Dear Lord, We Could Use a Little Rain and Please Keep the Frost Away
The Start of the Texas High Plains Vineyard Planting Tour
Arriving back in Houston late last Wednesday, I had just enough time to empty and repack my suitcase, check up on the weather in Lubbock, and catch a short night’s sleep. I’d be leaving the following morning on a tour of the Texas High Plains vineyards. This trek was arranged by the Texas Department of Agriculture to highlight the new grapevine plantings in ten Texas vineyards facilitated by $250,000 in rural economic development grants [For more information, see: http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=news&content=58363].
The goal of the new grape plantings is to add over a hundred acres of badly needed new wine grapes to help relieve the grape shortage in Texas. This shortage resulted from the recent spike in the number of Texas wineries, which now totals over 170, combined with decreased vineyard production from late spring freezes, hail and damaging rain during harvest the past several years.
The Lubbock weather warning of cold, windy and snowy conditions was not only personally chilling, a harbinger of possible freeze damage to bud laden vines. No doubt this late wintry blast would be met with trepidation by the High Plains growers that I was about to visit.
Early Wake-Up Call
Thursday morning came way too early. It was nearly an hour before my alarm was set to ring when my dog jumped in bed to announce his needs. Thus motivated, I made an early arrival to the airport and downed my hot java [jet fuel for my sleepy brain, I thought] and thus began my trek to Lubbock. One more check of the weather from my PC in the terminal showed more clearly the potential dire weather situation predicted for later in the weekend. My upcoming vineyard tour might have been better billed as the “Grit and Gumption” tour as this late blast of winter weather would again test the tenacity of the Texas growers.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=652
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Know Your Terroir - Part II; Can you Name Them?
Know Your Terroir - Part II
Can you Name the Ten Most Famous Wine Regions from their Terroir?
Part II of this two part blog, focuses on the first five famous terroirs of the modern wine world
It is important for grape growers, winemakers and wine consumers to know the famous terroirs of the modern wine world. Review the terroir descriptions [1 through 10] and try to name them - 1 through 5 were posted last Friday at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=643. The following are 6 through 10.
Send your answers to russ@vintagetexas.com (email addresses will be witheld). Each correct answer will receive 10 points.
BONUS: Five bonus points will be given to any responses that correctly name Texas locations with similar characteristics. NOTE: YOU HAVE TO JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS for consideration of bonus credit.
The correct answers and the top three winners will be posted March 30, 2009.
Let the challenge continue…..
6. Great Cabernets from this new world region are described as having a dusty and spicy berry character and sometimes descriptions include mocha, allspice, that differentiate them from a adjacent and most notable American Cabernet-producing region. There are three distinct alluvial fans in this region that brought the mineral-rich soil over the eons. They range from gravelly to sandy to loamy, and some of the most famous vineyards rest on shattered sandstone with a limestone base.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=648
Can you Name the Ten Most Famous Wine Regions from their Terroir?
Part II of this two part blog, focuses on the first five famous terroirs of the modern wine world
It is important for grape growers, winemakers and wine consumers to know the famous terroirs of the modern wine world. Review the terroir descriptions [1 through 10] and try to name them - 1 through 5 were posted last Friday at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=643. The following are 6 through 10.
Send your answers to russ@vintagetexas.com (email addresses will be witheld). Each correct answer will receive 10 points.
BONUS: Five bonus points will be given to any responses that correctly name Texas locations with similar characteristics. NOTE: YOU HAVE TO JUSTIFY YOUR ANSWERS for consideration of bonus credit.
The correct answers and the top three winners will be posted March 30, 2009.
Let the challenge continue…..
6. Great Cabernets from this new world region are described as having a dusty and spicy berry character and sometimes descriptions include mocha, allspice, that differentiate them from a adjacent and most notable American Cabernet-producing region. There are three distinct alluvial fans in this region that brought the mineral-rich soil over the eons. They range from gravelly to sandy to loamy, and some of the most famous vineyards rest on shattered sandstone with a limestone base.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=648
Friday, March 20, 2009
Know Your Terroir - Part I; Can you Name Them?
Know Your Terroir - Part I
Can you Name the Ten Most Famous Wine Regions from their Terroir?
Part I of this two part blog, focuses on the first five famous terroirs of the modern wine world
It is important for grape growers, winemakers and wine consumers to know the famous terroirs of the modern wine world. Review the following terroir descriptions [1 through 10] and try to name them.
Send your answers to russ@vintagetexas.com (email addresses will be witheld). Each correct answer will receive 10 points. BONUS: Five bonus points will be given to any responses that correctly name Texas locations with similar characteristics.
The correct answers and the top three winners will be posted March 30, 2009.
More info at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=643
Can you Name the Ten Most Famous Wine Regions from their Terroir?
Part I of this two part blog, focuses on the first five famous terroirs of the modern wine world
It is important for grape growers, winemakers and wine consumers to know the famous terroirs of the modern wine world. Review the following terroir descriptions [1 through 10] and try to name them.
Send your answers to russ@vintagetexas.com (email addresses will be witheld). Each correct answer will receive 10 points. BONUS: Five bonus points will be given to any responses that correctly name Texas locations with similar characteristics.
The correct answers and the top three winners will be posted March 30, 2009.
More info at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=643
Thursday, March 12, 2009
From the Mediterranean Shores to Mason County Texas: Act II – Seeing, Tasting and Praying for Terroir
From the Mediterranean Shores to Mason County Texas:
Act II – Seeing, Tasting and Praying for Terroir
About 4 pm in the afternoon, my wife and I departed our Hill Country cottage near Fredericksburg, Texas and started the hour and a half drive to Mason for the much anticipated Act II dinner and tasting at Sandstone Cellars. As I learned in the process, this drive was likely the best way to see the “big picture” view of what Don Pullum had discussed in his description of Mason County terroir (See http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=612).
We headed west on Route 290 from Fredericksburg and, within minutes, the limestone road cuts at the eroded edge of the Edwards Plateau started to fall away. The countryside morphed into outcroppings of even more ancient, burnt-orange “Hickory” sandstone with a magnificent view of the Llano Basin open before me. The meeting of water on rock in Mason County is there, available to the beholder: A visible slice of geological time over 500 million years ago that produced a very particular ‘terres de la vigne’.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=622
Act II – Seeing, Tasting and Praying for Terroir
About 4 pm in the afternoon, my wife and I departed our Hill Country cottage near Fredericksburg, Texas and started the hour and a half drive to Mason for the much anticipated Act II dinner and tasting at Sandstone Cellars. As I learned in the process, this drive was likely the best way to see the “big picture” view of what Don Pullum had discussed in his description of Mason County terroir (See http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=612).
We headed west on Route 290 from Fredericksburg and, within minutes, the limestone road cuts at the eroded edge of the Edwards Plateau started to fall away. The countryside morphed into outcroppings of even more ancient, burnt-orange “Hickory” sandstone with a magnificent view of the Llano Basin open before me. The meeting of water on rock in Mason County is there, available to the beholder: A visible slice of geological time over 500 million years ago that produced a very particular ‘terres de la vigne’.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=622
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Last Call to Enter: Free Messina Hof Winery Private Tour and Tasting for 20 People Giveaway Offer
Last Call to Enter: Free Messina Hof Winery Private Tour and Tasting for Twenty Giveaway Offer
Deadline for response is Friday, March 13, 2009.
Qualify to win a Free Private Tour and Tasting at Messina Hof Winery and Resort, Compliments of Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo by answering the following questions: 1. Have you been to Messina Hof Winery and Resort? Yes ____; No ____.2. What types of wine events do you like? _____________________3. Age _____ years; Male or Female ______4. Where do you buy your wines? _______________________5. List your favorite three grape varieties.6. List your favorite three wine brands.7. How many bottles per month do you buy? ______ Approx. cost per bottle ______. Tour and Tasting Description:The Private Tour and Tasting for 20 people: Invite 20 of your favorite friends, family, or business associates to a day in Texas Wine Country. Enjoy the award winning wines of Messina Hof during a private tour tasting paired with fruit and cheeses. Messina Hof is located in the center of the state the same distance from Houston and Austin as Napa is from San Fransisco. It is like a trip to Europe without crossing the Atlantic! How to Enter:List your answers by number in the reply comment field at the bottom of the blog post at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=596.
Deadline for response is Friday, March 13, 2009.
Winners of the Messina Hof Tour and Tasting will be selected by a drawing from list of people that successfully respond to all questions. The winner contacted by VintageTexas using the email address used in the reply. Names will be withheld and used only with permission.
Deadline for response is Friday, March 13, 2009.
Qualify to win a Free Private Tour and Tasting at Messina Hof Winery and Resort, Compliments of Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo by answering the following questions: 1. Have you been to Messina Hof Winery and Resort? Yes ____; No ____.2. What types of wine events do you like? _____________________3. Age _____ years; Male or Female ______4. Where do you buy your wines? _______________________5. List your favorite three grape varieties.6. List your favorite three wine brands.7. How many bottles per month do you buy? ______ Approx. cost per bottle ______. Tour and Tasting Description:The Private Tour and Tasting for 20 people: Invite 20 of your favorite friends, family, or business associates to a day in Texas Wine Country. Enjoy the award winning wines of Messina Hof during a private tour tasting paired with fruit and cheeses. Messina Hof is located in the center of the state the same distance from Houston and Austin as Napa is from San Fransisco. It is like a trip to Europe without crossing the Atlantic! How to Enter:List your answers by number in the reply comment field at the bottom of the blog post at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=596.
Deadline for response is Friday, March 13, 2009.
Winners of the Messina Hof Tour and Tasting will be selected by a drawing from list of people that successfully respond to all questions. The winner contacted by VintageTexas using the email address used in the reply. Names will be withheld and used only with permission.
Monday, March 9, 2009
From Mediterranean Shores to Mason County Sands: Act I – A French Connection
From Mediterranean Shores to Mason County Sands: Act I – A French Connection
In the 6th century BC, long before any of the major wine producing regions of France had been established, the Phoenician Greeks landed on the rocky Mediterranean shores near Marseilles in southern France. They brought with them their civilization, commerce, and grape vines for local wine production. The estuarial conjunction of the Rhone River with its access to the open sea was a convenient transfer point that helped establish a fledgling wine culture in the area.
The Romans came later with their devotion to wine and overlaid their empire upon this region pushing vineyards farther inland and up the local hillsides in the vicinity of what is now the village of Le Castellet. This historical picture can still be seen today in the small Appellation in southern France called Bandol.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=612
In the 6th century BC, long before any of the major wine producing regions of France had been established, the Phoenician Greeks landed on the rocky Mediterranean shores near Marseilles in southern France. They brought with them their civilization, commerce, and grape vines for local wine production. The estuarial conjunction of the Rhone River with its access to the open sea was a convenient transfer point that helped establish a fledgling wine culture in the area.
The Romans came later with their devotion to wine and overlaid their empire upon this region pushing vineyards farther inland and up the local hillsides in the vicinity of what is now the village of Le Castellet. This historical picture can still be seen today in the small Appellation in southern France called Bandol.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=612
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Write Off the Vine - Texas Wine News: March 5, 2009
Write Off the Vine - Texas Wine News: March 5, 2009
Barrels Across Texas
Texas Wine Tours to benefit the American Red Cross of Central Texas - $280 (ebay)
Free Messina Hof Winery Private Tour and Tasting for Twenty Giveaway Offer
Texas Wineries? Yer Darn Tootin’
How the American Southwest Wine Region Works
More on each article at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=608
Barrels Across Texas
Texas Wine Tours to benefit the American Red Cross of Central Texas - $280 (ebay)
Free Messina Hof Winery Private Tour and Tasting for Twenty Giveaway Offer
Texas Wineries? Yer Darn Tootin’
How the American Southwest Wine Region Works
More on each article at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=608
Thursday, March 5, 2009
An Open Letter to the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association: “To Tell the Story”
Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending a meeting of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association (TWGGA) held in Austin, Texas. As I described in the blog-of-that-day (http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=573), this annual event had many facets – some technical, some political and some social. From my perspective, I find the Texas wine industry is like having a rough diamond peering at me, partially buried in the Texas soil. From the outside it may seem unremarkable, but it conceals an indescribable, enchantment locked inside….something definitely of the soil.
I awoke early that morning and as I drove to Austin, I was taken by the elements of a Texas spring morning surrounding me; roadside grasses, dry and gray, transforming into emerald islets, birds in flight chasing much larger predator birds from soon to be occupied nests, a warm sun coming up over my shoulder changing the day from black to red-orange to blue awakening fields with hope for the new season.
Thank you to TWGGA, its members, officers, directors and staff for awarding me the 2009 TWGGA Press Award. It is much appreciated and I will aspire to continue telling the story that is truly “Your Story”. I am only a voyager, interlocutor and muse, and I am blessed to be here to tell the story.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=601
I awoke early that morning and as I drove to Austin, I was taken by the elements of a Texas spring morning surrounding me; roadside grasses, dry and gray, transforming into emerald islets, birds in flight chasing much larger predator birds from soon to be occupied nests, a warm sun coming up over my shoulder changing the day from black to red-orange to blue awakening fields with hope for the new season.
Thank you to TWGGA, its members, officers, directors and staff for awarding me the 2009 TWGGA Press Award. It is much appreciated and I will aspire to continue telling the story that is truly “Your Story”. I am only a voyager, interlocutor and muse, and I am blessed to be here to tell the story.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=601
Monday, March 2, 2009
Messina Hof Winery Private Tour and Tasting Giveaway Offer, and Messina Hof Texas Bounty Dinner Event Announcement
Free Messina Hof Winery Private Tour and Tasting for Twenty Giveaway Offer
Qualify to win a Free Private Tour and Tasting at Messina Hof Winery and Resort, Compliments of Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo by answering the following questions: 1. Have you been to Messina Hof Winery and Resort? Yes ____; No ____.2. What types of wine events do you like? _____________________3. Age _____ years; Male or Female ______4. Where do you buy your wines? _______________________5. List your favorite three grape varieties.6. List your favorite three wine brands.7. How many bottles per month do you buy? ______ Approx. cost per bottle ______.
Tour and Tasting Description:The Private Tour and Tasting for 20 people: Invite 20 of your favorite friends, family, or business associates to a day in Texas Wine Country. Enjoy the award winning wines of Messina Hof during a private tour tasting paired with fruit and cheeses. Messina Hof is located in the center of the state the same distance from Houston and Austin as Napa is from San Fransisco. It is like a trip to Europe without crossing the Atlantic!
How to Enter: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=596
Qualify to win a Free Private Tour and Tasting at Messina Hof Winery and Resort, Compliments of Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo by answering the following questions: 1. Have you been to Messina Hof Winery and Resort? Yes ____; No ____.2. What types of wine events do you like? _____________________3. Age _____ years; Male or Female ______4. Where do you buy your wines? _______________________5. List your favorite three grape varieties.6. List your favorite three wine brands.7. How many bottles per month do you buy? ______ Approx. cost per bottle ______.
Tour and Tasting Description:The Private Tour and Tasting for 20 people: Invite 20 of your favorite friends, family, or business associates to a day in Texas Wine Country. Enjoy the award winning wines of Messina Hof during a private tour tasting paired with fruit and cheeses. Messina Hof is located in the center of the state the same distance from Houston and Austin as Napa is from San Fransisco. It is like a trip to Europe without crossing the Atlantic!
How to Enter: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=596
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