Texas winemakers worry cuts will cork the industry

2 million industry dollars are on the chopping block in the upcoming state budget. And although many others will take a hit, Peper says wine shouldn't.

"It really is a golden goose for the state of Texas," he said.

Wine poured 78.5 million tax dollars into the state in 2009. A number that doubled since 2005. The industry is growing at such a quick pace that Texas wine went from virtually unknown to the fifth largest producer in the nation.

"You don't want to cut the projects which return many fold dollars back to the state of Texas," Peper said, "that would not be wise."

But legislators believe they will have to cork funds to the business. It's a time when they say every possible cut is needed.

"There are certain programs and industries that catch the cuts and there's really not much we can do about that at this point in time," said Texas Rep. and Agriculture Committee member Tim Kleinschmidt.

The few million dollars goes toward local research to continue the success of the last few years of growth. But it looks likely that winemakers will have to do without it - at least for a little while.

"When things get better we hope to fund the research and development to help it (the wine industry) flourish in the state of Texas," Kleinschmidt said.

Peper speaks for most in the industry when he argues that wine deserves a few million a year, because it essentially produces a multi-million dollar output to benefit the state.

"These are not winery grants, these are not things that directly come back to the business people. This is something that will continue the entire industry to grow," said Peper.

He says he remains optimistic that lawmakers will see wine as an investment worth making.