Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Hall.
Hi Scott, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey really started with a simple realization: Texas wine has an incredible story to tell, but it’s a story that many people, even lifelong Texans, are still just beginning to discover.
I’ve always had a deep passion for regional travel, history, and the art of storytelling. A few years ago, as I spent more time exploring the unique terroirs of Central Texas and the High Plains, I became fascinated by the sheer grit, philosophy, and passion of local winemakers. These weren’t just agricultural businesses; they were families crafting world-class products against the unpredictable backdrop of Texas weather. I realized that while the wine in the glass was fantastic, the vintners and the history behind the vines deserved a dedicated spotlight.
Driven by the desire to document these incredible narratives, I founded Texas Under Vine. What started as a passion project quickly evolved into a dedicated, full-scale media LLC. Today, as “Wine Guide Scott,” my mission is to take people behind the scenes of the state’s best vineyards. Through high-production video walkthroughs, deep-dive interviews, and our ongoing podcast, we explore the distinct philosophies and rich histories of Texas wineries.
Getting to where we are today has been a masterclass in collaboration and craft. Producing high-resolution, cinematic content on location requires a massive amount of moving parts. Fortunately, my wife, Dina, stepped into the role of production assistant and secondary photographer, making our winery shoots a true team effort. Together, we travel the state, capturing everything from the sprawling aesthetics of a new tasting room opening to the quiet, everyday dedication of a cellarmaster.
It has been an incredible ride. Today, Texas Under Vine connects a vibrant community of wine enthusiasts with the heart of Texas viticulture. We’re not just reviewing bottles; we’re preserving the living history of an industry that is rapidly shaping the global wine conversation.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but the challenges have been the ultimate learning opportunities. For the first three and a half years, Texas Under Vine was funded entirely out of my own pocket. Investing my own capital into a passion project of this scale—especially while maintaining a demanding, full-time job—required a massive leap of faith and a lot of personal sacrifice.
Beyond the financial investment, the learning curve on the production and marketing side was steep. I essentially had to build a media company from scratch with no external funding and no staff. When I first started, the project was completely audio-only. By the second year, I realized that to truly capture the beauty of these vineyards and the expressions of the winemakers, I needed to adapt. I taught myself high-resolution video production, launched our YouTube channel, and integrated visual storytelling into our brand.
That evolution hasn’t stopped. This year, I’ve pushed the envelope even further by expanding beyond traditional podcast episodes into diverse, short-form content and cinematic featurettes.
Managing the constant shift in media formats, mastering advanced editing workflows, and figuring out how to market a brand in a crowded digital space has involved plenty of trial and error. Doing all of this on weekends and evenings, while aiming for the highest possible production value, takes immense effort. But every mistake along the way has just been a stepping stone to making Texas Under Vine a more professional, impactful voice for the Texas wine community.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Texas Under Vine LLC?
Texas Under Vine is a specialized media production company dedicated exclusively to capturing the heart, history, and craftsmanship of the Texas wine industry. As “Wine Guide Scott,” I focus on telling the definitive stories of our regional wineries through premium, high-production digital content, ranging from deep-dive podcast interviews to high-resolution, cinematic video walkthroughs and short-form social featurettes.
What specializes us, and truly sets us apart, is our absolute commitment to depth and production value. We don’t do casual, surface-level reviews, and we don’t dilute our focus by covering breweries or distilleries. We are single-mindedly devoted to Texas viticulture. When we visit a winery, my production assistant (and wife), Dina, and I bring a full suite of professional field equipment to capture the true aesthetic of the estate. We dive into the winemaking philosophies, the heritage of the vines, and the unique stories of the vintners themselves.
Brand-wise, I am most proud of two things: our evolution into a multi-platform media LLC and the authenticity of our relationships within the industry. For every single winery we cover, I make it a personal tradition to purchase a “library bottle” to add to our studio collection, ensuring that our media coverage is rooted in genuine support for the creators. This dedication has allowed us to partner with major regional events, like Austin Wine Week and the Texas Wine Auction, to provide top-tier media bundles and event spotlights.
Ultimately, I want readers and the Texas wine community to know that Texas Under Vine is a trusted guide and a premium platform. Whether you are a wine enthusiast looking for your next destination through our biweekly podcast series, or a winery looking to collaborate on high-end promotional media, we are here to showcase the very best that Texas terroir has to offer.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I like to tell people that the Texas wine industry right now is exactly where Napa Valley was in the 1980s. We are in a fascinating, energetic “adolescence” phase as a wine region. For a long time, we were traditionally overlooked in the global wine conversation, but that narrative is shifting rapidly.
Today, Texas is consistently winning major awards at prestigious international competitions, proving that our winemakers can hold their own against the most historic regions in the world. We are firmly coming into our own identity. Instead of trying to mimic other regions, Texas viticulture is maturing and zeroing in on the specific grape varieties and styles that actually thrive in our unique soils and climate, particularly Mediterranean and Rhône varieties like Tempranillo, Mourvèdre, and Picpoul Blanc.
What makes the next 5 to 10 years so exciting is the sheer scale of what we have to offer. Our state is as geographically massive as the country of France. Because of that, we don’t just offer one style of wine; we feature an incredible diversity of terroirs, microclimates, and wine-travel destinations that are entirely unique unto themselves, from the High Plains to the Hill Country.
Over the next decade, I see Texas continuing its aggressive upward trajectory. We are transitioning from a well-kept regional secret into a recognized, major player on the international stage. It’s an honor to document this specific era through Texas Under Vine, because we are watching the living history of American wine evolve right in our backyard.
Pricing:
- The Podcast & YouTube Channel: 100% Free. Our weekly deep-dive audio episodes, high-resolution YouTube video version of the podcast, and social media featurettes are completely free to stream, watch, and enjoy for all wine enthusiasts.
- Winery Feature Coverage: $0. We do not charge local wineries to be featured or interviewed on our main media platforms. Our coverage is purely editorial, driven by a genuine passion to share the authentic stories of Texas viticulture.
- Patreon Community Membership: Starting at a low monthly tier, fans can join our Patreon to unlock exclusive bonus content, including full video walkthroughs of featured estates, extended photo galleries from our shoots, and behind-the-scenes sneak peeks of where we are traveling next.
- B2B Media Production & Event Bundles: Custom quoted. For wineries, regional festivals (like Austin Wine Week), and industry events looking for professional, high-production promotional media bundles, recap videos, or targeted spotlight content, we provide tailored quotes based on the scope and technical needs of the project.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.texasundervine.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/texasundervine/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TexasUnderVinePodcast/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/texasundervine/
- Twitter: https://x.com/texasundervine
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@texasundervine
