Austin County winemakers claimed the top two honors at the 2026 Texas State-Wide Non-Commercial Wine Show, where homemade wines from across Texas competed for medals and championship belt buckles.
Herb Gaspard earned Texas Overall Grand Champion for his sweet red Petite Sirah. Jerry Watson took Overall Reserve Grand Champion with a dry white Blanc du Bois. Gaspard’s entry also earned the title of Austin County Overall Grand Champion.
Held Oct. 11 at the American Legion Hall on the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville, the show was coordinated by the Gulf Coast Winegrowers Association in conjunction with the Austin County Fair. The annual competition celebrates a Texas tradition passed down through generations, giving non-commercial winemakers a chance to share the results of their craft.
Entries were judged through a blind tasting by a panel of experts in viticulture. This year, seven winemakers submitted 24 wines in 10 categories. The wines represented Austin, Collin, Harris and Tarrant counties.
2026 wine show results
Red wine, dry: Gold, Herb Gaspard, Petite Sirah and Tannat, Austin County; silver, Richard Graham, Sangiovese and Nero d’Avola, Tarrant County; bronze, Tim Moudry, Sangiovese, Harris County.
Red wine, sweet: Gold, Herb Gaspard, Petite Sirah, Austin County; silver, Archie Davis, Black Spanish, Austin County.
White wine, dry: Gold, Jerry Watson, Blanc du Bois, Austin County; silver, Tim Moudry, Blanc du Bois, Harris County; bronze, David and Jill Lawton, Blanc du Bois, Harris County.
White wine, sweet: Gold, Herb Gaspard, Blanc du Bois, Austin County; silver, David and Jill Lawton, Blanc du Bois, Harris County.
Dessert, port and sherry style: Gold, Herb Gaspard, Black Spanish and Petite Sirah, Austin County; silver, Herb Gaspard, Black Spanish, Austin County; bronze, Tim Moudry, blackberry, Harris County.
Fruit and berry: Gold, Herb Gaspard, blackberry, Austin County; silver, Cassandra Anderson, pear and spices, Collin County; bronze, Cassandra Anderson, wild persimmons and organic mangos, Collin County.
No entries received medals in the blush, native grape and mustang, sparkling wine or mead wine categories.
Congratulations went to all the winemakers who entered this year’s show. Their work added a distinctive taste of Texas tradition to the Austin County Fair and highlighted the creativity and care that go into making wine at home.
Non-commercial winemakers from across Texas are welcome to enter next year’s Austin County Wine Show. For information, contact the Gulf Coast Winegrowers Association at growwine.org or the Austin County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office at 979-865-2072.
