First-ever Texas Black Spanish grape symposium

Kaz will be speaking at length

CAT SPRING — The Austin County Grape Growers and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service will be co-sponsoring the first-ever Black Spanish Symposium in Texas on May 6 in Cat Spring.

“The agenda is packed with a diverse range of topics on grape-growing and winemaking with Black Spanish, also known as ‘lenoir,’ grapes,” said Fritz Westover, symposium coordinator and viticulture adviser for the Texas Gulf Coast region.

The symposium will be held from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Cat Spring Agricultural Society Hall, 13035 Hall Rd. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with a wine reception following symposium presentations from 4-6 p.m.

Westover said one of the highlights will be guest speaker Richard “Kaz” Kasmier of Kaz Winery in Sonoma County, Calif.

“Kaz will be speaking at length about his Black Spanish vineyard and wine production in Sonoma, and will be pouring his wines, which represent a diverse array of Black Spanish grapes,” Westover said. “Both dry and dessert-style winemaking will be discussed.”

Westover said presentations at the symposium will address managing Black Spanish in the vineyard, growing the grape in Austin County, wine styles and early to late harvest, port-style wines, Madeira production, Black Spanish wine production in California, the history of the Black Spanish grape in North America, making dry wine and the latest research on the grape. There also will be a wine-grower panel discussion on wine varieties produced from the featured grape.

“This will be an interesting and comprehensive educational opportunity for those interested in growing and making wine from this versatile grape, as well as learning how to improve quality in their vineyard and winery,” Westover said.

Registration is $50, and includes lunch, refreshments, the wine tasting and wine social, and a copy of symposium presentations.

All registration will be at the door and payment may be made by cash or check. Symposium attendees are requested to email their RSVP to Westover at fawestover@ag.tamu.edu on or before May 4 to ensure adequate seating.