding comes from the Texas Department of Agriculture in support of the Texas wine industry and by the Annual Texas Fall Fest & Wine Auction in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.

Admission to the movie is FREE for all Sunday festival attendees. The movie will be a "relaxing-on-the-grass" event. No seating will be provided, but a blanket or large towel is recommended if you don't want a grass stain on your butt.

And don't forget to be a little early to get some insight into the making of the movie from Wes Marshall during his movie introduction!

5/24/07 - Watch KXAN's coverage of the movie! CLICK HERE