Texas Wine Gal

Chillin’ with Cowboys and Gauchos

The Wine and Food Foundation of Texas has some killer events, and today’s Cowboys and Gauchos was one of them — super fun and laid back, with great wines and amazing BBQ meats prepared by local chefs.

The wines were primarily from Texas and Uruguay, both countries sharing similar climates.  More and more Texas wineries are making wines from Uruguay’s Tannat grape — including Bending Branch and Alamosa Wine Cellars, which includes Tannat in its Texacaia red blend. Alamosa’s Jim and Karen Johnson have also been pleased with their Graciano, the first of this Spanish varietal to be produced in Texas.  Super nice wine with chocolate-cherry flavor.

My wine favorites included some new Texas wines I have not tasted before:  Becker Vineyards Provencal Rose, the first Provencal made by their new winemaker John Leahy, and Flat Creek Estate’s Cuvee Blanc and Tempranillo.  I also enjoyed old favorites including the McPherson Cellars Albarino,  Duchman Family Winery Vermentino and the Pederales Cellars GSM.

Hye Meadows Winery is set to open in several months and will offer wines from Washington state, including a lovely Edelzwicker, Chardonnay and Sangiovese. Today, they shared a tank sample of their first Texas Tempranillo.

My food favorites: Jack Allen’s cabrito tacos and Cafe Josie glazed pork with a sweet sauce and served with the most amazing, super crisp sweet but peppery cookie. 

Salt Lick Pavilion meat pit

Jim and Karen Johnson with Alamosa Graciano

Alyssa @Sahmmelier and Matt @whatareyoudrinking

Hye Meadow Winery owners Mike and Denise Batek with Matt McGinnis

Hye Meadow Winery wines

David Mayfield, king of Tannat and importer of Uruguay wines

John Bratcher and Kassie McPherson, McPherson Cellars

Cheers!

My little sweet one

Yes, that’s what Dolcetto means in Italian and let me tell you, I love this red wine. Lots of black cherry, red plum and hint of pepper on the finish, with soft tannins make this a red wine to pair with pasta or meat.  Me, I like it as a red sipper.

Duchman Family Winery makes Dolcetto in Texas and it’s one of my favorite Texas reds.

Cheers!

Texas Monthly Top 20 Wine Picks for 2012

My friend Jessica Dupuy with Texas Monthly has shared her Top 20 favorite Texas wines — and lucky for me, I have tasted most of these.  I must admit the Brennan Vineyards Lily, the Duchman Winery Vermentino and Trebbiano and Perissos Roussanne are among my favorite white white wines.

For the reds, I am intrigued that two of the Top Reds are Nero D’Avola.  I have not tried either of these wines but will pick them up soon! I love the McPherson Sangiovese and William Chris Hunter for lighter style reds, and the Pedernales Tempranillo Reserve and the Pontotoc Vineyard San Fernando Academy when I’m hankering for something with some weight.

While I was getting over bronchitis last week, I sipped on the Hilmy Cellars Muscat Canelli and it was like enjoying a Clementine. It has nice acid to balance out its slight sweetness.  The Messina Hof Moscato is also a nice dessert wine that is not too sweet.

Go try some of these wines and let me know how you liked them!

Cheers!

Dang — Love this wine!

I nearly finished this bottle of Duchman Family Winery Trebbiano before I remembered to snap a photo and write a short note about it.  It’s so refreshing — with a hint of banana (in a good, tropical way) and citrus.  Love the crisp, dry finish.  An easy-drinking, refreshing summer wine.

Cheers! (And yes, the grapes are from the Bingham Family Vineyards!  One of Texas’ best grape-growing families.)

Friday Night Wine Study - J Pinot Gris

Yep, tonight kicks off what will be the first of many Friday Night wine study nights. I have joined a small group studying for sommelier and Certified Specialist of Wine exams so it’s time to get serious. 

Our mentor/teacher is Bill Elsey, formerly with Duchman Family Winery and now the sommelier with wines.com. Did I mention he is also TEXSOM’s Texas Best Sommelier 2011?  We are so honored and appreciative of his help and guidance.

Tonight, even though I am studying Burgundy, I am enjoying a J Vineyards & Winery Pinot Gris. It has honey and apricot on the nose, great acid and smooth mouthfeel.

Bill told us that, most of the time, he tastes the classic varieties in order to really understand and recognize their characteristics.  So I’m going to try and do the same — and Pinot Gris is one that I am not as familiar with.

Cheers and have a great weekend!

Wine Week Extraordinaire

I had three wine events last week — crazy but wonderful. First, the Texas Wine Twitter Tuesday.  Sandstone Cellars’ Don Pullum (@AkashicVineyard on Twitter) paired Texas wines with gazpacho, lamb kebabs and ice cream with apricot jam topping.  We tasted the wines with each dish, alone and with different garnishes, to see how the wines changed with the different flavors.

Texas Monthly wine gal Jessica Dupuy (@jdewps) and Austin’s newest Master Sommelier Devon Broglie (@DevOnWine) with Whole Foods Market joined me, Jenny and Bobby from the Texas wine team at my house to taste and Tweet along with Russ Kane of Vintage Texas and other wine friends around the state.

Besides the three Texas wines we tasted with the meal —Duchman Dolcetto, Haak Tempranillo and Texas Hills Orange Muscat — we also shared the McPherson Roussanne and William Chris Emotion (both super nice additions!).

What a great way to spend a Tuesday!

Piandibugnano Cuccallegro

This Montecucco Bianco 2009 is a blend of Trebbiano (60%) and Vermentino (40%) — it offers a nice dry wine, with a floral, fruity nose, and is crisp and snappy on the finish.

Trebbanio is the second most widely planted grape in the world (who knew?!).  It is called Ugni Blanc in France.

There is some Trebbiano in Texas — Duchman Family Winery has a 2009 Trebbiano that is offered at Dolce Vita in Houston.  They use grapes from the Bingham Family Vineyards.