from GQ

As you may have heard, most of Texas is also quite hot. It’s not easy to grow some of the more popular varietals of grape here; instead, growers have success with hot weather grapes like Mourvedre, Tempranillo, Trebbiano, and Vermentino. And while the 100% Texas crowd revels in using these grapes, many winemakers like the option of blending them with popular varietals that grow well on the West Coast, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, for what they consider a tastier (and more consumer-friendly) wine.

Supplementing can also help keep the bottle price down, which is helpful for some bigger winemakers. As Llano Estacado CEO Mark Hyman told the Austin Chronicle, “We’re trying to compete with the industry giants out there – with Kendall-Jackson, Clos du Bois, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Robert Mondavi, Barefoot.” In other words, Texas wine might be delicious, but if there are no under-$10 bottles in sight, it’s not going to reach the mass market.