State Fair Wine Program

Wine Wednesdays

Each Wednesday of the State Fair of Texas is Wine Wednesday and we discuss Texas Wine with a lot of fun guests. Check out some of our videos from prior Fair seasons and don’t forget to subscribe to our Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channels to be notified when new videos go live!

Wine Wednesday Videos

From Texas Vines to Your Wine Glasses at the Fair

Agriculture is a key component to the mission of the State Fair of Texas. To showcase the growing wine sector of Texas agriculture, the Fair has expanded its wine program over the last several years. Not only does the Fair host Texas wines in the State Fair Wine Garden for all 24 days of the Fair, but we also leverage our communication channels year-round to promote the Texas wine industry.

How can your winery take part in the State Fair of Texas?
The Fair offers two opportunities for Texas wineries to be showcased during the run of the Fair.

  • Blue Ribbon Selection Wine Competition are wines selected in the State Fair’s own wine competition. The twelve highly-rated wines are showcased all 24 days of the Fair in a dedicated tasting window for the Blue Ribbon Selection in the Wine Garden.
  • Wine Garden Tasting Experience allows wineries to have an on-site presence for sampling at the Fair during a one to three-day dedicated window in the Wine Garden. Wineries can engage with Fair attendees and showcase their wines.

The State Fair of Texas is a great place to introduce your wine to millions of attendees. Each year, more than 2 million visitors enjoy the State Fair of Texas. Approximately 12% of attendees stop by the State Fair Wine Garden to enjoy a glass of Texas wine. That’s a Big Tex-sized glass of wine! In addition to on-site exposure, the Fair also supports participating wineries through its communication channels (social media, BigTex.com, and email marketing.)

For questions about the State Fair Wine Program, contact Melanie Linnear, vice president of food service. Email MLinnear@BigTex.com or call (214) 421-8712.

Click the Image above for More Info

Click the Image above for More Info

Blue Ribbon Selection Wine Competition

To celebrate Texas agriculture, the State Fair of Texas started the annual Blue Ribbon Selection wine competition in 2018. Twelve Texas wines are selected each year to be part of this program and are showcased in a dedicated tasting window throughout the 24 days of the Fair.

The concessions operator for the State Fair Wine Garden will purchase the needed inventory to execute paid daily tastings from the selected wineries at standard wholesale pricing. The concessions staff will execute the pouring program for the dedicated “Blue Ribbon” window. Wines will be sold in one fluid ounce samples, by the glass, and by the bottle inside the State Fair Wine Garden.

While wineries are not responsible for staffing the window, they are always welcome to come out to the Fair and engage with wine-loving fairgoers.

About the Competition

  • A blind panel of judges will select 12 wines to be featured as part of the GO TEXAN Blue-Ribbon Selection. The 12 wines will represent three categories – red wines, white wines, and rosé wines. Five reds, four whites, and three rosés will be selected each year.
  • Online registration for the Blue Ribbon Selection opens in March and runs through May each year.
  • The State Fair must receive submitted bottles of wines by the end of May to be eligible for the judging.
  • Judging will take place in the second week of June, and selection will be publicly announced in late June.
  • The Texas Department of Agriculture partners with the State Fair of Texas on the Blue Ribbon Selection. Wines do not have to be GO TEXAN members to enter and membership status does not impact results.

Participation in the Blue Ribbon Selection

  • Wineries must register for the Blue Ribbon Selection wine competition within the deadline dates. Submission wines must be received no later than the end of May, to be considered in the competition.
  • Wineries can submit up to five entries per year (in total) in any of the three categories.
  • Wineries must submit four bottles of each wine entered for judging.
  • Wines submitted must use at least 75% of Texas grapes in production to qualify as a Texas wine.

Visibility for Blue Ribbon Selection Wines
The 12 wines and wineries selected to be part of this program are showcased throughout the year by the State Fair of Texas, as well as during the 24 days of the Fair. Visibility includes:

  • Inclusion in press materials and social media announcements of the Selection.
  • Pictures of the bottles will be showcased on the State Fair of Texas Wine Garden page on BigTex.com.
  • Featured in one monthly eNewsletter and in one Fair Guide email distributed during the Fair. The estimated distribution is 800,000 for both emails.
  • Photo inclusion and web links in blog posts related to the State Fair Wine Garden on BigTex.com.
  • Weekly Twitter campaign during the run of the Fair promoting the Selection with social tagging of wineries.
  • Weekly Facebook and Instagram campaign on “Wine Wednesdays” showcasing the wines and wineries with social tagging of wineries.
  • Blue Ribbon Selection featured on signage in the State Fair Wine Garden and on table tents.

 

Wine Garden Tasting Experience

The State Fair of Texas provides Texas wineries with the opportunity to introduce their wine to thousands of new potential customers. Each day of the 24 day run of the Fair, four wineries can participate in paid sampling in the State Fair Wine Garden.

The concessions operator for the State Fair Wine Garden will purchase needed inventory to execute paid daily tastings from the selected wineries at standard wholesale pricing. The concessions staff will execute the pouring program, but wineries must provide a representative to educate fairgoers about their wine.

Wines will be sold in one fluid ounce samples, by the glass and by the bottle inside the State Fair Wine Garden.

Participation in the Wine Garden Tasting Experience

  • Wineries must register to participate in the Wine Garden Tasting Experience within the deadline dates. Registration begins in July and will remain open until all slots are filled or until early August.
  • The tasting schedule is built on a first request basis. A winery’s early registration date is a deciding factor if more than one winery requests the same date.
  • Wineries can request more than one date.
  • Wineries are required to provide staffing to assist with education. Credentials and parking for staff are provided.
  • Wineries that fail to provide staffing will not be eligible for the program the following year.
  • Wineries can bring three to five wines for sampling. Wines that are sampled must use at least 75% of Texas grapes in production to qualify as a Texas wine.

Visibility for Tasting Experience Wineries
Wineries participating in this program are showcased during the 24 days of the Fair. Visibility includes:

  • A complete listing of the tasting experience schedule on the State Fair  Wine Garden page on BigTex.com.
  • The tasting experience schedule with web links in blog posts related to the State Fair Wine Garden on BigTex.com
  • The tasting experience schedule featured in the online daily schedule on BigTex.com.
  • Weekly Twitter campaign during the run of the Fair promoting the Tasting Experience participants with social tagging of wineries.
  • Weekly Facebook and Instagram campaign on “Wine Wednesdays” showcasing the wines in the tasting experience with social tagging of wineries.
  • Tasting Experience schedule featured on signage in the State Fair Wine Garden and on table tents.

Register Your Winery Here Soon