(MySanAntonio) - Not satisfied with its reputation for grapefruit, palm trees and winter Texans, the Rio Grande Valley is quietly adding an intoxicating and unexpected facet to its image: winemaking. Through research during the past 15 years at Rio Farms Inc. and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the work of determined growers such as Jorge Jaber, wine grape production is mushrooming in a region where many once thought it impossible. Wine grapes, particularly the popular European varieties such as chardonnay, merlot and cabernet sauvignon, typically need a more moderate climate than the hot, humid environs of the Valley counties along the Texas-Mexico border. They also are partial to areas that cool off in the evening and have timely rains.