October 2017 – Another Wine Blog

Loire Valley: Castles, Caves au Coeur de France

No doubt you are aware Loire Valley Wines represent the top producer of white AOC wines, but did you know this important French wine region produces Reds, Rose and Bubbles in its 48,000 hectares of vineyards as well? Located in the heart of France, the Loire Valley’s 79 appellations and denominations employ over 5,000 professions who help produce and market an average of nearly 3 million hectolitres. The Loire Valley sells 380 million bottles of […]

Wine Travel Loire Valley: The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud

This place is immense, I think to myself as I descend from the hill where the shuttle from the train station deposits us. And white. So white that it is difficult to take a proper picture in the sun. White gravel turns my black shoes dusty. White stone walls reach toward the blue sky. White steps. White walls. White arches. White like a nun’s coiffe that represents part of its heritage but also belies some […]

2009 Stark Viognier, Damiano Vineyard, Sierra Foothills

We, like many people we know ‘cellar’ our red wines. I say “cellar” because Houston homes do not have basements so any wine aging room is often custom designed to mimic the temperature and humidity found in a European cellar or a California cave. We do not have that luxury, so our wines aged for several years in a chilled storage facility. After multiple hurricanes and flooding that spared our neighborhood more than it did […]

Steele Stymie Founder’s Reserve 2016 Syrah

Last night we joined a group of other wine folks for a virtual tasting of Steele Wines with winemaker and owner Jed Steele. With over 50 years’ in the wine industry, Jed started with a cellar position after playing basketball on scholarship for Gonzaga University, then went back to school at University of California – Davis and earned a master’s degree in enology. He gained experience with a number of wineries including Napa’s Stony Hill […]

Brys Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2016

The 2016 Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery Pinot Noir from Old Mission Peninsula AVA is 100 percent Pinot Noir estate grapes from Traverse City, Michigan. A lighter ruby Burgundian style, it features smoked cherry and cola flavors. We paired it with red lentils and sliced pork belly. 13.5% ABV $32 For more information about Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery, visit their website.

Cocktails: Lost in Thyme

We met friends Anton and Celia out for dinner at Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar to toast the new year. We started with cocktails, and I chose this gem. Lost in Thyme is a concoction of Old Overholt Rye, aperol, cinnamon thyme syrup, lemon and aquafaba (the foamy stuff on top – it’s vegan). Garnished with a sprig of thyme. Delicious! A bit of a splurge at $11. Get there for Social Hour and enjoy […]

2008 Jemrose “Gloria’s Gem” Proprietary Blend

Often when we put together wine and food pairings the food comes first, and then the wine. Not this time. Knowing the intensity and flavor of this 2008 deep red vixen from Bennett Valley in Sonoma County, we needed something with gusto to stand up to it. Enter pork belly. Pork belly is so very versatile and inexpensive — at around $5 per pound locally — but you wouldn’t know it from many a restaurant […]

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