6th Annual Texas Fall Fest

MISSION
Texas Fall Fest & Texas Wine Auction has a two-fold purpose: to expose the public to the merits and importance of Texas wine and food by spotlighting the best wines, foods, chefs and restaurants in our state and to raise funds for much needed Texas wine research as well as for other worthy healthcare needs.

HISTORY
in 2004 Susan Auler, founder of the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival and co-owner of Fall Creek Vineyards, was busy raising funds for The Wine Roads of Texas, a KLRU TV documentary film proposed by acclaimed producer, Tom Spencer, and based on wine writer Wes Marshall’s book by the same name. Susan secured the lead donation from HEB of $60,000.00, and continued in her efforts to make the film a reality. Susan was approached by the Marketing Director for the Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott, Joe Reardon, who was a strong supporter of the Texas Hill Country wineries as a destination for visitors to the area, for her help and advice in hosting a wine and food event at the Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott. Susan needed to raise additional funds for the Wine Roads of Texas KLRU TV film project and proposed that they create a festival to satisfy both their desires.

The 1st Annual Fall Fest & Texas Wine Auction was held September 30 – October 1, 2005, at the Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott, co-chaired by Susan Auler and Joe Reardon with the proceeds generated by the wine auction pledged to the Wine Roads of Texas KLRU film project. The primary sponsoring organizations were the Texas Department of Agriculture, the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas, the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association, KLRU PBS, and the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce, along with major private donors: HEB, Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott, Continental Airlines, MIX 94.7, and Printworks. The $15,000.00 in proceeds raised by the Fall Fest Wine Auction, along with $5000.00 Susan secured from a private donor, completed the final funding needed for the film project.

The 2nd Annual Fall Fest & Texas Wine Auction, chaired by Susan Auler and Terri Lilley, was held at the Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott, September 15 - 17, 2006, with the proceeds benefiting equally the following: Texas Wine Research, Seton Care-A-Van and Highland Lakes Health Partnership. The primary sponsoring organizations were once again the Texas Department of Agriculture, the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas, the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association, KLRU PBS and the Marble Falls Chamber of Commerce, along with major private donors: Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott, HEB and Printworks. The Texas Wine Auction raised approximately $11,000.00, and donations of $5000.00 from the Texas Department of Agriculture and $1500.00 from HEB were secured. With additional proceeds from the individual Fall Fest events, minus the low cost of hosting the Fall Fest due to the generosity of Deniz Carlson and the Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott, the Fall Fest and Texas Wine Auction was able to distribute $7,000.00 to each of the three non-profit groups named for a total of $21,000.00 in charitable donations.

The 3rd Annual Texas Fall Fest & Wine Auction, chaired by Susan Auler was held again at the Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott, November 1 – 3, 2007, with the proceeds benefiting equally the following: Texas Wine Research, Seton Care-A-Van and Highland Lakes Health Partnership. Sponsors included the Texas Department of Agriculture, H-E-B, The Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association, The Texas Beef Council, Celebrate Austin Magazine and Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott. With the generosity of our sponsors and all of who attended, we were able to distribute $5,000 to each of the three non-profit groups!

The 4th Annual Texas Fall Fest & Wine Auction, chaired by Susan Auler and Glena Yates was held at the beautiful Horseshoe Bay Resort, October 31 - November 2, 2008, with proceeds benefiting Texas wine Research and The Boys and Girls Club of Marble Falls. Sponsors of the event included the Texas Department of Agriculture, H-E-B, The Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association, Texas Beef Council, Nestle Water, Horseshoe Bay Resort, Viking Grill, Winn Meet and Benold's Jewelers. This event raised almost $10,000 for the benefiting charities!

The 5th Annual Texas Fall Fest & Wine Auction, chaired by Susan Auler and Glena Yates was held in three new locations in the Marble Falls and Texas Hill Country Area with proceeds benefiting Texas Wine Research and the Hill Country Children's Advocacy Fund. Friday, October 2nd Sunset Stroll was held at Lakeside Pavilion on Lake Marble Falls. Twenty-five winemakers and twenty chefs hosted over 300 people as they sampled the stellar tastes of Texas! Saturday Celebrity Chef Dinner and Auction was held at the beautiful event center at Spicewood Vineyards with Celebrity Chef, Executive Chef at III Forks in Austin, Jaime Gutierrez. On Sunday, October 4th, we hosted the first annual Farm to Market & Wine Fair at Fall Creek Vineyards. Local artisians, chefs, vendors and vintner's were on hand for this inaugural event which in 2010 will be held in Downtown Marble Falls. Thanks to our sponsors, Texas Department of Agriculture, H-E-B, Winn Meat, Texas Beef Council, Nestle Water and Edible Austin for helping make 2009 a success!

In 2010, we are committed to bringing the spotlight onto Texas wine and food as well as to two very deserving charities! We hope you will be able to attend the 6th Annual Texas Fall Fest & Wine Auction!