Extension Program Specialist I, Texas AgriLife Extension Viticulture Advisor, Texas Hill Country

Education:
B.S. Horticulture, 1980, Texas A&M University,
Pomology specialization; M.S. Agriculture Plant
Science, 1982, California State University at Fresno, Viticulture specialization.

Penny has been involved in the Texas wine grape industry since 1978, while a work-study co-op student at a growing Hill Country vineyard. She produced her first commercial wine in 1982 as co-owner and winemaster of Cypress Valley Vineyard in Blanco County, Texas. In 1985 Penny was invited to bring her Trebbiano wine to the Fancy Food Show at the World Trade Center. She won numerous awards for wines, including Barbera, Primitivo and Riesling. In 1992, she helped develop Hill Country Cellars in Cedar Park, Texas as winemaster for Lucy Baines Johnson and the Donald Thomas family, initially producing the first commercial wine spritzer Itza Spritza. Adams considers the pruning and training of grapevines as her passion and specialty in viticulture. She worked for the Texas Pierce’s Disease Research Program prior to joining Texas AgriLife Extension in Fredericksburg as Hill Country Viticulture Advisor in 2006.