Chilean winemaker at Highland Lakes vineyard says Texas could be world star

JARED FIELDS • PICAYUNE STAFF

TOW — The Texas wine industry didn’t register on Sergio Cuadra’s map until he was contacted to be a winemaker for Fall Creek Vineyards.

Now, the Chilean winemaker wants to put Texas wines on the world stage.

“I think the industry here has made a lot of progress already and has solid foundations to start growing from,” said Cuadra, who has worked with Chilean companies such as Concha y Toro and Anakena. “I would like to see a common effort at the industry level among the people that are part of the industry to really locate Texas wines on the wine world map.”

Cuadra arrived at Fall Creek Vineyards in early August prior to this year’s harvest. His official start date, after some time as a consultant, will be Oct. 21.

Susan Auler, who owns Fall Creek Vineyards with husband Ed, said they had been in search of a new winemaker for more than a year.

“No one seemed to have the experience, talents and stature for which we were looking. I reached out to a friend and one of California’s most celebrated winemakers, Paul Hobbs,” Auler said. ” He immediately responded to me that he knew a really great winemaker who might be the perfect person for us: Sergio Cuadra.”

After some Skype conversations, Cuadra said his interest in coming to Texas grew.

“I got really interested, and it’s something that, for me, is very exciting now that I’m here,” he said.

Fall Creek Vineyards was established in 1975 and has since received numerous awards. Cuadra said the climate here is similar to that of Chile.

“It’s nothing too different from many other of the more known wine-making regions,” he said. “When I came, one of the first things was to look at the vineyards and the grapes, and they look just fine.”

Cuadra said the heat is no problem for the grapes, but another extreme is.

“Problems with the weather are related to the freezes more than anything else. Freezes are, from my standpoint, one of the most important threats that (the grapes) face,” he said. “I have to be careful in choosing a site and take available precaution to avoid freezes.”

Of course, there also are the birds, raccoons and squirrels.

“They are a new thing for me,” said Cuadra.

Go to www.fcv.com for more information about Fall Creek Vineyards.

jared@thepicayune.com