Writer: Paul Schattenberg, 210-859-5752, paschattenberg@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Brad Cowan, 956-383-1026, brad.cowan@ag.tamu.edu
MONTE ALTO – The Grape Growing and Wine Festival 2018 will be from 4:30-8 p.m. April 7 at Rio Farms Inc., 25601 N. Farm-to-Market Road 88 in Monte Alto.
The festival is presented in cooperation with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service and Texas Farm Credit.
Established in 1941, Rio Farms is an historical 18,000-acre private farming organization in Hidalgo and Willacy counties. It was chartered by the U.S. government as a “charitable, benevolent institution” and in the early 1970s became an agricultural research and demonstration operation.
“Today Rio Farms focuses on agricultural research, education, land improvements and facilities,” said Brad Cowan, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent, Hidalgo County, who will provide a tour of the research and demonstration vineyard.
The program will be moderated by Andy Scott, director of research at Rio Farms.
Additional topics and presenters will include:
— Commercial winemaking – representatives of Lavaca Bluffs Winery, Texas Legato, Dos Rios Winery and Monte Alto Vineyard.
— Home winemaking – Dr. Rey and Bobbi Rodriguez, Art and Melinda Delgado, Michael and Claudia Sander, George and Gracie Bennack, and Craig Williams.
— Progress in Developing Pierce’s Disease Resistant Table Grapes – Dr. Craig Ledbetter, crop diseases, pests and genetics research, USDA-ARS, Parlier, California.
— Where Wine Quality Begins – Frances Pontasch, AgriLife Extension program specialist – viticulture, College Station.
The program will be followed by a reception featuring food, wine and fellowship to begin at 7:10 p.m., Cowan said.
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