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.

Tasting at Westin La Cantera with Russ Kane

To celebrate Texas wine month, Sean and I attended the Texas wine tasting at San Antonio's Westin La Cantera. Held in the Steinheimer's Lounge, sommelier Steven Krueger shares four choice Texas wines. We were lucky to not only enjoy Steven's presentation, but the Texas Wineslinger Russ Kane  (writer of the Texas wine blog Vintage Texas) also shared his knowledge and experience of the Texas wine industry.

On the hill, the sun's

last rays settle around us,

dance, glint off the wines.

Each scent swirls, each flavor shines,

for a Texas wine society.

The Tasting

Held at 5p.m. till 6 most nights -- you can check the Westin's calendar to make sure that there is a scheduled tasting -- this tasting is a slow and relaxed tasting of four 2 ounce pours for $10. To make this even better, the wines change regularly, making this a great wine night out that can be repeated. Once the guests arrive, they gather in a more communal style to share the tasting together. This makes it easier for sommelier Steven Krueger to provide a more personable tasting as he serves each guest and shares his wine knowledge.

The four pours are presented on a "mat" that tells the guests the wine, the winery, and some insight on the wine. Most of the information is about the wine itself. Steven adds to this knowledge by leading the group through the full tasting (both encouraging the guests to share what they think as well as pointing out what he notes). In our case, Russ Kane added to discussing the wine.

The mat provides even more information, information that provides more insight to new drinkers (and a nice reference for the rest of us). There is a map that shows all the Texas wineries; it is easy to tell where the winery is located. This coincides well with the winery information Steven provides. And for our tasting, Russ again brought a lot of neat extras to the table.

During the tasting Sean and I attended, there were two whites and two reds. The stand-out, overall, was Pedernales' Tempranillo. This wine is always a great wine (one I always have around), full of fruit, earth, oak, and spice. It provided a strong, bold end to the tasting. The white of note was the Brennan Viognier. This award winning wine was a great counter point to the bold red that ended things. We also had a nice Blanc du Bois and a solid Cabernet.

Russ Kane

Russ Kane joined our tasting to promote his book, The Wineslinger Chronicles. During the tasting, Russ taught us about the wine industry in Texas (from its foundation and the longest running winery in Texas). Russ provided some nice comparisons to other wine industries, both domestic and international. One interesting note was when Russ shared a wine map of the world. Sean and I searched over the map to figure out the places where we had not yet had wine from -- they were very few.

What was most fun with Russ' appearance was all the insider knowledge he brought. He knows the wines we tasted -- the wineries, the wine makers, etc.. The material he presented shed the best of his book; he also connected it to the audience through additional wine education. Best were the stories and experiences he shared. By the end, I saw old facts (ones from the book) in a new light.

A tasting at the Westin La Cantera proved to be a great time. I spent some quality time with some quality wine; I often feel rushed at wineries, but that was not the case here (slow is expected during this tasting). Of course, the information shared by our wine specialist and sommelier Steven Krueger taught me a but more; Russ Kane's added Texas wine scholarship brought the wine and wineries to life. Best of all is the nature of the tasting. As the guests gather around the main table (and outlying tables if the number gets too large), a new Texas wine community forms, sharing their tasting and their own experiences. When you need Texas wine in San Antonio and can't get out to the Hill Country, this is a great escape.

San Antonio Cellar Classic

Texas Wine Month was celebrated in San Antonio with the second annual San Antonio Cellar Classic hosted by Max's Wine Dive and their new establishment the Boiler House (official opening tomorrow). I enjoyed the chance to meet with other wine lovers and wine folks (the staff from Max's and the representatives for the wineries were very knowledgeable and affable). The chance to taste and experience such a variety of wines of all price ranges, types, and regions was also wonderful. The problem, though, was the event was way too short -- three hours was not enough time for someone with a VIP ticket. Another small issue was the limited selection of Texas wines; few were available with the main winery being one of my regular favorites, Bending Branch. In the end, the wines were all well chosen and interesting, the people were friendly and helpful, and it was an overall good time.

The Basics

First, let me explain the set-up. There were two options -- the general admission tickets and the VIP ticket. The general admission ticket offered a selection of about 40 wines that were all generally under $30. The VIP ticket included an additional 30 wines that ranged in price from the low $20s to Tanji Patton's choice champagne wine at just over $100. The VIP ticket also came with a special "coupon" that could be used towards a wine purchase. No matter the admission, all guests were able to purchase the wines after the event. There were additional discounts based off of case and ticket (there were better deals for those with a VIP pass, etc.). By the end, we kept our spending under control and bought our top six wines.

General Admission

The general admission wines offered the greatest selection and variety. Here, whites and reds went nearly hand-in-hand. The varietals were diverse but leaned toward the most popular ones, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The wineries were also diverse, but provided the largest amount of US wines. This also had the majority of the Texas wines -- three.

One of the Texas choices: El Sueno: Tinto de Tejas from McPherson Cellars

The general admission wines were solid options. Unfortunately, I didn't get to taste as many as I wanted, so Sean and I picked and chose carefully. For us, that means sticking with the reds. There were standouts and memorable wines in this bunch.

Beringer Cabernet

 The standouts in the reds included one of my go-to's, Terraza's Reserve Malbec. It is a commonly found wine and pairs well with a number of meats, especially those with a good hint of spice (which would include nice red sauces). Another was one I was eager to try, the Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon. They had recently followed my Twitter feed, so I was eager to give them a nod back. Well, this wine did not disappoint. It was one of the strongest when it came to complexity and balance. I was quickly taken in by the feel of the wine and was reminded why California is a place for good Cabernet. However, they weren't my favorite Cab. Go figure, it was the special release of the day, Bending Branch's new High Plains sourced Cab (it is to be officially released this Saturday -- Nov. 17 at the winery with the new Tempranillo). This wine shows the beauties of what the High Plains can do, ranking with many of the other strong wines made from grapes from the same region. It was also nice to see Texas wine go toe-to-toe with a longtime California producer. And of course, what made this extra special was that winemaker John Riverburgh came to share the new wine.

John and the new Cab

For us, one of the must have's to try was The Crusher. We didn't really care how it tasted, we just had to try it. Just before the event, Wil Wheaton had posted a picture on his blog with an added blurb on the label. We had to taste a wine that can both be a Star Trek Next Generation joke and a Big Bang Theory Joke. And a side note, Wil is a gracious and friendly guy. We meet him recently and shared our feelings about a role playing game we all play.

Our tastings of The Crusher

VIP

The VIP wines were heavy on the reds and provided a greater amount of less traditional wines and locales. The varieties included popular choices such as Cabernet and Pinot Noir, but lesser known options such as Tannat (the Silver Tannat from Bending Branch to be specific) and South African Shiraz. Here, the wines coated the palate and excited the taste buds; it was clear why this was the VIP selection.

There were a few wines we were VERY encouraged to drink. Well, they were right. At our first tasting, we started hearing about Chocolate Box. This was our favorite Shiraz of the day -- the Fairview Eenzamheld Shiraz being the other (which I will cover for a forthcoming Wine Wednesday). These two wines had such an earthiness to them. The earth sang in them, transporting the drinker to wide wind swept lands.

Fairview Shiraz from South Africa

Two other great reds included one of the most expensive (and well worth it) Urbina Gran Reserva and the Alessandro Pedro Ximeniz Sherry. The Urbina practically knocked me off my feet. This primarily Tempranillo blend from the Rioja area of Spain sparked notes of earth and spice, like many Texas Temps, but had the smooth balance that elevates many of the best Spanish Temps. I was so taken I had to buy a bottle. The Sherry, though, we almost missed tasting; we got in right at the wire. This Spanish Sherry was all caramel and nuts; the fruit provided a beautiful roundness and sweetness to the other flavors. I plan on opening my bottle at Christmas, but some days I just want to open it up and drink the whole thing.

I do have to mention the one white that caught my eye. Vicius Albarino was a great wine that was full of flavor. I have only had Texas Albarinos, and it was nice to have a Spanish one for once. And this was a treat. This wine is actually aged, in bottle, on the cool floor of the Atlantic Ocean. This is the passion that drives me to drink and write about wine.

Tanji Patton's Selection

One of the best additions to the VIP ticket was having Tanji Patton from Good Taste with Tanji sharing three wines of her choosing. She provided a rose' champagne, the Ruinart Rose'. After my education during Rambling Rose at Becker vineyards, I was prepared for this treat. It was dry with soft berry fruits. I rarely drink champagne, but this wine was a whole different story.

The Overall Experience

Sean and I enjoying the last of the event

The San Antonio Cellar Classic was a great introduction to many unique and interesting wines. I would recommend San Antonio area folk to attend, especially if you want the chance to explore wine in a relaxed and fun setting. For more on all the wines, check out this year's list.

There are also nice additions. The music was upbeat and created a great mood, though it made talking and learning about the wines difficult -- I enjoyed learning about the wines and the wineries. The food, from great establishments from around San Antonio provided a nice break from all the wine.  Be here again, time caused its share of problems; it was hard to actually enjoy any of the food and really get to enjoy a good selection of wine. Honestly, I am eager for next year and a whole new round of wines. Until then, I will enjoy my bottles and head to Max's for my fix.

36: Rambling Rose' (Culinaria)

36: Rambling Rose'
Deceptive pink gem:
your soft flowers on the nose 
belie crisp fruit depths.


San Antonio's annual Culinaria event at Becker Vineyards took place Saturday, August 11. Rambling Rose' invited guests to blind taste six rose' wines picked by the panel of experts. This lesson in wine was a great place for beginning wine drinkers and experts alike.

The Event

Rambling Rose panel (Dr. Becker center) and guests

Dr. Richard Becker presided over a collection of wine experts, aided by Steven Kreueger, Resort Sommelier for the Westin La Cantera. Joe Becker joined his father on the panel with a San Antonio wine retailer (Vintage 2.0), a wine connoisseur and friend of Dr. Becker's, a San Antonio food and wine writer (John Griffin from Savor SA), a Houston area chef, and Becker's new winemaker John Leahy. (Note: It was sometimes difficult to hear and keep up, which is why I do not have everyone named. I honestly feel horrible about this. If anyone knows who I left out, please let me know so I can make the change). These knowledgeable gentlemen guided the assembled group through six roses they helped choose, including Becker's Provencal.

Our six wines

We were provided six roses, ranging in color from a nearly white pink to a deep magenta pink. The group went through them, one at a time. Members on the panel described their responses to the wine and encouraged the rest of us to do the same. In addition, they gave lessons on roses, discussing each wine's merits as roses. They also happily welcomed questions about rose' wines and wine in general, answering the questions as completely as possible. At the end, we found out that most of the wines, with the exception of two, were French roses.

Food provided by Chef Brand

Before we started, we were welcomed to enjoy an array of fine cheeses and crackers. Towards the end of the tasting, what was actually a bit poorly timed, was the arrival of our hors d'oeuvres. We enjoyed lamb, carrot tar-tar, and a stone fruit with mustard salad prepared  by John Brand (Las Canarias and Ostra in San Antonio).

The Wines

At the end of the event, things got rushed. First, the food came out later than anticipated and interrupted the panel. And with all that, the wines were introduced quickly. And as I do not speak French, I struggled to get the wine's names (and had no chance to see them afterward as they needed to prepare for the 3 o'clock sitting).

Insight

First, what is a rose' wine? Basically, it is general a red varietal or blend that has limited contact with the grape skin (as I learned at Grape Creek later, it can be as little as a few days). This causes the wine to have a soft tone or hue to develop that can range from just a hint of pink (looking more like a white) to a more magenta and robust pink that is more akin to a typical red wine (these are deep or high roses).

Steven Krueger, Westin La Cantera Resort Sommelier

The panel shared some interesting trivia and info about this wine. First, in Europe, it is not uncommon to see a group, after a hard day of work, to sit down and enjoy a nice rose' (here it would more often be a beer). This wine is a part of the culture of France and Italy.

The other interesting topic was temperature. Here in South Texas, we don't mind this wine being cold. However, the panel said for the best result, it depends on the wine itself. A rose' can be enjoyed anywhere from slightly chilled to cellar temperature. In our gathering, with the heat just outside the doors of the Lavender Haus, we all would have preferred the wines a bit cooler (they were probably set out a bit early). One key thing to keep in mind when choosing temperature was flavor. The colder the wine gets, the more the fruit flavors actually diminish and the mineral flavors come out. Again, Texas drinkers are comfortable with this, as we have come accustomed to wines rich with minerals.

The Tasting

1: Becker Provencal

Wine one, one of the most popular in the bunch, turned out to be the Becker Provencal (the only Texas wine in the bunch, which I found a bit sad). It was one of the lightest in color, with the hint of pink matching the light floral aroma. This proved to be one of the most delicate with subtle fruit flavors (strawberry is just noticeable). For me, this wine was a cool spring day. I could easily see the early wildflowers in bloom, especially the light yellow and pink slips that can blanket fields.

2: Provence Rose'

Wine two, from Provence, was a bit darker with more a stronger floral bouquet and fruit tones. Here, fruits like cherry slipped in and turned earthy towards the end. This wine was like swimming on a hot summer day. The pool keeps the heat at bay, but there is still the warmth just above the water line.

3: Mondavi Deep Rose'

Wine three was a Mondavi high or deep rose' from Napa. This wine looked more like a light red than a rose', but it was pleasant nonetheless. The redder color gave way to a richer fruit aroma (versus the more floral ones) and taste. Stronger fruit flavors, like a touch of blackberry, came through. To me, this wine was like picking fruits in the early morning at the peak of the season. It is still cool but the sun is quickly warming things up and sending the smell of oozing fruit into the air.

4: Languedoc Rose'

With wine four, we returned to France and the lighter colors. This wine, from Languedoc, was a solid pink or salmon tone that smelled mainly of fruit with a hint of the floral. This wine had a fullness of flavor that the others didn't -- they were mainly a bit subtle. This wine ended up dry with a nice blend of fruit and minerals. It was a smooth wine from start to finish. This wine was a playful and yet relaxed one. This wine reminded me of the Texas coast in October. Though it is fall, the days are still warm and so is the water. It is my favorite time of year because I can go swimming by day and enjoy cool strolls along the beach at night.

5: Cape Bleue

The next wine (five) was Jean Luc Columbo Cape Bleue (I'm glad I got this one right). It had a darker tone than our fourth wine, but it was obviously a rose'. The floral tones took center stage, pushing the fruit aroma to the back. The same can be said of the taste. This wine was the earthiest and driest of the bunch. It was crisp and acidic, which caused the fruit to be light and minimal. This is a perfect spring day. The sky is an almost-white blue with only a few very thin clouds. Even the sun seems lighter in color than normal. The cool winds are still blowing and the world seems lighter.

6: Chablis region Rose'

Our last wine (six) was the second darkest, but its dark pink color was a trick, as the aroma was light and more floral than the other dark wines. This 2011 from Chablis was complex and relied on the Syrah to provide the more developed fruit flavors not as noticeable in the aroma. There was an underlying earthiness, but the deep fruit flavors like plum stood strong throughout. This wine is a summer evening; the heat of the day is slowly being washed away as the sky turns purple. The breeze picks up and is cool. This is a respite from a long summer day.

All done!

These six wines were an interesting tour of a type of wine that I am just really getting into. In fact, this has been my summer of rose'. I started focusing on this wine as the days grew warm. During my May trip, I searched for some nice, cool roses, but found that close to home I found the best: Becker's Provencal, Bending Branch's High Plains Rose', William Chris's Current, and Pedernales' Rose'. After all of this, I know it will be my go-to wine next summer.

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.