Engineering Better Wine Systems in Texas: My Take on TWGGA 2026 February 2, 2026 By Andy Backer, North American Sales – G&D Chillers As someone who’s spent a few decades working side‑by‑side with wineries across the country, I always look forward to the Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association Annual Conference. It’s one of the most engaged, solutions‑focused shows in our industry — and this year’s event in San Marcos, February 23–25, 2026, is shaping up to be one of the strongest yet. We’ll be on the floor at Booth 407, ready to dig into the real challenges Texas wineries are facing: harvest heat loads, fermentation swings, cellar consistency, reliability concerns, and the constant pressure to scale smarter, not harder. Why TWGGA Matters The IntertWINEd conference theme this year really hits home — the Texas wine industry thrives because growers, winemakers, suppliers, and advocates work as one interconnected system. The show brings that collaboration to life with: Hands-on vineyard and winery insights, from hybrids to disease control to sustainability. Practical marketing and business sessions, helping wineries strengthen brand and revenue foundations. A high‑energy expo hall, where new technology, service partners, and real solutions take center stage. Immersive tasting add‑ons, including Texas terroir and innovations in resistant varietals. What You Can Expect from G&D at Booth 407 At G&D, we don’t believe in one‑size‑fits‑all cooling. Texas wineries face some of the highest ambient temps and widest seasonal swings in the country — and your cooling system needs to be engineered around your production realities. At our booth, we’ll be walking you through: Smarter chilling strategies for warm‑climate winemaking Fermentation control solutions that improve consistency year‑over‑year Scalable systems that grow with your cellar, not against it The reliability and responsiveness that only field‑tested engineering can deliver Register here and then let’s connect while you’re at the show — grab me at Booth 407 or set aside a few minutes and we’ll talk through what you’re working on. Or if you have any immediate needs, don't hesitate to reach out to me at Andy.backer@gdchillers.com