I’m All Ears about your Texas Wine Experience and I am Giving Away Prizes

I’m All Ears about your Texas Wine Experience and I am Giving Away Prizes

NOTE: The deadline to comment to this blog is August 2, 2009. Don’t delay.

You can win a free private tour and tasting for up to 25 people at Haak Vineyards (www.haakwine.com) or other prizes by telling me what your experience has been with Texas wines. To comment, simply click on the icon in the upper right side of this blog or go to http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=1022 and comment in the space provided at the bottom of the page.

Why We Get Excited about Texas Wine?

Texas is the fifth largest wine producing state and it has a long history on wine production going back to the Spanish settlers and missionaries in 17th centuries. While only one Texas winery, Val Verde Winery in Del Rio, Texas, successfully made it through the period of prohibition. It is now one of the oldest continuously operating wineries in North America.

Since the mid-1970’s the number of Texas wineries has grown substantially and now numbers over 170 wineries across the state. We have our big volume producer in St. Genevieve, some are medium to large size premium wineries with Llano Estacado, Fall Creek Vineyards, Becker Vineyards, and Messina Hof Winery and Resort. Yet, most are small boutique wineries with some being literally ma and pa operations. Many have said that the wine experience in Texas today is like it was in the 1960s in California.

Let me know what you think and become eligible to win prizes.

Examples of comments I am looking for are:
What has been your experience with Texas wines? The good or bad?Have you walked in a Texas vineyard, tasted ripe grapes right off the vine, or helped harvest?What do you think about the up and coming Texas wine experience?Can you find the Texas wines you like at your favorite wine shop?Have you tried to direct ship from a Texas winery to your home?How do you think Texas wines compare with those from other wine regions?

Tell me what you like or what you don’t.

As I said above, I am all ears! So, give me your comments and be eligible to win free prizes. Let’um rip!

Comment and prize (including a private winery tour and tasting for up to 25 people), info at:
http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=1022

Tags: Texas, wine, winery, vineyard, comment, prizes, tasting, travel, touring, giveaway

Write Off the Vine - Texas Wine News: July 23, 2009

Write Off the Vine - Texas Wine News: July 23, 2009

Texas Wine Industry Continues to Grow - Not Just Another Harvest

Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, Todd Staples, recently proclaimed the 2009 grape harvest season is officially underway. To mark the occasion, the Haak Family and Haak Vineyard & Winery staff in Santa Fe, Texas hosted a weekend grape harvest event and were joined by several other Texas wineries including Circle S Vineyards (http://www.circlesvineyards.com/), Enoch’s Stomp Vineyard and Winery (http://www.enochsstomp.com/), Flat Creek Estate (http://www.flatcreekestate.com/), Llano Estacado Winery (http://www.llanowine.com/) and Maydelle Country Wines (http://www.maydellewines.com/). These participating wineries showcased some of the best wines in Texas and helped kick off and celebrate the 2009 harvest season.
2009 Texas grape harvest,imporved reputation, Chenin Blanc and more news and views at:

http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=1009

Tags: Texas, wine, news, harvest, reputation, Chenin Blanc, VintageTexas

Why Celebrate Texas Independence with a Glass of French Champagne?

Why Celebrate Texas Independence with a Glass of French Champagne?

Texas history is rife with tales and legends. At times, it is hard to know the difference between historical fact and its embellishments. One such legend is of the “Yellow Rose of Texas”; but just the same, it has become ingrained in Texas lore.

April 1836 was a troublesome time for the Texians of the newly proclaimed Republic of Texas. The Alamo had fallen in San Antonio with all rebel forces killed or summarily executed, the Texian battalion in Goliad had been massacred, and the newly elected government was in flight from the Mexican forces. Sam Houston, in command of an untested volunteer army was busily conducting a strategic retreat to the east in the face of Santa Anna’s more seasoned troops, using the time to add to his forces and over extend the Mexicans line of supply.


In the crisp morning air of April 21, 1836, on a rise in the marshy field abutting the San Jacinto River to the east and Buffalo Bayou to the north, Emily made Santa Anna a breakfast that he would not soon forget. Santa Anna’s breakfast was a grand meal accompanied by a great quantity of his French Champagne.

More of the story and video at: http://vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=975

Great Texas Wines and Great Wines in Texas: Two Great Events in Central Texas

Great Texas Wines and Great Wines in Texas: Two Great Events in Central Texas

PROGRESSIVE DINNER – A TASTE OF SALADO, THE VILLAGE OF SALADO

Tuesday night, August 4th, 2009, 5:45 pmWines from Llano Estacado, Texas Hills, Red Caboose and Pleasant Hill Wineries.

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A TEXSOM BENEFIT DINNER & AUCTION

presented by the Wine and Food Foundation of Texas Sunday, July 19, 2009 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM at Mirabelle Restaurant - Austin, Texas. 5 Celebrity Chefs, 5 Courses, 5 Mature Wines: A Special Evening Years in the Making. Featured Guest Sommeliers: Mark Sayre, Devon Broglie and Craig Collins.

More information, prices and reservations at: vintagetexas.com/blog/?p=956

Tags: Texas, wine, dinner, progressive, benefit, Central Texas, Hill Country, VintageTexas