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March 28 , 2007

New KLRU-produced documentary tells story of The Wine Roads of Texas

Austin, Texas — KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, brings Austin viewers an advance look at the stations' newest regional documentary, The Wine Roads of Texas. The three-part documentary is an introduction to the award-wining Texas wine industry. KLRU will air a sneak preview of The Wine Roads of Texas on Thursday, April 5 at 7 p.m. and it will air nationally on PBS stations later this Spring.

The Wine Roads of Texas is based on Austin Chronicle food and wine writer Wes Marshall's books of the same name. The three half-hour episodes will travel the back roads of the state going to wineries, vineyards, festivals, and restaurants where acclaimed chefs will pair Texas food with Texas wine and includes scenery from the rugged nature of Big Bend to the beaches of Galveston.

The first program in the series focuses on the Texas Hill Country and will include visits to Becker Vineyards, Flat Creek Estate, Alamosa Vineyards, and Fall Creek Vineyards. Viewers will also meet Alphonse Dotson, a former pro football star who is now an award-winning grape grower at Certenberg Vineyards. Other highlights of the first episode include a trip to Cafe 909 in Marble Falls and tips about the varietals of the Hill Country from Wes Marshall. The program will also feature the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival.

The second program features the wines of the High Plains and Borderlands as The Wine Roads of Texas heads west. Wineries visited include Llano Estacado, Pheasant Ridge, Cap*Rock and Val Verde. Viewers will meet one of the pioneers of the Texas wine industry, Bobby Cox, and visit Maiya's Restaurant in Marfa. Wes Marshall will also look at the West Texas wine varieties that are receiving world-wide recognition.

The final episode will tour the Prairies and Coast region of Texas stretching from the Metroplex in the north to Galveston and Houston in the south. Featured wineries include Haak Vineyards, Messina Hof Winery, Homestead Winery, and Cross Roads Winery. This episode includes a visit to Stephen Pyle's Restaurant in Dallas, an internationally renowned destination and a trip to Grapevine for Winefest, the biggest wine and food festival in the Southwest.

"It was a great collaboration with the community and had financial support from HEB, the Texas Wine and Food Foundation and the wine industry," said Executive Producer Tom Spencer. "I think that audiences will be delighted to learn how Texas wines have come of age after they watch Wine Roads."

Tom Spencer and Wes Marshall were executive producers and Emmy-award winning filmmaker Dutch Rall was lead shooter, editor and director. Ray Benson served as the narrator and musicians who contributed original music include local favorite Justin Sherburn.

The Wine Roads of Texas is a production of KLRU-TV. Major funding for The Wine Roads of Texas was provided by H-E-B. Seed funding for the production was provided in part through a grant from The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas. Additional funding comes from the Texas Department of Agriculture in support of the Texas wine industry and by the Annual Texas Fall Fest & Wine Auction in Horseshoe Bay, Texas.

About KLRU

KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, reflects, celebrates and inspires Central Texas through creative excellence,
community engagement and lifelong learning. Although primarily a television station providing locally produced and quality national programming, KLRU is also a non-profit organization helping to build a stronger community through educational workshops, community outreach projects and public events. Get more information about KLRU at klru.org.

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