A Great Texas Pairing; Wedding Oak Tasting at Vinously Speaking

Last summer, I conducted an interview up at Hye Meadow. I finished up earlier than I expected, so I headed next door to Hye Market, curious to see which winery would be sampling in the tasting room. I was very happy to see Wedding Oak Winery there. I had wanted to try their wines for quite some time but had not made it out to San Saba. That Friday afternoon tasting was just a beginning for me. This weekend was just another page in my chapter on Wedding Oak Winery with a tasting at their newest retail outlet, VinouslySpeaking.

During this weekend’s regular Saturday wine tasting and pairing, Vinously Speaking joined forces with Wedding Oak. We tasted through seven of the current Wedding Oak wines. These wines were paired with cupcakes from Melissa Deal Guytia of Dealicious Cakes. Unfortunately owners Mike and Lynn McHenry were not able to attend; the winery was involved with two other local events on Saturday. Instead, their son came down to talk about the wines and was later aided by the winemaker Penny Adams.

The tasting provided a strong showing of whites. The Terre Blanc – made from Marsanne and Rousanne grapes from the McHenry’s vineyard – is currently very bright with a nice, light acidity; it was refreshing and soft at the same time. The lavender and honey cupcake it was paired with set off the softer, more herbal and floral notes in the wine. Honestly, it was my favorite pairing. Also of not, the Terre Blanc and Terre Rouge are normally wine club only, so it is quite a ctach to pick them up at the shop. The other whites, which are often sweeter – have softened as well. The sweetness, which is usually a nice afterthought, is now a subtle underlying element. I like this turn, as it provides complexity in the wines. Among these wines included the Viognier and the Bridal Veil, both made from High Plains grapes.

The reds are really coming to a full body place right now. The minerality and earth is starting to move forward in these wines.  The standout here was the Tioja. It has gained a more rounded balance since I last tasted it (relatively fresh in the bottle at only a few weeks). Being paired with a bacon and cheddar cupcake helped accentuate the almost limestone nature hidden in this fruit forward Tempranillo blend. The Terre Rouge is my favorite due to its more naturally well rounded nature – the less common varietals in the blend add nuances that I always go for – came across well (another wine that mostly comes from the McHenry vineyards). Penny mentioned how she likes the recent changes in the Regency Bridge, which I wish I noticed more. She also told me they will have a VERY limited Tempranillo and a few other new reds later this year, probably towards summer.

The pairing ended with the always fun Bridal Blush. It is still coming off as the sweetest of the wines, but the sweetness tastes more like barely ripe strawberries. This of course paired well with my favorite cupcake, the strawberry cupcake. Normally I go with the chocolate, which paired with a red, but the strawberry had great flavor without any artificial sugar taste, bringing out the richer fruit flavors in the wine. It would have made a great dessert.

Original Art for Wedding Oak Winery by Leanne Holley

In the end, the best pairing of the day was Vinously Speaking and Wedding Oak Winery. Vinously Speaking loves supporting Texas wine, especially Texas wine that has character while also being a great sipping wine. Wedding Oak is a huge supporter of local businesses, so a small family and friend run wine shop is just what they would want. I am glad I suggested the two; this is a great pairing that I was glad I didn’t miss.

Catching Up: Vinously Speaking

I have been away for awhile. Life came crashing in -- work, family, etc. -- and left me with no time. But now, I have time, so I am back. With that said, I thought I would start with a quick blog that overviews what has been going on in that missing time period.


My favorite, local wine shop -- Vinously Speaking -- has had a lot going on in the last few months. The little shop, hidden in San Antonio's Medical Center, has entered into a new era. First, they celebrated their first anniversary, and now they look towards new ventures.

One Year Anniversary

On April 11, 2013, Vinously Speaking celebrated their first anniversary with a special VIP event at San Antonio's Richter Co. The wine flowed at the open wine bar, tasty treats were enjoyed, and great tunes from DJ Phylo kept the party going. I wish I knew more, but I was unable to make it. Though I had my tickets and was all geared up to go, something very important came up that took me away.

However, I did get to go to the Grand Tasting at the shop that Saturday, April 13. The shop was packed with well wishers, friends, and new faces. Conversation often was louder than the great music -- again thanks to DJ Phylo. For Sean and I, we enjoyed sharing our wine experiences with many of the wonderful people  we have met over the past year. This day allowed all of us to raise a glass -- or in this case a tasting cup -- to the new friendships and great times we have all had the great opportunity to share. This event made it clear: Vinously Speaking is more than just a wine shop, it is a wine home.

Yes, the people were great (when are they not), but I can't skip the wine at the Grand Tasting. There were two major wine bars -- a red bar and a white/sweet bar. The wines that made up the tastings were among the shop's top sellers, so, of course, these wines were favorites of all the regulars. And as usual, the wines showcased a diverse range of grapes and locales. Sean and I slowly enjoyed the great selection of reds. We even saw a few of the wines we tasted at some of our earliest tastings, as well as many from the most recent tastings. When we made it to the white bar (yes, we did things out of order), we actually tried a few wines we had missed. Sean and I had to miss the Portuguese tasting earlier in the year, and one of the Vinho Verdes was on the tasting bar.

A New San Antonio Wine Bar on the Horizon

And the best news from Vinously Speaking has to be the future. In March, Veronique Cecilia Barretto and Melissa Unsell decided to take the shop to the next level: a wine bar. There is space for expansion -- as the spot had once been a wine shop and bar under two different owners -- and they have family able to help. So, a business plan for a wine bar was worked out, including the cost of expansion and how the bar would be run. However, the money to expand was a bit out of reach. So, now there is a crowd funding movement to fund the expansion.They are looking to raise $30,000 and have just over $5,000. More help is needed.

Through gofundme, the shop has set up chance for wine lovers to develop the San Antonio wine scene. To help, head to the shop's funding site and donate what you can.

I did get a chance to speak to Ceci about the plan for the bar, and it excited me. First, the goal is to keep the by the glass and bottle prices down. So many wine bars in San Antonio are rather expensive. A single glass easily runs $10 or more and bottles are often $40 or more. Well, that won't happen at Vinously Speaking. The wine by the glass would be more in line with the retail price. Glass price would be low enough to enjoy a few different wines without wondering if it would have been better to buy a bottle. As for the bottle price, it would be more than retail (the shop's retail) but not overly so. It was explained there would be a fee for the service (more like a corkage fee) on top of the retail price, but it wouldn't be outrageous.

Texas Wine

Lately, a group from Vinously Speaking has been scouring the Texas Hill Country, seeking out great Texas wines at reasonable prices. Unfortunately, I don't know all of the new wines that are lining the shelves, but more Texas wine has shown up on the shelves. A blush from Spicewood Vineyards -- in Spicewood, Texas near Lake Travis -- is available. As the group continues adventuring into the hills, I can only guess as to which great Texas wines will find their way to the shelves at the shop.

The future looks bright for San Antonio's wine community. Vinously Speaking continues to provide a great selection of unique wines at reasonable prices; there has also been an expansion with the Texas wine selection (hooray!). And now, with a wine bar in the future, things look better. This is a good time for wine in Texas.

Texas Wine Twitter Tuesday

The first Texas Wine Twitter Tuesday of 2013 came and went. And by all accounts, it was a success. In fact, fellow tweeters Russ Kane and Julie Baker shared the results via Facebook.

• During the evening, #TXWine trended #1 on Twitter.
• That breaks down to 618 tweets in a one hours time span (our 7pm-8pm block).
• The audience following reached 105,510  -- a record for the monthly event.

Vinously Speaking just minutes before 7

This event was a lot more than just numbers, it was a coming together of people.On our end in San Antonio (at Vinously Speaking), the event allowed for people to meet, greet, drink, and chat. Our evening had a lot of great opportunities for those that braved the slick streets. And best of all, we started at 5.

The Wineries

First, we had winery representatives; we had Shannon from Pedernales Cellars and Jen from Bending Branch. It was good to have the wineries represented to share with the crowd the wine and the wineries. They each brought something special. 

Pedernales Alabrino and Loose Lips Larry

Shannon provided the brand new Albarino (available for a VERY limited time at the shop). And for those interested in the wine club, Shannon gave us the lowdown about the March shipment -- it will be a great treat with some good food (so, if you like Pedernales wine, join the wine club before March).

Some Bending Branch treats: Temprnaillo and Tannat Port

Jen brought a few not for sale treats (available at the winery). We sampled the Newsom Cabernet Sauvignon and the Tannat Port (which, I am told, is quickly running out). We also heard that Bending Branch has some new opportunities on the horizon, so keep your eyes open.

Food

We also had great food to pair with our wines. On Saturday, Ceci spent time matching up six barbeque sauces with the six featured wines. In order to enjoy these sauces, MONZ BONZ BBQ  provided juicy roast turkey and brisket, and there was also mashed potatoes as a palate cleanser or for the vegetarians. The most discussed pairing was with the Albarino: turkey with Loose Lips Larry Sweet Georgia Honey Mustard.

The Fun

The best part of all was the people. Now, we didn't have lots of tweeters; most of the tweets were generated by myself, Sean Bircher (my partner in crime), Ceci Barretto (owner of Vinously Speaking), and Jennifer Beckmann (from Bending Branch). We had a number of first timer tweeters and a few others sharing a tweet now and again (and we are so glad they did!). We had lots of people with no Twitter accounts. After the evening was through, many are reconsidering that stance. Mainly,
the venue provided a place for friends to have fun and for new people to meet.

Vinously Speakinng during the thick of it (including my laptop -- to the left)

 I had a chance to  get to know a few of the guests, who I hope will be joining us next month and out at the wineries.

Very appropriate attire

•  Marian Eure of Embroidery Creations made the great #txwine shirts. This long-time Texas wine lover and wine club member is finding herself drawn in more and more. If you are interested in custom shirts and embroidery, check out her site: http://www.embroidco.com. 
• Regular Cena Cogburn shared her Texas wine experiences, especially her recent visits to the Texas wineries with Ceci.
• Gloria and Ramon Barretto were there to support their daughter and drink good wine.
• Jaime Lacey is a former volunteer coordinator for Leona Valley Winery in California. She has made tentative visits to the Texas wineries and hopeful more will come.
• Laura Evans of Slyp and Slyde Productions came out and finally started to get the hang of tweeting and became more interested in wine.
• BrandonRidens (aka DJ Phylo) was there to aid the pouring of the wine and the sending of the tweets. 
• Lisa Gonzales sent her first two tweets.
• Donovan shared a Spanish Tempranillo to taste alongside the Bending Branch one. The results were pretty even. The Texas one was fruit forward and smooth; the Spanish one was heartier. If we had added the Armadillo's Leap Red into the fray, it would have been the earthiest.

Our special #txwine shirt

There were so many more great people. In fact, that was what our evening was about. Sean always says that wine brings people together, and that was the case for us. Our group, which ended up at about 25 or so, made use of our tiny space to have a good time. That is what this is all about. SO the numbers aren't really telling the whole story. The first Texas Wine Twitter Tuesday was a much bigger success. Here's to next month: CHEERS!

TX Wine Twitter Tuesday -- Jan.8 at Vinoulsy Speaking

TX Wine Twitter Tuesday is nearly upon us -- this Tuesday, January 8. Texas wine lovers will gather on Twitter. From 7pm-8 we will discuss Texas wine and celebrate the great wine bars, shops, and retailers that help to bring Texas wine closer to all of our homes. And to make it even more fun, we are doing meet-ups and some of those great locations.

 It doesn't matter where you are, you can join us. If you are near any of the major hubs, there will be gatherings somewhere. If you are interested in joining us, I will direct you to the best two lists out there. Our fearless leaders, Russ Kane @ Vintage Texas and Jeff Cope @ TX Wine Lover have the entire lowdown.

For the San Antonio area readers and wine enthusiasts, I have you covered. There will be a tweet-up at the new Whole Foods @ Bar Blanco (Blanco and 1604 at the Vineyard). However, may I recommend joining me at Vinously Speaking?

Meet-up Vinously Speaking

Cecilia Barretto and Melissa Unsell at Vinously Speaking have an incredible event planned. It isn't just a tweet-up, but a whole lot more. I'll be coordinating the Twitter Chat, but they have the rest well prepared. So, what wonders will they unleash?

For starters, this is more than just a Texas wine tasting and tweeting; this is a Vinously Speaking tasting. The wine starts to flow at 5pm (two hours before the tweeting begins) and will run through the Twitter chat at 8. And it isn't just great wine. All six wines featured will also be paired with barbeque sauce (and great meat to go with that sauce). Guests can come at any time, and if you can't stay till 7, we would love for you to swing by after work, do a tasting, and then re-join us online at 7.

And to prepare your taste buds, let me give you a quick look at the six featured wines from two of my favorite wineries: Pedernales Cellars and Bending Branch Winery. (And best of all, representatives from both wineries will be out to help taste some of the great wines that are available for purchase at the shop.)

From Pedernales: These wines will be priced right to tempt your palate and take home. These wines have some bite and are highlighted by the brand new Albarino. This wine is normally not available outside of the winery, but Pedernales decided to bend the rules just for this Tuesday. And let me say, it is a bold, crisp white that has great fruit notes on the nose; please don't miss the chance to try this wine in San Antonio.

Armadillo's Leap White

Armadillo's Leap Red

2012 Albarino!

From Bending Branch: Two great Texas wines are in the line-up: Texas Tannat and Newsom Vineyard Tempranillo (a softer, smoother one compared to the bolder, earthy Armadillo's Leap Tempranillo blend). And to set your lips to puckering, the Picpoul Blanc will also be there for tasting. I also heard that Bending Branch may bring out a few more for tasting only, but these three great wines will be available to buy.

Texas Tannat

Newsom Tempranillo

Picpoul Blanc

I hope you can join us, either at one of the main wine bars and shops or just online. And of course, for those in the San Antonio area, please come out to Vinously Speaking; it will be a great time.

Find Vinously Speaking at ...

Location:

7271 Wurzbach, Ste 117 – San Antonio, TX – 78240 (

They are at the corner of Wurzbach Babcock in the shopping center behind the McDonald's

Date & Time:

Tuesday, Jan. 8 from 5pm-8pm

Tweet Sheets

Below are Tweet Sheets you can use to help you follow the chat and send tweets. To see larger, or view a slide shot, click on the picture.

Sheet 1A: Following a chat via Twitter

Sheet 1B: Sending a Tweet via Twitter

Sheet 2A: Following via TweetChat

Sending a Tweet via TweetChat

Sheet 3A: Following via Mobile App

Sheet 3B: Sending a Tweet via Mobile App

San Antonio Wine Tastings every Saturday @ Vinously Speaking

We took a breather this weekend and just bummed around San Antonio. With that in mind, I took advantage of a great opportunity in San Antonio: Vinously Speaking's Saturday wine tasting.

A little about this weekly event

Every Saturday, owners Ceci and Melissa invite wine lovers, enthusiasts, experts, and first-timers to visit their little shop in the San Antonio Medical Center (strip mall at the corner of Babcock and Wurzbach). From 1pm until 7pm, they offer a small selection of their wines available for tasting. Their choices vary every week and provide different views of the shop's diverse and interesting offerings.

The weekly tastings are a simple concept: a group of wines, with some theme, are selected and shared. For example, this past Saturday, they shared four reds that are currently available on their 50% off sale (all bottles over $30 are 50% off though Aug.4 ). On Saturday, we were treated to two American Pinot Noirs: an Oregon one that was smooth and lush and a California wine that was complex and spicy. The second set was two Bordeaux blends, one that emphasized Cabernet Sauvignon and one that was more Merlot. I wasn't surprised when they had the same sort of diversity that the two Pinots provided. This quick view into wine, with a hidden lesson, provides more than a mere tasting but a wine experience, and it also encourages visitors to leave with at least one bottle (we brought home one of the Bordeauxs).

Special event tastings

Two weekends ago -- July 14 -- Vinously Speaking hosted a wine tasting event. In this case, they shared a selection of French wines and cheeses with US and Texas wines and Bar-be-Que (see post for more details). When events like these take place, I encourage going. In fact, to keep track, like the shop on Facebook or Twitter or stop by their website.

A regular event at the shop are monthly Texas wine tastings. Once a month, Vinously Speaking will be highlighting some of the Texas wines in their store. I was able to attend their first major Pedernales Cellars event. They are the winery most highlighted, and I agree with their choice. I do look forward to future Texas tastings, as they also carry the great Perissos Vineyard (for a look into them, check out the recent post by Texas Wine Lover). There are a handful of other Texas wines that could provide interesting tastings, especially a diverse collection of Texas whites (like Chisholm Trail, Torre di Pietra, etc.).


All of these tastings are aided by one last fact: price. Wine can be a very expensive hobby (my current expense is quickly increasing). However, Vinously Speaking provides a varied selection at a variety of prices. This weekend I bought one $12 bottle of Portuguese wine (normal price) and one of the on-sale Bordeauxs at $15; these are prices that rival that of larger retailers. So going to a tasting will not clean out your pocketbook; you'll taste for free and then can take home some great wines at reasonable prices. Stop by next Saturday and have a tasting for me.

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!

25. The Drought: Sanctuary at Perissos Vineyards (and Inks Lake State Park)

25. The Drought: Sanctuary at Perissos Vineyards (and Inks Lake State Park)
Crafted by sunshine:
grasses and trees pull away
leaving only rocks.

The oasis runs through it:
sparkling lakes feeding grape vines.


Day two of our Northern Hill Country wine trip started at Perissos Vineyards. While we were there, things got busy. When we arrived, there was labeling going on, but not much else (even visitor wise). Before we were half way through our tastings, three more groups had arrived and were enjoying the wine too. And in the small tasting room, with two great big dogs lounging to escape the heat, it all seemed a bit snug. That didn't matter with such good wine to attract our attentions.

The shrinking lake at Lake Buchanan Dam

Inks Lake State Park

One of the rock faces at Inks Lake

Now before I get on to the visit, I want to talk a bit about an unplanned side trip we had just before reaching the winery. We had gotten a relatively early start and found ourselves with a few hours to kill. Our first stop was Lake Buchanan dam -- as we were coming from Burnet on 29. This didn't provide too much for us -- except for the quartz I scavenged for some future front yard landscaping. It did make things clear that water is an issue up here: the lake bed was there for all to see. What provided a great experience, though, was Perissos' neighbor, Inks Lake State Park. This treasure, just a few short minutes north on 4, was a natural wonder. The rock outcroppings we hiked -- some of the oldest rocks in Texas -- were magnificent. Their colors were a bold swash among the trees, red and orange streaked with black and a hazy, opalescent quartz. The formations were fascinating in their diversity, some jutted out from the landscape and other smoothed down an incline.

Rock outcropping with running water below

We decided to "climb" along these places to put the entire region into perspective. This is a harsh world that must be tended to carefully; in some areas the bare rock faces were radiating the glare of the late morning sun. But of course, the area was not all rock; the lake and its waters run through this scene. So just as I began to notice a trail of sweat forming and feel the sun beat down upon me, I caught a cool breeze right off of the water. The trees that hug the lake offered a respite from the sun drenched rock landscape. And the water itself provided a refreshment to ease my mind. This is an excellent example of the environment the grape growers struggle and relish here. My short hike to the Devil's Waterhole and through the vicinity put me in the best frame of mind for tasting wine. Next time, I am hoping to stay longer, and I would encourage others visit here too.

Tree lined lake front at Inks Lake

A row of my favorite, Makbec @ Perissos

From there, we drove the short trip down the road to the winery, missing it at first because we didn't realize it was so close. We still arrived early, so we wandered through the grapes. It was nice to spend time walking along the grapes. My favorite part was that they were clearly marked. Not only could I get up close to the vineyard, but I could learn which grapes were which. I wish I was visiting now, watching the darker grapes change color and take their full shape, but even seeing how they bunch and the vine grows was new knowledge I happily took in.

When we got to the door, we were ushered in by Baron. He trodded along with us, happy for our attention and the cool stone floor of the tasting room. As I mentioned early, labeling was the task for the day, and one of the vineyard's whites was getting tagged. But our attention was quickly on the wine as Ray helped us through our wine tasting. Ray's enthusiasm for the wines was wonderful; even as the room got busy and he was struggling to help four groups, he kept smiling and chatting away with pride. And Perissos has something to be proud of. They focus on growing their grapes themselves. The vineyard I had just walked through helped create most of the wines I tasted. Now, like most Texas wineries, their vineyard was not enough, but unlike many others, Ray proclaimed with pride that all of Perissos' grape were 100% Texan, getting some from other Texas vineyards.

Inside the tasting room looking towards the door, and Charlie

The wines are much more than their grapes. Among the whites, the Roussane and Viognier blends were standouts. These crisp wines were refreshing after our hike. The went down smooth and made me feel cool. The reds, though, were strong contenders. Anyone who has been reading the blog knows I, like so much of Texas, am fond of Tempranillo. At Perissos, the Temp blend (with a bit of Touriga) is a spicy, yet fruity character. The bold spice of the Tempranillo is there, but it is mellowed and smoothed out by the more fruity nature of the Touriga. I have slowly come to like Touriga, despite not being a big Port drinker (main grape used in traditional port), but I have come to respect its dry fuitiness that is often lacking in so many grapes. And paired with a Tempranillo, the blend becomes well rounded. But the prize winners are their sold out Petite Sirah (I am glad I still have a bottle) and the Syrah blend. And recently, I found a small stash for sale at Vinously Speaking in San Antonio (along with the Tempranillo). These reds are big and complex. The wines exude depth: the terroir comes through with its mineral strength, like my rock outcroppings, and lush flavors, like the lake fed hills. These are wines we had to savor and allow to sink into us.

Bottling paused at Perissos.

 As we sipped through these wines, we learned about the vineyard and the soul of the winery, as much as Ray could squeeze in between pouring and explaining wines for four different groups. The folks here chose their name carefully; Perissos is a Greek term referring to getting what you want, maybe even getting the ideal. At Perissos, we found the ideal. The wines were perfect, matching the lands they came from. The company was wonderful; Ray was friendly, informative, and fun, but Baron, and later Charlie, stole my heart. They are top on my list for a repeat visit. I think I may make a whole day of the park and the winery.

The grapes at Perissos, mid-May 2012

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.