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Love to taste, talk and tweet about Texas wines and where they are in the global scheme for wines. After all that's the only way they will reach the full potential.

Houston Uncorking Some Good Rodeo Wines with a Few Best Bites, Too

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Feb 192013

Houston Uncorking Some Good Rodeo Wines with a Few Best Bites, Too

For the past several years now, come mid-February, the best ticket in H-town has proven to be the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s, Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup and Best Bites Competition. This year’s event was equal to that billing. It was held this past Sunday evening and included thousands of wine and foodie revelers at Reliant Center assembled to sample the top wines from the 2013 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition and to taste and vote on food from some of the area’s best restaurants and caterers.

When my wife and I walked into the hall, the spread was breathtaking in its expanse. I think that I even said….”Wow!” Many of this year’s over two thousand medal-winning wines were present for sampling having been submitted for judging by 943 wineries in Texas, across the United States and around the world. If that wasn’t enough, attendees went from table-to-table tasting and voting on their favorite eats for the Best Bites Competition.

The grand magnitude of this event made it necessary for me to focus. I reviewed the program, circled my intended stops. My attention was primarily on the award-winning Texas wines from the competition. As I have already written (click here), the Texas winners included 246 medals, 178 of which were made with Texas grapes with eight double gold medals and 32 gold medals for Texas wineries. Even focusing on just the medal-winning Texas wines at Sunday’s Best Bites event, it was impossible to sample all of them while trying to make a reasonable attempt to taste a hefty sampling of the bites.

Texas stars of the evening were The Bonarrigo family (Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo and son Paul Mitchell and his wife Karen) whose Messina Hof Winery (in Bryan, TX, and an outpost tasting room and B&B in the hill country) took the 2013 Best Winery Award in the Rodeo’s international wine competition. This gave Messina Hof a grand total of eight saddles garnered over about a decade of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s annual wine competitions. This is a remarkable record for a Texas winery playing on an international stage.

After grabbing a taste of the Messina Hof Paulo Cabernet Franc, we moseyed around a bit to sample more bites. The range of offerings included ceviche, Cajun cuisine, prime rib, beef bourguignon, BBQ, short rib sliders, smoked meats and oysters, and not to forget many cookies and pies. Winners of the best bites competition were:

Popular Choice Award

First Place – Royer’s Round Top Café

Second Place – Jonathan’s The Rub

Two-Stepping Bread/Cheese/Dessert Award

First Place – Mango Caramel from Cacao & Cardamom Chocolates

Second Place – Bread Pudding from Joyce’s Seafood and Steaks

Trailblazing Appetizer/Entrée Award

First Place – Barbecue Short Ribs from Killen’s BBB

Second Place – Mini Pork Crispy Tacos from Molina’s Cantina

Third Place – Short Rib Sliders with Shaved Ham and Debris from Frank’s Americana Revival

Showmanship Award

Catering to Your Tastebuds

Rookie Award

Mango Caramel from Cacao & Cardamom Chocolates

Tasty Traditions Award

Bread Pudding from Joyce’s Seafood and Steaks

Another Texas star in the 2013 Rodeo wine competition was the hill country’s Pedernales Cellars for their 2012 Viognier (the Best Texas Wine judged in the Rodeo wine competition). Equally impressive was the double gold awarded to Range Rider (a multi-vintage blend of Tempranillo, Syrah and Cabernet from 2008 and 2009 harvests) made by Red Caboose Winery in Meridian, TX. Range Rider has been a favorite of mine since I stopped by there last summer.

These were two of my many stops. Even with that, I unfortunately missed an opportunity to taste wines from Perissos Vineyards near Burnet, TX, another of my favorites. I hear that they poured a great sampling of their Syrah, Petite, Viognier and Roussanne.

I also had a chance met up with Rick Nabor pouring his Flat Creek Estate Pinot Blanc with his typical flair.

The most interesting observation of the evening was comparing the wine offerings from Texas wineries with those of the large contingent of west coast American wineries (from California, Oregon and Washington) and those from international wineries. Most of the wines poured from California, Oregon and Washington were the standard set: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir. As mentioned above, the Texas offerings were lacking in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. These are cool weather grapes that are very hard to grow here. What I did find were varietal offerings of Viognier, Roussanne and Muscat for the whites and Tempranillo and a host of red blends leading the way for Texas. In this regard, the Texas wineries were more like Mediterranean wineries present in the event like those from Spain, Portugal, Italy and southern France.

Shanken News Daily Reports: Texas Wines Are Showing Rapid Growth

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Jan 212013

Shanken News Daily Reports: Texas Wines Are Showing Rapid Growth

It’s not the first place that comes to mind when one refers to “wine country,” but Texas is the fifth-ranked state by wine production—after California, Washington, New York and Oregon—and retailers say the trend toward local food and wine is helping to galvanize consumer interest. According to the Texas Wine & Grape Growers trade group, the Lone Star State currently has more than 245 bonded wineries, up 50% since 2007, while production rose 35% to 1.35 million cases between 2007-2011.

Texas retail giant Spec’s tells Shanken News Daily that sales of locally-sourced wines are jumping lately. Across Spec’s 100-plus locations—spanning the Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and El Paso markets—volume of Texas-made wines rose 23% to 27,000 cases in 2012. By value, Spec’s saw Texas-sourced wines crest $3 million in sales on 29% growth last year.

For more, link to Shanken News Daily, at:

http://www.shankennewsdaily.com/index.php/2013/01/18/4900/retailers-say-texas-wines-are-showing-rapid-growth/

Have You Ever Had a Pinot Grigio Rosé (Ramato)?

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Jan 052013

Have You Ever Had a Pinot Grigio Rosé (Ramato)?

I know its winter and I should be focusing my palate toward high intensity red wines that go so well this time of year, but something grabbed my attention recently – a Pinot Grigio Rosé, or more appropriately Pinot Grigio Ramato. My curiosity was peeked as I had just heard that a Texas winery was starting to make a Pinot Grigio Rosé. However, I really had never tasted one, let alone, one from this grape’s native Italy.

If you are like many people, you just think of Pinot Grigio as a light-bodied white wine without thinking much about what the grapes actually looked like on the vine when fully ripened.

Well, Pinot Grigio grapes actually have grayish to red-skinned fruit. The grape’s juice has a light golden color, but can also have light shades of tan. When made with minimal skin contact as in Attems Pinot Grigio, the wine has a light yellow color and rich lemon-lime citrus to floral characteristics balanced with light, early-season pear. Made in this style, Pinot Grigios like Attems have been some of the most popular white wines of the last decade.

However, the reddish skins of the Pinot Grigio grape can also yield a pinkish hue in the finished wine. The longer the time of grape skin contact with the juice, the darker and more intense the color until it reaches a red-orange coppery tint. This style of Pinot Grigio Rosé is far less common in the United States, at least today.

When I voiced my surprise about this style of Pinot Grigio on Twitter, Italian wine aficionado, tradesperson and writer, Alfonso Cevola (On the Wine Trail in Italy) responded saying, “This style of wine is called Ramato referring to its coppery color. Thirty years ago, I tried to sell Pinto Grigio rosé, but people thought the wine had ‘turned’.”

It sounded to me like, back then, it was a hard sell. But, he finished saying, “Now it’s all the rage.”

The coppery-colored wine I tasted was Attems Cupra Ramato Pinot Grigio. It continues a traditional style found in the region around Venice of making a Pinot Grigio rosé. The name “Ramato,” means “coppery”, and has been a term that referred to Pinot Grigio made in contract with the red grape skins long enough to yield the wine’s characteristic color. Typically, the grapes are macerated and the juice remains in contact with the skins for over a day.

The Attems Cupra Ramato was an interesting augmentation of Attems more conventional white Pinot Grigio. It has a richer, fruitier bouquet yielding a tart cranberry note combined with its citrus character. On the palate, the flavor follows the aromas and also had a weightier feel and the dryness of skin tannins. This latter quality worked well with our evening’s fare – baked salmon.

We Ate Our Black-eyed Peas (And Sampled Some Wine) At William Chris Vineyards

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Jan 022013

We Ate Our Black-eyed Peas (And Sampled Some Wine) At William Chris Vineyards

We drove into Fredericksburg on Monday afternoon knowing that cold weather was coming (with some much needed rain) and our car’s battery was weak. But, we made it and celebrated our New Year’s Eve in the comfy confines of our Texas hill country cottage provisioned with delights from Houston’s Central Market: three dozen oysters (to be freshly shucked), a healthy-sized slab sea bass and a bottle of McPherson Cellars (almost-Texas) Sparkling Wine. As you may know, it’s a cuvée made with Texas fruit, but the sparkle is added with a little California Charmant carbon dioxide. By 1 pm yesterday, we drive into Hye to celebrate New Year’s Day by judging a black-eyed pea cooking contest and sampling some wine at William Chris Vineyards.

It was a fun affair lead by winemeisters Chris Brundrett and Bill Blackmon, with live music and at least 7-8 contestants each with a different version of the venerable pea (or is it a bean) of good luck. My favorite was from Contestant #7: a chorizo-laced concoction of spicy black-eyed peas topped with homemade jelly. I dredged my chip into it and my topping of choice was a purple jelly made with Mourvèdre grape. This got all three of my votes.

We roamed with other judges, some from near our little hill country homestead. This was the first chance to taste several of the William Chris wines. For starters, both my wife and I had a white blend called Mary Ruth from the 2011 vintage, a blend of Orange Muscat, Chenin Blanc and Grenache Blanc. a
A great off-dry sipper to pair with spicy beans on a chilly January 1st afternoon. Chris pulled me aside and provided a tank sample of an upcoming white wine which was outstanding. I promise to blog more about this when it’s ready for release in about a month from now.

The reds were uniquely William Chris in style: not fruit monsters, but medium-bodied wines of finesse driven by terroir (the sense of place – Texas high plains and hill country where the grapes originate) and aromatics that most winemakers long for. All small batch, artistically-done wines. Favorites for the afternoon were:

Artist Blend 2010 – Predominantly Mourvedre and Tempranillo driven by red berries and hints of vanilla and spice (everything nice)
Emotion 2011 – Another red blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, Mouvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon showing lots of character and balanced structure from the Cabernet.

You might find them in a few select restaurants (like Mark’s American Cuisine in the Montrose-district in Houston), but they are not widely distributed. These wines highlight what I talk about in next week’s Texas Wineslinger column – the need to ride Texas wine trails to find the hidden gems. Make your resolution now!

More pictures and info on this event at:

http://instagram.com/p/T9gGHYLg2o/

https://www.facebook.com/william.chris.vineyards

The Right Time for Baking Methodist Cake: A Pairing of Food, Wine and Family Tradition

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Dec 292012

The Right Time for Baking Methodist Cake: A Pairing of Food, Wine and Family Tradition

I was moved by Alfonso Cevola’s blog (On the Wine Trail in Italy) one day this past week. The topic was his 98 year old mother, her fruit cake and zeal for life that he obviously shares. His blog was part lament on people justly or unjustly hating fruit cake. Yet, it was also a salute to his mother’s focus on the her annual tradition of making fruit cake and how she was “out in front of it” baking her fruit cake despite the travails of the hectic holiday season.

As I read Alfonso’s blog, I reflected back on my 101 year old mother’s passing this past July. She had a special holiday cake recipe, too. Her’s was Methodist cake. I really don’t know why it’s called Methodist cake, I never asked her, and my Google search yesterday didn’t identify the genesis of Methodist cake in the kitchen of John or Charles Wesley; that would have been too easy. I guess that it’s named for this religious group (our group), because just like the stereotypical Methodist, Methodist cake isn’t flash and unlike the sparkle of a freshly baked fruit cake. Maybe, it’s a contrast to another holiday delicacy – rum cake, knowing the propensity for Methodists to be teetotalers. Her answer to my question, like many others that I’ve just now realized I needed to ask her, will remain unanswered and left for me to ponder and discuss with family and friends (or to occupy space on my blog).

Like Alfonso’s mother, my mother Beatrice, always seemed to be out front of it as Christmas time approached. No matter how busy she was, getting ready for Christmas (making chocolate chip cookies, mash potatoes, buying stocking stuffers and, oh yes, writing letters and sending cards to family and friends around the world), up until last year, she was always getting things ready for her Methodist cake.

My mother lived on her own and in her own home up until about six months of her passing. Afterwards, we retrieved many of her most precious things: handmade quilts, picture albums, cookbooks, and a small box of handwritten recipes. After reading Alfonso’s blog, I located the small wooden box and thumbed through the index cards until I found it (mother’s Methodist cake recipe) complete with her greasy thumbprint at the top that made me stop for a moment to ponder this small testament of her being.

I’ve got to confess that I really never liked my mother’s Methodist cake, thinking perhaps that it was from a time of lesser culinary arts than enjoyed today. There I said it, I was a Methodist cake snob. However, after seeing her thumbprint on the recipe card and the stains gained through the making of countless batches of cake batter year upon year (decade upon decade, too), I realized how much this recipe was a part of the fabric of our family life. It was then that I also realized that mothers’ recipes are laced with memories and are headstones of a sort that memorialize their contribution to family and culinary traditions that live long after they depart this Earth.

It was then that I decided to carry on my mother’s tradition and bake a Methodist cake or two. I cook, but I rarely attempt baking. I consider baking a far more exact science than cooking. Cooking is admittedly more art than science and a realm where repair or coverup of mistakes is much easier.

After searching my pantry and a trip to the market for some raisins, walnuts and shortening, I started the process. Part one was the cooking of raisins, cherries and nuts in the bright red juice of maraschino cherries laced with cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, sugar and shortening (organic – free of transfats, ergo healthier, I guess). Part two was combining this concoction with flour and baking soda to form the batter that was divided into two well oiled bread pans. Part three was baking for 45 minutes at 350 F while the familiar aroma permeated our house.

At the end, my wife and I sat in our living room sharing slices of Methodist cake under Beatrice’s watchful eyes, if only in photograph, but perhaps in the presence of her spirit, too. The cake was accompanied with what would likely be considered a distinctly non-Methodist beverage – wine, but one since her coming to Texas in 2011, Beatrice approved. It was a semi-sweet Muscat Canelli, from Texas no doubt (Hilmy Cellars).

A toast to Christmas, mothers and culinary traditions that sustain families through the passing of time. At this time of year, let us all eat cake; whatever our choice may be, or family traditions dictate.

Wineslinger Texas Wine Column – December 2012 Month At A Glance Summary

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Dec 292012

The Wineslinger Chronicles – get your copy at: www.wineslinger.net

Wineslinger Weekly Texas Wine Column – December 2012 Month-At-A Glance Summary

Texas Wineslinger – December 4, 2012: There are many Texas ports in a storm

It’s starting to get cold and stormy outside. As we gather around our dining tables and fireplaces this yearend, many bottles of Port wine will be opened. The origin of Port wine started with a 1678 visit by English merchants to an abbot in Lamego, Portugal, on the Douro River….

Texas Wineslinger – December 11, 2012: Recommendations from the best in Texas for selecting holiday wines

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and to search for a few good wines that will transform your holiday dinners into joyous occasions. Wouldn’t it be grand to have your own personal chef and sommelier? Well, I’ve brought together some of the best in Texas at wine and food and pairing to come to your recue….

Texas Wineslinger – December 18, 2012: Toast the Holidays with Texas Fizz and Fun

Texans love sparkling wines, and these bubblies have been around for some time. Lorenzo de Zavala (a noted land empresario, statesman and Texas revolutionary) left behind a sales receipt for Champagne from Île-de-France in Paris dated May 18, 1831, as proof….

Texas Wineslinger – December 26, 2012: La Bodega de Mitchell Crema Del Sol: A True Taste of Texas Wine History

Dr. Roy Mitchell has participated in more of the Texas wine experience than anybody still active in it. Prior to our meeting, I’d met Roy only once at a Texas wine industry meeting a few years ago where I first tasted his sherry. It was captivating then, but even more so now….

1/4/13 Update: TXwine Twitter Tuesday: Join Us Jan. 8th for Texas Wine Bar Tweet-Ups

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Dec 282012

1/4/13 Update: TXwine Twitter Tuesday: Join Us Jan. 8th for Texas Wine Bar Tweet-Ups

Austin’s Denise Clarke (@DeniseClarkeTX), Houston’s Russ Kane (@VintageTexas), and Jeff Cope (@TXWineLover) invite you to join the next TXwine Twitter Tuesday at 7 p.m. CST on January 8th. This month we will celebrate Texas wine bars, wine shops and markets that serve Texas wine. It’s fun to taste and tweet with a group of fellow wine lovers and this is your opportunity!

These are the wine bars and shops that are currently ready to welcome Tweeters on January 8th along with the Twitter coordinators who will be present.

Austin

Whole Foods Market – Bee Cave http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/bee-cave; Coordinator: Denise Clarke @DeniseClarkeTX http://texaswinegal.tumblr.com

Whole Foods Market – Lamar http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/lamar; Coordinator: Daniel Kelada @TXWFC http://txwfc.org

Whole Food Market – Arbor Trails http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/arbortrails; Coordinator: Alissa Leenher (@SAHMmelier) http://sahmmelier.wordpress.com

— Whole Foods Markets in Austin @WholeFoodsATX

Bryan

Messina Hof Wine Bar @Messina_Hof http://www.messinahof.com; Coordinators: Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo @Messina_Hof, @MerrillBon http://www.messinahof.com

Dallas-area

Whole Foods Market – Park Lane http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/park-lane; Jeff Siegel @Wine_Curmudgeon http://www.winecurmudgeon.com

Whole Foods Market – Lakewood http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/lakewood; Melanie Ofenloch @melanie0 http://www.dallaswinechick.com

— Whole Foods Markets in DFW @WholeFoodsDFW

Dripping Springs

The Dudley’s Wine Bar & Tap Room @drippinwine http://drippinwine.com; Coordinator: January Wiese @TexasWineTrail http://www.texaswinetrail.com

Fort Worth

WineStyles Montgomery Plaza – http://www.winestylesmontgomeryplaza.com; Coordinators: Gary and Cindy Jones @Texas_Wine_Camp http://texaswinecamp.com

Houston

Whole Foods Market – Montrose http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/montrose; Coordinator: Russ Kane @VintageTexas http://vintagetexas.com

Whole Foods Market – Kirby http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/kirby; Coordinators: Jim and Julie Baker @TXwineGeek & @PurpleJules http://TXwineGeek.com

— Whole Foods Markets Houston @WholeFoodsHOU

Houston-area

The Empty Glass – 104 Market St. Tomball @The_Empty_Glass http://www.theemptyglass.com; Coordinator: Jeff Cope @TXWineLover http://txwinelover.com

San Antonio

Vinously Speaking @vinouslyspeakin - 7271 Wurzbach, Ste 117 http://www.vinouslyspeaking.com; Coordinator: Robin Bircher @VitisPoema http://vitispoema.blogspot.com

— Whole Foods Markets San Antonio – @WholeFoodsSATX

But wait, there’s more…See below.

Whole Foods Market locations that will be pouring Texas wine where participants can taste and tweet at the wine bars and sell wines by the glass and by the flight. If you attend one of these venues and if you want to give a shout out on where you are….we suggest something like this in your Tweet: “I’m tasting #txwine from @wholefoodsDFW Lakewood store.” See stores and Twitter accounts by city below:

@WholeFoodsATX

Austin – Lamar: 525 North Lamar Blvd. (info)

Austin – Arbor Trails: 4301 W. William Cannon, Bldg B, Ste 800 (info)

@WholeFoodsDFW

Dallas – Highland Park: 4100 Lomo Alto Dr. (info)

Dallas – Lakewood: 2118 Abrams Road (info)

Dallas – Park Lane: 8190 Park Lane, Suite 351 (info)

@WholeFoodsHOU

Houston – Bellaire: 4004 Bellaire Blvd. (info)

Houston – Kirby: 2955 Kirby Dr. (info)

@WholeFoodsSATX

San Antonio – Vineyard: 18403 Blanco Road (info)

How to Participate?

Attend a wine bar location and find the other Tweeters with Smartphones, tablets, or other devices. There will be coordinators at the locations as indicated above to help you with questions about Twitter and Texas wine, or tweet to one of the organizers of the event (indicated above). Select your Texas wine(s) and tweet with others about it. Also, post photos from your wine bar and discuss the wine, atmosphere and location.

If you cannot attend a wine bar location, follow along and enjoy tweeting from home about the Texas wines you are tasting, and interact with others doing the same at the live venues. We will also be inviting Texas wineries whose wines are available at our Twitter locations to participate.

Participating wineries and the Twitter names are: Duchman Family Winery (@DuchmanWinery) Messina Hof (@Messina_Hof), Llano Esstacado (@LlanoWine), McPherson Cellars (@McPhersonCellar), Becker Vineyards (@BeckerVineyards), Fall Creek Vineyards (@FallCreekWines).

How to Tweet about it?

To participate in the TXwine Twitter Tuesday tasting, remember to include #TXwine in your tweets.

If you’re new to Twitter, here’s how you participate: just sign up for a free Twitter account at www.twitter.com. You can also go to the Tweetchat room set up for #TXwine (http://tweetchat.com/room/TXwine). No registration is required; you can login using your Twitter account info. In the Tweetchat room, participants are invited to follow tweets, add comments or tasting notes and share thoughts as participants taste and discuss the wines.

On TweetChat the hashtag #TXwine will be added automatically. If using TweetDeck or another Twitter application, you will need to add #TXwine in your Tweets.

More Tweets, More Fun!

Remember to taste, follow, tweet and repeat! More tastes, more tweets, more TXwine, more fun! Just remember to sip and spit or consume responsibly!

Also, check out: http://txwinelover.com/2012/12/txwine-twitter-tuesday-join-us-jan-8th-tweet-from-texas-wine-bars/

Top Ten New VintageTexas Blogs of 2012

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Dec 262012

Top Ten New VintageTexas Blogs of 2012

Texas Wines Heading South? What Texans Can Learn From The Texas Grape Production and Variety Survey

Newsom Vineyards Texas Grape Day 2012

Who’s Responsible for the National Sweet Red Wine Trend….Llano Estacado Winery?

Lessons Learned for Local Wine Movements from Colorado and Texas: DrinkLocalWine.com Time

Pedernales Cellars: Texas Wine Riding a Wave of Success

Texas Wineries Win Top Awards in the 2013 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition

News Flash: TDA Update Regarding Texas Wine Promotion – It’s Back!

What Are Your Favorite Texas Wines of All Time? Here’s Mine!

Write Off the Vine – Texas Wine News (Harvest 2012 Edition)

Hilmy Cellars: New Kids on the Block. Clever Guy and Seriously Good Wines

VintageTexas 2012 Top Texas Wines – Honorable Mentions, For Darn Good Reasons Too!

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Dec 212012

VintageTexas 2012 Top Texas Wines – Honorable Mentions, For Darn Good Reasons Too!

As I have learned in previous years, even when I list what I believe to be the ten best Texas wines, there are still stellar wines from the Lone Star state with distinction. I’ve chosen a few honorable mentions for this year’s 2012 Top Texas wines for the reasons stated below:

Best Value Wine – Red

Becker Vineyards Reserve Merlot 2010 – Just when I’m ready to throw in the towel on single varietal Bordeaux grape varieties grown in Texas, leave it to Doc Becker. He offers this really good Merlot and at a value price less than $13 and it readily available and many supermarkets and wine shops around Texas.

Best Value Wine – White

CapRock Winery Roussanne 2010 – You are probably tired of hearing me rant and rave about Texas-grown Roussanne. It is marvelous and McPherson’s Reserve Roussanne deserved to be in the top ten wines this year. But, this wine is Roussanne for the common man (and woman). It’s generally available in distribution around the state and goes for around $10-12. This wine is a steal! Also, look for the 2011 or multi-vintage versions of this wine.

Best “Creative” Wine

Brushy Vineyards Creek Boom Chocolatté – A fortified Tannat Port-style wine with an infusion of chocolate. This wine defines what is meant when someone says, “This wine is dessert in a glass!”. It’s not cheap and you have to order and ship it from the winery, but it’s it really worth every penny of it. Gold Medal winner from the 2012 Lone Star International Wine Competition. The bottle is a real hoot!

Best Non-Grape Wine

Sandstone Cellars Cider Dessert Wine – I don’t know what gave winemaker Don Pullum and winery owners Scott Haupert and Manny Silerio the idea for this wine. Is it wine or is it cider? My opinion is that it’s wine; barely sweet (with a proprietary formulation) and it’s fortified with spirits that provides a kick from both Texas-grown apples and a near 19% alcohol level.

Best Esoteric (Thinking Man’s/Woman’s) Wine

Bar Z Winery 2007 Sassy S – On my last trip up to the high plains around Lubbock, I ventured to the far northern extremity of the kingdom of Texas wine: Canyon, Texas. There I met up with Monty Dixon and tasted his wines. My description of the wines at the time read, “BarZ Wines are for those who savor and ponder”. If you like aged qualities of wines try this Sangiovese-dominated red blend amplified with a kiss of red Bordeaux that yields a crimson appearance with aromas of red berries, cedar, charcoal and dried flowers followed by cherry seed, mineral and brisk acidity on the palate with baking spice on the finish. That’s a lot to ponder!

Mark-My-Word: The Best (No-Name) Grapes for the Future of Texas Red Wine

Duchman Family Winery 2010 Aglianico & Brennan Vineyards 2010 Dark Horse (Nero d’Avola)

Credit is due these two wineries for believing in red grapes that frankly most people have never heard of, but that just might just blow the lid off red wines in this state. Cheers to Stan Duchman and Dave Reilly at Duchman Family Winery for making their 2010 Aglianico. Stan poured this wine with me a few months ago and it was a surprise with natural crispness and notes of red-berries and smoke that could make a Pinot-lover give Texas wines a second look. Equal accolades go to Pat Brennan and Todd Webster at Brennan Vineyards for their Dark Horse wine made from Nero d’Avola. I’ve following the lead-up to this release and just experienced its aromatic joy. Jessica DuPuy said it best in her recent blog “smoky and spicy with hints of bright red fruit, wild orchid, white pepper” (click here). It’s a real nose-full. Both of these grapes derive from south-central Italy and Sicily – get the connection?

Most Popular VintageTexas Blog Posts of 2012

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Dec 202012

Most Popular VintageTexas Blog Posts of 2012

I’ve inserted a little break in the action after naming the VintageTexas 2012 Top Ten Wines (white and red) and before naming my list of honorable mention wines for 2012.

Based on page accesses by readers in 2012, the following were the most popular posts on VintageTexas over the past year. As might realize, most of these were not actually generated in 2012.

Top Ten Texas Wines of 2011 from VintageTexas: Installment #1 – Five Wines

The Wine in Spain Comes Mainly with the Cuisine – 1

VintageTexas ‘Cyclopedia of Wine: Vintage Charts

Texas Black Spanish – The Grape Otherwise Known as Lenoir

Texas Wine and Wildflowers – A Perfect Spring Pairing for Wine Trails

Top Ten Texas Wines of 2011 from VintageTexas: Installment #2 – Next Five Wines

What Texas Wine Goes with the “Big Apple”

2011 Top Ten Texas Wines from VintageTexas – The Honorable Mentions

Looking for a List of Really Good Texas Wines? Here it is! The Best of the Best List for 2010

So You Want to Grow Wine Grapes in Texas – How to Get Started

It is interesting that several blog post continue to be in the top ten for the third straight year. One covers Texas Black Spanish (Lenoir) grapes and another focuses on my take on the cuisine in Spain following the trip that my wife and I took that encompassed Madrid, Granada and Barcelona. Blog posts on other trips and the selection of our top wines from 2011 area also represented.

If I’d limited this list to just those blogs posted during 2012, as you might imagine, it will come out a much different. Between now and the end of the year (but after I name the 2012 honorable mention wines), I will try to get this list posted.

In the meantime, thanks for your readership on VintageTexas in 2012. If you have topics of interest, questions or if you want to get a discussion going, please contact me through the comments thread on the VintageTexas blog.

I also want to thank all of you that purchased a copy of my book, The Wineslinger Chronicles: Texas on the Vine that was released by Texas Tech University Press this past February. If you need a gift of your favorite wine lover, you can get a copy this book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble (hardback, eBook and Kindle) or a personalized/autographed hardback through my website at www.wineslinger.net. Cheers

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