The Texas wine and food community hopes to open the Texas Center for Wine and Culinary Arts in October 2014. The location will be in the center of Fredericksburg, an increasingly popular tourist destination for wine enthusiasts.

Thriving vineyard in Texas

Events and Activities will include:

• Culinary classes
• Wine tastings
• Wine and food pairings
• Culinary education for students
• Private event rentals
• Casual dining

The plans for the facility include:

• Hands-on kitchen
• Theater and demo kitchen
• Two classrooms
• Lab
• Restaurant
• Wine tasting/Retail area
• Event spaces and Kitchen

The plans for the Texas Center for Wine and Culinary Arts have been developed over six years. The center has numerous sizeable donations but in order to operate without debt they are continuing to seek donations. According to the website, “Funding will be raised upfront so there is no debt service.” That certainly seems to make economic common sense. Donations are tax deductable as the IRS has given the center a 501(c)(3) as a charitable organization.

Supporters of the Texas Center for Wine and Culinary Arts have the right idea. Be proud of your state’s agricultural products, cuisine, wines and showcase them to the general public and tourists. Tourism is a continually growing activity and many tourists enjoy learning about the region they are visiting. Tourism has been shown to add significantly to the economy by people needing restaurants, gas stations and lodging facilities.

What are other states doing to support the agriculture and culinary endeavors of their own states? New York State has the New York Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua, NY. In Prosser, Washington another center almost complete is the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center.

The wine industry is expanding in many states and many of these states have significant agricultural products. For example, Virginia is becoming a major player in the wine industry; will someone in Virginia start a Virginia Wine and Culinary Center? I believe Virginia is ready for its own wine and culinary center.

Cheers! Kathy