Deeply rooted in the local community, these Fredericksburg natives share their multi-generational story and their vision for the 1,000-acre family land they inherited. Ross pulls back the curtain on his unique double life, practicing as a pediatrician in Austin during the week before putting on his boots to manage the vineyard rows from Thursday to Sunday. Valerie also shares how her background in the classroom helped them cultivate one of the most authentically family-friendly destinations in the Texas Hill Country, complete with a fenced-in playscape and a custom vineyard "bucket train" for the kids!
You’ll also get the incredible behind-the-scenes story of their historic tasting room—an original 1886 German heritage home that they saved from demolition, cut into three pieces, and transported on trailers all the way from Lockhart, Texas, to be meticulously restored. Discover how they are crafting 100% Texas wine under the tutelage of John Rivenburgh’s incubator program as they prepare their estate Cabernet and Barbera for release!
Stick around until the end of the episode to find out which crisp, refreshing 2023 vintage Wine Guide Scott selects as his Wine Wanderer bottle of the week!
🍷 Support the journey through the vines on Patreon! Access exclusive maps and our Living Wine Library: https://pateron.com/texasundervine
✨ Grab tickets for the Grafted Event (June 23): https://www.graftedtx.org/event-details/hospitality-as-culture-and-currency
✨ Grab tickets for the Hill Country Wine Camp (July 17–19): https://texashillcountrywineries.org/products/hill-country-wine-camp-2026
👉 Learn more on our website: https://texasundervine.com
⏳ Video Timestamps
00:00 - Hill Country Wine Camp Announcement & Partnership
01:14 - Meet Ross & Valerie Prochnow: High School Sweethearts & Local Roots
04:30 - Defining a Multigenerational Texas Vineyard Vision
10:15 - The 1,000-Acre Family Property & The History of Crabapple Creek
17:45 - Dr. Prochnow's Double Life: Pediatrician by Week, Winemaker by Weekend
24:10 - Relocating History: Saving and Moving the 1886 House from Lockhart
33:20 - Designing a Truly Family-Friendly Winery (Playscapes & Bucket Trains)
42:05 - Building the Wine Program: John Rivenburgh & The Texas Wine Incubator
51:15 - Estate Varieties: Diving into Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbera
59:50 - Navigating the Challenges of 100% Texas Viticulture
01:05:15 - Tasting the 2023 Vintage & Wine Wanderer Bottle of the Week selection
01:10:30 - Community Audience Question, Patreon Thank You, & Outro