Write Off the Vine: Texas Wine News – September 15, 2010

Write Off the Vine: Texas Wine News – September 15, 2010

Social Media and Wine

The Wine Curmudgeon

Social media is supposed to save the wine business. The problem? The wine business doesn’t understand social media and, more importantly, doesn’t want to be saved by it.

I’ve seen [wine social media at work] in the Twitter Tastings we’ve done for DrinkLocalWine.com, when, in one weekend, we may have gotten Texas and Virginia wine more publicity than each usually gets in three or four months.

Other people have seen the same thing. Mark Hyman, who runs Texas’ 160,000-case Llano Estacado Winery, visits grocery stores to see what people are buying. And, says Hyman, he is seeing something new. Younger consumers are standing in the wine aisle and taking pictures of labels with their phones. Then, they’re texting their friends to ask if the picture of the label they’ve just sent is the wine they should buy.

So much for the Wine Magazines.

More: http://www.winecurmudgeon.com/my_weblog/2010/09/social-media-and-wine.html#more#ixzz0zbMW8AC2

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SALADO not in the creek WINERY

No flood damage – Salado Creek had quite a flash flood in the morning, Wednesday, September 8th.  Some homes in Mill Creek and some businesses along Salado Creek were filled with water for a short time.  We are not close to the creek, so luckily we were not affected.  If you would like to read more about some of the businesses that were affected, look here.  Also, there are many fundraising opportunities if you would like to help flood victims.  Look to the Salado Village Voice for updates.

So come on down to Salado Winery and taste some Texas wines!  The grass is green and the sun is shining.  Salado has over 200 businesses open and ready to delight you.

More: http://saladowinery.com/blog/wordpress

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Texas Wine Maker Series Vintner Dinner at the Cabernet Grill

Featuring the Wine Makers of Texas Hills Vineyard – Kathy & Gary Gilstrap

Wednesday September 29th, 6:30 PM Sharp

$59.95 per person plus tax and gratuity; Reservations Call: 830.990.5734

Menu

“Good Ole” Lobster Bisque – Texas Hills Roussanne 2007 “Texas High Plains”

Green Chili & Crab Stuffed Texas, Shrimp with lemon cream and honey mango slaw – Texas Hills Pinot Grigio 2008 “Texas Hill Country”

Braised Kobe Beef Short Rib with Roasted Tomato & Shallot Jam, Saffron Goat Cheese Grits and Natural Jus – Texas Hills Syrah 2005 “Texas Hill Country”

Hickory Smoked Twin County Dorper Lamb Rack with roasted garlic rosemary demi glace, ginger carrot mousse and apple wood bacon roasted tiny potatoes – Texas Hills TORO de TEJAS 2009 (Tempranillo) “Newsome Vineyards”

Ibarra Chocolate Panna Cotta with black pepper and port macerated sundered strawberries – Texas Hills Vineyard PORT Rubino 2001

More: http://www.cottonginlodging.com

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Mark your Calendars – More Texas Wine Events (Calling All Texas Wineries and Texas Wine Lovers)

Texas Department of Agriculture

Sept. 25: Galveston Island Wild Texas Shrimp Festival, Saengerfest Park on the Strand – In honor of the Texas shrimp industry and Galveston’s island lifestyle, come celebrate at this inaugural festival on Galveston’s historical Strand. GO TEXAN members are invited to sell their products from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Wineries are also invited to sample and sell Restaurant members are invited to participate in the Texas shrimp gumbo cook-off, with a first place prize of $1,000. For more information, click here or contact Yaga’s Entertainment at (409) 770-0999.

Sept. 25: The Historic Montgomery Wine and Food Trail, Montgomery – This is a great opportunity for food and artisan vendors to sample and sell their products. There will be many GO TEXAN companies in attendance, including Texas wineries. Attendees sample wine, attend cooking demos, shop and enjoy local music. Booth fees are $175; electricity and health permits are extra. Deadline to sign up is Aug. 13. Vendor application can be obtained from event contact. For more information, contact Patty Kalich with the Historic Montgomery Business Association at (936) 597-5004.

Sept. 25-26: Houston Wine Fest, Sam Houston Park in Downtown Houston – GO TEXAN members are invited to sample and sell their products in this inaugural wine event. Attendance is expected to exceed 10,000. Please e-mail Reisha Beaty or call at (832) 654-1708 for registration information. If sampling and/or selling food, contact the Harris County Public Heath and Environmental Services office at (713) 439-6000 for a permit. Electricity, if needed, is an additional $120 for all vendors. If interested, please contact Courtney Powell in the Houston Regional office.

More at: http://www.agr.state.tx.us/gt/channel/render/events/0,1217,1670_1713_0_0,00.html

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Regional Wine Week Set for Oct. 10-16, 2010

Wine Curmudgeon (DrinkLocalWine.com)

The third annual regional wine week, spotlighting the best regional wine in the country from some of the country’s best regional wine writers, will be held Oct. 11-16.

The best part about regional wine week? Anyone who writes about regional wine, whether professional or not, can participate. Write something about regional wine on your blog or Web site between Oct. 10 and Oct. 16, and send us the link. We’ll post the link here, and by the end of the week, we’ll have links to dozens and dozens of stories about regional wine from dozens of states. Just like in 2009 and 2008. For our purposes, regional wine is wine made in the 47 states that aren’t California, Washington or Oregon.

More: http://www.drinklocalwine.com/2010/09/regional-wine-week-set-for-oct-10-16.html