FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  30 September 2005         

 Organizational Contact: 
Mr. Doug Scheiding
The Wine Society of Texas
2318 Huldy Street, Houston, Texas 77019
Tele: 713-523-4205; Toll Free: 877-WST-WINE (978-9463)
Email:  dss@winesocietyoftexas.org

Houston, Texas (30 September 2005) - The Wine Society of Texas (WST), a 501c3 non-profit educational organization, announced that it will award for the second year in a row a total of $5,000 in 2005 to four individuals enrolled in educational programs at two different Texas institutions, a Texas Winemaker, and partial assistance to one Wine symposium in Texas.

This scholarship assistance program is consistent with the founding ideas of WST and its continued mission to enhance the appreciation of wines, foster the knowledge of enology and viticulture, support charitable activities, promote winemaking, and educate wine consumers throughout the State of Texas. The funding for the WST Scholarship program is provided from charitable donations, local WST Chapter fund raising events, and annual statewide wine events such as educational seminars done in conjunction with the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association (TWGGA).

The following five individuals and one Texas Wine symposium will receive grants from the WST as part of the 2005 award totaling $5,000:

$1250 is awarded to Mr. Steven Shelby, a Viticulture Research Technician for Dr. Ed Hellman at TAMU Lubbock. Mr. Shelby is currently enrolled at Texas Tech University in pursuit of a Masters Degree in Viticulture. The grant will be used for tuition and books as part of his educational studies and research for the Texas Wine Industry.

$1250 is awarded to Ms. Vicki Parker, Manager and Assistant Wine Maker at Haak Vineyards in Sante Fe, Texas. Ms. Parker is enrolled in the UC Davis University Extension and plans to use the grant to offset costs associated with taking classes related to Wine Stability and Advanced Tasting/Sensory. Ms. Parker’s future goals include helping bring the recognition to the Texas Wine Industry specifically related to the production of the Black Spanish and Bland du Bois grapes. Ms. Parker is also a Director at Large for the TWGGA and a WST award winner in ’04.

$750 is awarded to Ms. Leann Madoux who does internship work with Wales Manor/Lonestar Wine Cellars and Triple R Ranch in Texas. Ms. Madoux plans to use the grant to attend additional courses at Grayson College program for Viticulture and Enology. She plans to graduate in the Fall of 2006 but will continue to be very actively involved in the Texas Wine Industry.

$750 is awarded to Mr. William Skrapits who is involved with the Wine Maker’s Guild in Austin and employed in San Antonio. Mr. Skrapits plans to use the grant to attend courses at Grayson College in Lab Analysis of Wine and Winegrowing Regions of the World as part of the educational requirements for a Certificate in Enology. Mr. Skrapits’ long term goal is to own and manage winery in the Texas Hill Country.

$500 is awarded to Mr. Craig Parker, Winemaker of Flat Creek Estate. Mr. Parker plans to use the grant to help fund research related to understanding the growing conditions, grape physiology and enological techniques of producing wines from those grape varieties best suited to Texas’ climatic conditions and soil types. Mr. Parker plans to establish closer relations between Texas and the Southern European Wine Regions. He has also been very instrumental in securing funds for the State of Texas for the Research of Pierce’s Disease.

$500 is awarded to Ms. Rebecca Robinson and Ms. Amanda Morris of the Wine and Food Foundation of Texas. Ms. Robinson will use the money to help sponsor the 2006 Texas Summer Wine Symposium (fourth annual). The Symposium is designed to give Texas winemakers and growers the opportunity to closely interact and benefit from the advice, research and knowledge of world-renowned experts in viticulture and viniculture. WST also provided funding for the assistance of this years symposium held at Horseshoe Bay.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the WST has provided grant assistance through the Scholarship Grant Program. “This year represents an important breakthrough in the WST Scholarship program as we have doubled the total amount of the award each of the past two years. As our Society grows, we hope to continue to offer more financial assistance to further the wine education and wine industry in the great State of Texas” said Dr. Russell Kane, Executive Director of the WST.

For more information about the scholarship program or the WST please visit the website at www.winesocietyoftexas.org or contact WST by phone (713-523-4205) or email (wst@winesocietyoftexas.org).

 The Wine Society of Texas (www.winesocietyoftexas.org), headquartered in Houston, Texas, was started in 1996 and received its 501(c)3 non-profit status in 1999. It has over 400 members in ten chapters around the State of Texas. The WST mission is: to enhance the appreciation of wine, especially Texas wines; educate the experienced as well as the beginning wine taster; promote the wine makers, and grape growers; foster the knowledge of oenology and viticulture; help in charitable activities throughout the state of Texas; and promote the responsible consumption of wine. The WST organizes events that promote appreciation of wine through education in a comfortable social setting with the aim of building an educated and responsible wine culture in Texas. The WST is focused on the consumers of wine in the State of Texas, providing consumer feedback to wineries, and is actively working with organizations and wineries in the State on various education programs. The WST has recently started a newsletter – “Tastings” – that highlights its members, events, activities and the WST mission as a non-profit, educational organization.