Making a Splash at Culinaria

In mid-May, San Antonio foodies and beverage connoisseurs come together to celebrate the best the city has to offer. Culinaria -- San Antonio's wine and culinary arts festival -- provides a number of opportunities to taste some of the finest food and drinks the city has to offer. From the best food trucks, to burgers and beer at the Pearl, to the famed Becker luncheon in the Lavender Haus, and everything in between, there is something for everyone. Sean and I finally got a chance to go this year, but we just couldn't do everything, so we chose wisely. We waited till the end of the week and attended the Grand Tasting in the Grotto at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center. With the Riverwalk floating by us, we sipped on great wines and nibbled on great food. Best of all, five Texas wineries came out with some great wines to showcase some of the best of Texas.

Texas Wineries

 Pedernales Cellars

When we got there, we scanned the room for friendly faces. It didn't take long to see three such people, all of them from Pedernales Cellars. Owners Fredrik Osterberg and Julie Kuhlken were there -- proving to be two of the best dressed of the evening -- with wine club and events manager Shannon Brown. In fact, Frederik sported one of the few tuxedos of the evening; the event is billed as black tie, but few made the effort. Of course, the attention was on the selection of wines. I started the evening with the most recent Viognier. This is a light and soft wines with hints at fruit; a subtler version compared to the Reserve that won Double Gold in the international competition in Lyon. This crisp wine prepared me for the many wines ahead, including one of the Tempranillos. I was glad that Pedernales brought two wines that are quickly becoming iconic Texas wines.

Flat Creek

Around the tables from Pedernales (They had two squares of tables, one on each side of the room) was another Texas Hill Country winery, Flat Creek. They brought one of the evening's showstoppers, their Bronze winning Viognier (also from the same competition that Pedernales won Double Gold). This Viognier emphasized the sweeter characteristics of the fruit -- without being sweet -- compared to Pedernales crisper one. It was a nice contrast. They also brought one of their top sellers, their Super Texan. This Sangiovese based blend was one of the richer Texas wines for the evening. They rounded out their tasting with a fine Muscat.

Llano Estacado

There were two sides to the wine room. While Flat Creek and Pedernales held court on one side, Culinaria backers, Becker Vineyards, along with Llano Estacado and McPherson Cellars held sway on the other. I was very happy to see that Llano brought two of their best, the 2010 Cellar Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2010 Cellar Reserve Tempranillo -- one of the June Texas Wine Twitter Tuesday wines. I couldn't say no to either of these great reds. The Llano Tempranillo is one of my favorites; it has the rustic, earthy nature of a Rioja but is tempered with the fruitiness common in New World Tempranillo. It is that balance of New and Old World that I love in Texas wines.

Becker Vineyards

Becker Vineyards plays host to two Culinaria events. During the main week, the luncheon provides a getaway into the hill country to taste great food and great Texas wine. In August, just before Restaurant Week, Ramblin' Rose (check out my post on last year's event) takes center stage, providing delightful, refreshing Rose's to beat back the summer heat. With such an investment in Culinaria, it was no surprise to see Becker at the Grand Tasting. Like Pedernales, they opted to not bring their Lyon winning Viognier -- their Reserve took home the silver -- but another. I have to say it was the weakest of the three but still a nice choice (UPDATE: This Texas Viognier just won silver at the Lone Star International Wine Competition). However, they also brought the Reserve Tempranillo -- they have the fruitier one, Pedernales' is earthier, while Llano's is nestled in-between. They also had the newest Canada Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes from this High Plains grower are a consistent favorite -- and a part of the May wine club shipment. Of course, they brought one of the crowd pleasers, Sean's favorite, the Claret. The reds were a big hit.

McPherson Cellars

Along with Llano was one of the wineries I have grown very fond of, McPherson Cellars. Since they joined forces with Brennan and Lost Oak to create 4.0 out on the 290 trail, I have ample opportunity to taste a large selection of their wines, and I am always pleased. And the selection of reds they brought -- can you tell what I was interested in -- including two of my all time favorites: Tre Colores and La Herencia. I was glad to see two incredible blends front and center.

 

 Other Great Finds

Yes, the evening had live music and a dance floor -- that filled up with dancers as the night wore on. Yes, there was plenty of great food from local restaurants. What was the funnest part of  night was one of the wine tables full of non-Texas. The table had the most interesting array of wines, not the typical ones. The one that caught my eye was a very familiar looking bottle of Montepulciano that is very popular at Vinously Speaking. This Italian import is one my favorites carried at the shop, and I was glad to see it next to La Pistola -- another top seller from the shop. It was great to see the shared appreciation for the wines, as they had both been apart of Vinously Speaking's Grand Tasting less than a month prior.

From Left: Steven Krueger, Fredrik Osterberg, Julie Kuhlken

Besides the wine and food, there was also the people. Among the mingling guests was Steven Krueger, the sommelier for Westin La Cantera. Steven is a strong supporter of Texas wine; he hosts a near daily Texas wine tasting at the resort (check out my post or Tanji Patton's Goodtaste.tv video). Besides running into Steven again, we also met two aspiring wine bloggers. It was nice chatting with Sally and Julie; I was happily surprised to find Julia was another wine lover and lover of  Japanese anime and manga. I do have to admit that they were hesitant about Texas wines. And I understand. They had last had Texas wine well over five years ago and had limited experience. They didn't get a chance to taste the wines that were changing the face of Texas wine. I happily encouraged them to taste the wines inside -- so did Julie Kulkhen -- and also to jump online and start writing with the rest of us.

The Grand Tasting at Culinaria was a great experience, one I will repeat next year. Every year, more Texas wineries get involved. Five was a good number (only out done by the San Antonio Wine and Food Festival sponsored by KLRN [San Antonio's PBS station]). I do hope to see more Texas wineries among the crowd next year, making it clear that Texas wines are just as good as any other.

Grape Stomp 2012, Day One?

The grape stomp season is in full swing, so I decided to enjoy the first day of Hill Country festivities by visiting Pedernales Cellars and William Chris Vineyards for their stomps (they will continue the fun on August 25 & 26). Sean and I revisited some fine wines and felt the grapes squish between our toes.

Both stomps I attended were relatively low key. Pedernales enjoyed a steady stream of visitors, especially groups, as they headed out into the field to leave their purple foot prints. Despite the numbers, the stomp was not the focus there; the wine and enjoyment of the slightly cooler weather on the porch seemed to predominate. When we arrived at William Chris, Hye Society members seemed to be most enjoying the stomp -- we ran into some familiar faces while stomping. The clam day allowed us to unwind and relax as we caught up with people we hadn't seen in awhile.

Stomping at Pedernales

At Pedernales: A Texas tub of Tempranillo

At Pedernales, an old claw-foot tub was filled with Tempranillo. We had to wait a bit, as when we prepared to stomp, they needed to bring out some new grapes. The wait seemed to go on, but it was well worth it. Before stomping, we got a chance to try some of the Tempranillo. The grape was rich and full. Though not as juicy as the Tannat I had at Bending Branch several weeks ago, the flavor was wonderful. It coated my mouth with a deep fruitiness that hinted at spice. Sean commented that he never expected the grape to hint so much at the wine (one we had just enjoyed with a picnic on the porch).

Finishing my stomp

Sean leaving his prints

The great taste wasn't the only benefit gained from waiting. The new grapes were cool and full. As I stomped, the grapes enveloped my feet in a cool veneer that was quite enjoyable. The grapes squishing between my toes and the exfoliation of the seeds made the stomp a pleasurable experience.

My big purple foot prints

The steady stream of stompers continued to gather out under the trees in sight of the porch, waiting for their turn to stomp. The music from the porch made its way down to the trees, providing a soundtrack for the stomping. In fact, it was unusually pleasant. A light cloud cover and breeze kept the heat at bay. I almost forgot it was August.

Stomping at William Chris

The juicy grapes at William Chris

We were greeted by what seemed like everyone at William Chris and made our way to the stomp by the barrel rooms. Under the awning, we stomped a mixture of Cabernet grapes and store bought grapes (they had few grapes to use for the stomp, so they made it last by adding a little extra). I got lost in the conversation as I stomped, but I did concentrate just enough. Knowing that store bought grapes don't make the best imprint, and after viewing some weak prints from previous stompers, I made sure to crush the Cabernet, stomping up and down the metal tub of grapes. Sean thought I was being silly, but the proof was on the shirt; my prints came out clear and strong.

Beginning to stomp

The humidity was rising, and so despite the cloud cover, it was getting warm; in fact, Andy (who helped me stomp) was already getting a bit red from the heat. We escaped inside for the tasting. The rooms were packed with tasters. Just like at Pedernales, the guests were much more interested in the wine. We had to wait for our tasting, but it was well worth it again. We had a chance to see some of the work on the expansion taking place, but then we got an entire tasting bar to ourselves. We lingered over the tasting, chatting with our steward.

My prints

 We ended our day early so we could go to dinner. Though we could have pushed on to Texas Hills (they will continue stomping August 25-26) for one more stomp, we quickly turned home -- I had scored some great dinner reservations for the Culinaria Restaurant Week in San Antonio (which runs until through Saturday, August 25). We left behind a sky heavy with rain clouds yet not yet raining to head for dinner. We hope to be back for the Becker stomp (Aug 25-26 and Sept. 1-2), and maybe even Chisholm Trail or Westcave. Even if we don't make it, we have the perfect wardrobe for next month's wine club pick-up parties.

Upcoming Stomps

• August 25 & 26:
• Becker Vineyards
• Pedernales Cellars
• Texas Hills Vineyard
• William Chris Vineyards
• Westcave Cellars
• September 1:
• Becker Vineyards
• Chisholm Trail Winery
• September 2:
• Becker Vineyards

31. Independence Day & Bastille Day Throwdown: Wine Tasting @ Vinously Speaking

31. Independence Day & Bastille Day Wine
France, U.S., Texas:
captured in gem-like liquid
and sharing my glass.


This past Saturday offered me a chance to enjoy wine at home in San Antonio. San Antonio's newest wine shop, Vinously Speaking, hosted a tasting event that showcased French, American, and Texas wines. When I arrived, not long after the event's start time, Sean and I entered a quiet wine shop. We had time to browse through the eclectic selection (a well-earned adjective) before starting in on the wines.

The small little store greeted us with a French feel. French music, provided by DJ Phylo, and French goodies -- tasty cheeses -- lead us to the bar where owner Ceci Barretto was pouring five French wines. In the back portion of shop, fellow owner Melissa Unsell provided three unique American wines. Melissa had help from Pedernales Cellars own Shannon (pouring a great collection of Pedernales wines), Michelle from Daphne and Lola (offering a beautiful display of jewelry), and great BBQ turkey from Monz Bonz BBQ. How could this not be a good time?

Vive La France!

French -- cheese -- display

One of the themes of the event was a comparison of French and American wines; however, Ceci's five French wines allowed for a direct comparison among the group, no American wines needed.

French White #2

French White #1

•  Whites: The two whites from Gascony were both dry and crisp with light flavors that were wonderfully refreshing on such a hot, humid July afternoon. What was most interesting was that the two whites came from nearly the same blend of two grapes -- this allowed for great comparison. Both wines, Cedrus le Blanc and San de Guilhem, contain Colombard and Ugni Blanc (I have to admit, thanks to Dry Comal Creek, I enjoy Colombard). The difference was an almost carbonated, sparkling feel in the San de Guilhem. By adding the grape Gros Manseng (a new one for me), the wine tends to pop a bit. These provided a great start to the tasting. 

Malbec Rose'

•  Malbec: Two Malbec's from Racine de la Terre in Pays d'Oc highlighted a French varietal less associated with France than the New World. The first offering was a dry, rounded rose' that was light and hinted at its fruitier nature. The second, a typical red Malbec, was as expected from a French Malbec. Malbec, no matter the region, has a depth created by its earthiness. In France, this earthiness seems more like tobacco and minerals, creating an edgy depth and complexity. In Argentina, and in Texas, Malbecs are earthy, but the flavor is a smoother one that hints at softened leather and dry minerals. I reaffirmed my conclusion that I prefer New World Malbecs (though Sean appreciates the French ones).



Traditional French Malbec

• Red Blend: We ended with a more traditional French blend, a 2010 Cotes-du-Rhone Linteau Grenache blend. This wine, like so many French blends, needed to be opened up. Once I got a few swirls in and allowed the wine to rest for a few moments, I found a smooth wine that provided minerals and rich fruit. This ended the French selection well -- so much so that I brought a bottle home.

Cotes Du Rhone with Ceci in the background

And the rockets red glare...

The American selection was limited to three choice, but these three showcased the variety of American wines that match well with each region's terroir and climate.

Chenin-Riesling

• White: The Chenin-Riesling blend from Gravity Hills in California's Central Coast surprised me. I am normally not a sweet wine drinker (as many Rieslings are), especially sweet whites (Muscat being the one exception), but this blend's Chenin Blanc softened the Riesling's sweetness and rounded out the wine well. Honestly, I was happy to just have a California white that wasn't a Chardonnay.
• Red 1: The Mankas 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon was next. This dark and earthy Cab was not what I expected.  Normally, I find CA Cabs clear and straightforward, but this delightful wine was hearty and smooth with interesting earth notes.



CA Cab

• Red 2: The standout was a Sangiovese blend from Arizona. This surprising wine was bright, like its home state, and smooth. This wine was fruity and earthy. It rounded out the three wine selection for the US well.

AZ Sangiovese Blend

  Don't mess with Texas!

Pedernales Cellars and their fine selection

We ended our tasting with a tried and true favorite, Pedernales Cellars. This is one of two Texas wineries carried (in quantity) at the shop -- the other is Perissos. Shannon, who is always a lot of fun, shared some top Pedernales picks, like the Vino Blanco, the Texas Dry Rose', and the Armadillo Leap Tempranillo. This selection paired well with the final American wine; another warm region with warm weather varietals. The highlight of the three was the rose'. In year's past, this was mainly Grenache, but it seems there wasn't enough Grenache to finish the batch, so winemaker David Kuhlken added the signature Tempranillo (I cannot say enough about Pedernales' Tempranillo). This addition brought a breath of new life to this already great wine. Suddenly there was a power hidden beneath the dry, fruity flavors of this rose' blend. This wine is now energetic; it has a lush, full flavor that got me ready to face the July heat. I was so in love with it that I made sure to leave with a bottle, and I added it to my must buy list the next time I stop by the winery (soon I hope).

After a nice chat and tasting in back, Sean and I made our way to a bustling front room. In less than an hour, the little shop was almost bursting at its seams. This is a nice change from the past. Ceci and Melissa are the third owners of a wine shop in this spot, and I have witnessed all three (I use to live in an apartment that you can see from the back of the shop's complex). In the early days, they were wonderful but pricey for my limited budget. The next owner provided a limited and relatively safe collection of wines (nice but boring). This great little shop, hidden in a strip mall, back behind an always busy McDonald's, and flocked by office buildings, apartment complexes, and hospitals, is a great addition to the San Antonio wine community, and a touch of fun and class on the Northwest side. And on top of everything else, it is a great destination for Texas wine drinkers, with good Texas options and an array of less common wine choices to appease any palate. And best of all, the prices are reasonable and affordable. I'll be back for the next event and when I need a resupply of wine.

A busy tasting room and a successful event!

24. Random Wine Trip: Serengeti Resort and Vinously Speaking

Male ostrich at Serengeti

24. Random Wine Trip
Giraffe, ostriches,
we all meander today
searching nourishment:

a taste of wines I know, don't,
a new wine society.



I know I have lots of posts to write, chronicling my recent visits (Perissos, Pillar Bluff, Texas Legato, Westcave Cellars, McReynold's Wines, Solaro Estates, and Bell Spings), but I wanted to share a quick note about my random trip today. Sean and I followed up on some local wine places we recently happened upon. Both visits provided some great new places.

In the lodge with the tasting bar on the left.

Our first stop was Serengeti Resort in Bergheim (they are off 46 just outside of Boerne). This resort offers two of my favorite things: wine and animal viewing. They have a tasting bar where they highlight South African wines (go along with the animals just outside the lodge), but they showcase wines from throughout the world. We took our time chatting about wine, learning from each other. I learned about South African wine and I shared my Texas wine stories (their interested in expanding their Texas wines beyond their one excellent choice, Bending Branch).

Sean's prize: Indaba's Shiraz

We met Zach and were treated to six wines. We started with an Australian Moscato by Deakin Estates. This slightly carbonated, fruity sweet Moscato was effervescent; it's green apples and other lighter fruit softened the palate. We followed with Alamos' Torrantes from Mendoza Valley Argentina. This blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc that was light and soft. We then moved on to big, bold reds. The first was a Chilean Pinot Noir from Cono Sur. This hearty smelling wine had a hint of sweetness that was smooth on the palate. Sean then had his favorite wine of the day: Indaba's Shiraz from South Africa. This earthy, smooth wine was a treat. Are next red was the one I knew well, Alamos' Malbec (same folks as the Torrantes). This is a great example of Argentina's Malbecs. This smooth, rich wine is one of favorites to just set and drink. We tried it a few years ago at Olmos Bharmacy in San Antonio and were hooked. We finished the tasting with the only US wine, Josh Cellar's Cabarnet Sauvignon (from California). This rich wine was smooth and full; it helped me solidify my opinion of Pillar Bluff's Double Gold 2009 Merlot (a Merlot that is as rich and bold as a good Cab).

Giraffe visiting a Bungalow

We stuck around a bit, enjoying and glass and chatting with Zach, but we felt bad taking his time (they were getting ready to have a wedding on the property). We then took to the grounds just outside the lodge to check out some of the closer animals. A group of ostriches was hanging about to get a chance at some snacks (you can buy food to feed the animals). A giraffe has also wandered up to beg from some folks who were staying at one of the bungalows available. We also watched groups of gazelle -- I can't tell you which type -- graze through the area. Before we left, we visited the lemurs and saw what we think were probably kudu a short ways from the parking lot. Since it was mainly a wine day, we didn't do the tour -- you can rent a golf cart and tour the grounds and see animals up close (you can also buy feed). The tour is $53. This may seem steep, but after visits to similar places (like Fossil Rim in North Texas), this price isn't bad.

A bottle of Pedernales Cellars Merlot; quite the present

Since we finished up early -- and got there much quicker than we anticipated (about 40 minutes from IH-10 and 1604) -- we decided to visit a new wine shop that was tasting Pedernales Cellars today. Vinously Speaking (at Wurzbach and Babcock next to our last residence) opened in April and has sought to provide an eclectic selection of wines. I was impressed with the variety of less common varietals and blends. And I was even more impressed with their Texas wine selection. I was very happy to Perissos there; now I can drive about 10 minutes (and visit the comic book shop and  my grandparents), and get some great Northern Hill Country wine. It was nice to chat with the owner, Cecilia Barretto, and share our Texas wine experiences. In fact, it was nice to find out about another San Antonio based wine blog: Vinously Speaking. The spot they took has gone through multiple owners -- I can honestly say I was not impressed with the last folks, but I did like the first. I am glad to see it in its new hands and can't wait to visit again soon.

Today was one of those random wine days that brings more into my life. Sean and I decided a stay at Serengeti Resort for our birthdays is in order -- in October it will be much cooler for touring the grounds. However, another more leisurely visit will be in order soon. And as for the new wine shop, they have shot up on my list as places I MUST visit. It was a tasty day.