Friday evening the Grand Tasting at the Grand Wine and Food Affair was held in Sugar Land, Texas (just southwest of Houston). It was definitely a “Grand Affair” with wines from major producers the likes of Mondavi, Sterling, Gallo of Sonoma and foods prepared by the best Texas chef’s. I poured and discussed my personal six favorite Texas wines. I was in grand company as Master Sommeliers Doug Frost and Guy Stout, Mark Sayre of Austin (Texas’ Best Sommelier for 2007), and Martin Korson (Central Market, Houston Wine and Beverage Manager) highlighted their six picks, as well.
Read below for my personal wine picks, notes and a few taster comments received at the event: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=738
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Between the Clouds; Tasting the Texas Stars
Between the Clouds; Tasting the Texas Stars
Entry 4 – The Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival Adventure
An evening under the stars was more like an evening in fear of rain, but we were tucked along the alcoves or under a tent on the terrace of Austin’s Long Center for the Performing Arts. The event enchanted and delighted. Luckily it also spared us direct contact with the wet and wild weather, while we savored signature dishes of some of Texas’s best known chefs and restaurants, and tasted showcase wines of guest and Texas wineries. This event has long been considered the ‘prime cut’ of wine and food events in Austin and, as I believe, perhaps Texas, too.
The Stars Across Texas event was a frantic evening of tasting with many excellent offerings, too numerous to mention here. In this blog, I promise to stay focused and present only my personal top ten offerings:
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=709
Entry 4 – The Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival Adventure
An evening under the stars was more like an evening in fear of rain, but we were tucked along the alcoves or under a tent on the terrace of Austin’s Long Center for the Performing Arts. The event enchanted and delighted. Luckily it also spared us direct contact with the wet and wild weather, while we savored signature dishes of some of Texas’s best known chefs and restaurants, and tasted showcase wines of guest and Texas wineries. This event has long been considered the ‘prime cut’ of wine and food events in Austin and, as I believe, perhaps Texas, too.
The Stars Across Texas event was a frantic evening of tasting with many excellent offerings, too numerous to mention here. In this blog, I promise to stay focused and present only my personal top ten offerings:
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=709
Let’s Taste the Terroir, Search for Parking and Savor the Coffee
Let’s Taste the Terroir, Search for Parking and Savor the Coffee
Entry 3 - The Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival Adventure
Two festival events preoccupied my attention yesterday: “Where Terroir Meets Tradition”, a noontime luncheon tasting featuring six premium Texas wines appointed with three carefully inspired food pairings from select Texas chefs, and “Stars Across Texas”, the grand Austin tasting escapade where signature dishes meet a cadre of fine wines from around the world.
The morning started with the flash-bang of a Hill Country thunderstorm that announced a gray-black veil of rain on the Big Hill and the thirsty countryside. Departing the cottage had me following the storm eastward to Austin.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=706
Entry 3 - The Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival Adventure
Two festival events preoccupied my attention yesterday: “Where Terroir Meets Tradition”, a noontime luncheon tasting featuring six premium Texas wines appointed with three carefully inspired food pairings from select Texas chefs, and “Stars Across Texas”, the grand Austin tasting escapade where signature dishes meet a cadre of fine wines from around the world.
The morning started with the flash-bang of a Hill Country thunderstorm that announced a gray-black veil of rain on the Big Hill and the thirsty countryside. Departing the cottage had me following the storm eastward to Austin.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=706
Friday, April 17, 2009
Savoring the Texas Hill Country: Luncheon at Becker Vineyards
Entry 2 - The Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival Adventure
Three winery hosted luncheons were held today, my selection, though hard to make, was the event at Becker Vineyards (Stonewall, TX – www.beckervineyards.com). It featured wines from Becker Vineyards, Brennan Vineyards (Comanche, TX - www.brennanvineyards.com) and Grape Creek Vineyards (Fredericksburg, TX - www.grapecreek.com).
From my back porch I could gaze at spring-like, morning air heavy on the Big Hill; not a dew, but definitely not rain.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=692
Three winery hosted luncheons were held today, my selection, though hard to make, was the event at Becker Vineyards (Stonewall, TX – www.beckervineyards.com). It featured wines from Becker Vineyards, Brennan Vineyards (Comanche, TX - www.brennanvineyards.com) and Grape Creek Vineyards (Fredericksburg, TX - www.grapecreek.com).
From my back porch I could gaze at spring-like, morning air heavy on the Big Hill; not a dew, but definitely not rain.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=692
Austin’s Calling: It’s Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival Time Again
Entry 1 – The Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival Adventure
People that were born, gone to school, or have just past through the Texas Hill Country just seem to find a way to get back here. Well, this year’s migration of the foodie faithful to the 24th Hill Country Wine and Food Festival (www.texaswineandfood.org) held in Austin and surrounding parts is a good excuse to return.
For me, in Houston the warm sun and springtime breezes signaled the time for my departure. Ribbons of wildflower colors lined the road westward like a ‘yellow brick road’ (but this one blue, red and yellow) leading me off to see the wizards of food and wine at this year’s festival.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=687
People that were born, gone to school, or have just past through the Texas Hill Country just seem to find a way to get back here. Well, this year’s migration of the foodie faithful to the 24th Hill Country Wine and Food Festival (www.texaswineandfood.org) held in Austin and surrounding parts is a good excuse to return.
For me, in Houston the warm sun and springtime breezes signaled the time for my departure. Ribbons of wildflower colors lined the road westward like a ‘yellow brick road’ (but this one blue, red and yellow) leading me off to see the wizards of food and wine at this year’s festival.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=687
Saturday, April 11, 2009
WINE CONNOISSEURS GIVE TEXAS WINES HIGH MARKS AT FIRST-EVER “VIRTUAL” BLIND TASTING
WINE CONNOISSEURS GIVE TEXAS WINES HIGH MARKS AT FIRST-EVER “VIRTUAL” BLIND TASTING
AUSTIN - April 7, 2009 - Rip off the labels, click on the Internet and get ready for a whole new way of testing Texas wines. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) today announced it successfully hosted its first-ever “virtual” blind wine tasting called the “Texas Two-Sip Tele-Tasting.” Taking its popular Texas Two-Sip Tasting to the Web, TDA invited a handful of journalists and wine bloggers to participate in this blind tasting of Texas wines against comparable non-Texas wines.
“The Texas wines showed beautifully against the comparable non-Texas wines,” Craig Collins, regional sales manager with Prestige Cellars said. “Our technical tasting format looked objectively at color, smell and taste of each wine, and the Texas wines certainly stood their ground against some of the best wines in the world, if not surpassing them.”
AUSTIN - April 7, 2009 - Rip off the labels, click on the Internet and get ready for a whole new way of testing Texas wines. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) today announced it successfully hosted its first-ever “virtual” blind wine tasting called the “Texas Two-Sip Tele-Tasting.” Taking its popular Texas Two-Sip Tasting to the Web, TDA invited a handful of journalists and wine bloggers to participate in this blind tasting of Texas wines against comparable non-Texas wines.
“The Texas wines showed beautifully against the comparable non-Texas wines,” Craig Collins, regional sales manager with Prestige Cellars said. “Our technical tasting format looked objectively at color, smell and taste of each wine, and the Texas wines certainly stood their ground against some of the best wines in the world, if not surpassing them.”
Monday, April 6, 2009
Drinking In a Bit of Texas History
Drinking In a Bit of Texas History
Entry 2 - The Texas High Plains Vineyard Planting Tour
Continues from http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=652….
After the dinner blessing, we lined up to load our plates with the delectable delights of our communal feast. The steaks were piled high; medium, medium-rare, marinated and not marinated. Bobby Cox’s rare steak stood alone, as if it they had just knocked off the horns and rode the critter in especially for him. With my steak taking up more than half of the available area of my plate, I was challenged to find room for the fixin’s – Sautéed mushrooms, a bake potato nearly the size of my foot, salad, cheese rolls and more. You know, food just taste better when the efforts are shared.
Bobby Cox was beaming, bright eyed with an ear-to-ear smile. You could see that this was not just any bottle of wine by the manner he and his wife, Jennifer, cradled it in their arms as they brought it to the table. The bottle was labeled 1982 Pheasant Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon but it obviously contained something much more…. What I came to realize that night was that it had a large dose of Bobby’s personal history and spirit; the blood of the grape comingled with his own blood, sweat and tears.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=656
Entry 2 - The Texas High Plains Vineyard Planting Tour
Continues from http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=652….
After the dinner blessing, we lined up to load our plates with the delectable delights of our communal feast. The steaks were piled high; medium, medium-rare, marinated and not marinated. Bobby Cox’s rare steak stood alone, as if it they had just knocked off the horns and rode the critter in especially for him. With my steak taking up more than half of the available area of my plate, I was challenged to find room for the fixin’s – Sautéed mushrooms, a bake potato nearly the size of my foot, salad, cheese rolls and more. You know, food just taste better when the efforts are shared.
Bobby Cox was beaming, bright eyed with an ear-to-ear smile. You could see that this was not just any bottle of wine by the manner he and his wife, Jennifer, cradled it in their arms as they brought it to the table. The bottle was labeled 1982 Pheasant Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon but it obviously contained something much more…. What I came to realize that night was that it had a large dose of Bobby’s personal history and spirit; the blood of the grape comingled with his own blood, sweat and tears.
More at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=656
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