JOHNSON CITY, Texas – One of the state’s top wine festivals is returning to Johnson City and has earned national recognition.<\/p>\n
Texas Wine Jam, which began in 2019, has been named one of USA Today’s top 10 wine festivals in the country. The festival was created to give wineries a space to connect with consumers and showcase the state’s growers and winemakers.<\/p>\n
Daniel Collada, founder of the festival, said he grew up in the hospitality industry and started teaching wine certifications in 2008. That led him into the Texas wine scene and eventually to launching a consulting business in 2012, the start of a journey that brought him to Johnson City.<\/p>\n
“Texas Wine Jam at its core is all about creating really great opportunities for consumers to find, discover and purchase wines,” Collada said.<\/p>\n
Collada explained that the festival shifted after the pandemic, rebranding to focus on both wine and music.<\/p>\n
This year’s event will take place October 17 and has grown to include a VIP sparkling wine brunch with Texas Wine Growers, a VIP lounge and other exclusive experiences.<\/p>\n
“There’s 27 wineries kind of queued up for this year so far,” Collada said.<\/p>\n
Collada added that the festival is also curating a marketplace filled with Texas-made products such as food, cheese, chocolate, charcuterie boards and hats.<\/p>\n
Collada said the festival is unique because it highlights Texas growers and winemakers, emphasizing local talent.<\/p>\n
“It’s huge! I mean, it just shows the effort kind of resonating with people. I think that it just allows us to have a platform to kind of showcase what we’re really good at.\u201d<\/p>\n