I know--Texas is not the first place you think of when you think wine. The wine industry there is fairly new, as it is in most of the country outside the west coast. But what Texas winemakers lack in history, they more than make up for in enthusiasm and quality. My fondness for Texas wineries is reflected in all my books. My characters drink a lot of Texas wines and are very happy about it, and of course Morgan, the heroine of Long Time Gone, works for her father's winery!

Texas wineries tend to specialize in Mediterranean varieties, at least in part because of the heat. While most wineries produce the standard cabernets, merlots, and chardonnays that people expect, they're not really what makes Texas wine special. Look for sangiovese, temperanillo, syrah, malbec, and mourvedre. Texas winemakers do a lot with blends with names like Texacaia (Alamosa), Super Texan (Flat Creek), and Kick Butt Cab (Texas Hills). For whites, viognier and blanc du bois do well, and everybody has a muscat variety, some as dessert wines and some as dinner wines.

The Texas Department of Agriculture divides Texas into four broad wine regions (Western, Northern, Central, and Southeast), and there are also eight federally recognized viticulture appellations. Within these regions, Texas has close to 200 wineries, making it the fifth largest wine-producing state.

I'd love to provide a list of great wineries here, but I hate to play favorites. Plus new wineries are always popping up, and I wouldn't want to leave them out. Visiting Texas wineries is particularly fun because you have a good chance of meeting the owner or the owner's spouse or the owner's kids, any or all of whom may be pouring your wine in the tasting room. Most winery owners are happy to talk about their wine and Texas wine in general. It's a small but growing industry, and people tend to know each other.

One great way to experience Texas wines is to take a winery vacation. Set yourself up in a nearby town and then visit several. Many have picnic areas, and most will happily sell you a glass of wine or two so that you can settle down under a live oak and enjoy the view. The only problem you may have is getting from one to another (unlike California, a lot of Texas wineries are several miles apart--and it's a big place).

The Texas Department of Agriculture has its Go Texan Wine program. It's a basic source for all kinds of information about Texas wines and wineries. Your first stop if you want to plan a winery trip.

Wine trails. More of these pop up all the time, but there are some well-known ones. The Hill Country Wine Trail has been around for a while. The Bluebonnet Wine Trail and the Munson Wine Trail are newer. The Way Out Wineries trail actually involves some of the same wineries you'll find in the other trails, but also some new ones.

Wine Festivals. Given Texans' affection for a good party, it's not surprising to find lots of wine festivals all around the state. The oldest is probably GrapeFest in Grapevine, Texas. Austin has two wine festivals: the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival and the Austin Wine Festival. And San Antonio has the New World Wine and Food Festival . For the Hill Country, try the Fredericksburg Food and Wine Fest in October. It's suspiciously like the wine festival in my fourth Konigsburg gook, Long Time Gone. There are undoubtedly others, but those are the ones I know about.