Welcome to the Texas Wine Scene Podcast.
The most up-to-date information to help you prepare for your wine tasting weekend.
I'm Mike. Your Texas Wine Scene correspondent bringing you all the wine happenings in and around the great state of Texas.
From the high plains to the hill country. If you love Texas wine, you've come to the right place.
Let's take a trip.
Welcome back everyone to the Texas Wine Scene Podcast. I'm your host.
Your Texas Wine Scene correspondent Mike Cole bringing you all the wine happenings in and around the great state of Texas.
If you are a subscriber to the podcast, thank you so much for returning and tuning into this week's episode.
And if you are new to the podcast, thank you so much for stopping by to check us out.
We are an information-based podcast supporting and sharing wine events, tastings, and industry news around the great state of Texas.
So I hope you enjoy the content and if you do, please consider subscribing and sharing the podcast with all your wine-loving friends.
It helps to continue to spread the word about the podcast and keeps everyone informed about current wine-related events.
Also, please follow me on my socials at Texas Wine Scene on Instagram and Texas Wine Scene on Facebook where you will see all the posts about upcoming events for the weekend.
Now let's get into the Texas Wine Scene news.
In a recent article by LM Archer of the Drinks Business publication entitled Can You Make Sparkling Wine in Texas? He outlines a couple categories that provide the answer to that all important question.
First, the article addresses the subject of the misconceptions. What misconceptions you ask? How about the misconception that Texas sparkling wine may not measure up to other sparkling wines around the world?
He quotes winemaker and Houston native Randy Hester of CL Butteau as saying,
I make wines that I'm proud to serve on the same table with wines from Napa Valley, France, Spain, or any other great wine region.
Another misconception when talking about sparkling wine in Texas is that winemakers make petnats.
Winemaker and co-owner Elisa Jones of Elisa Christopher Wine says, we have to explain what we mean by met the Champinois.
Other misconceptions are the fact that Texas microclimates can grow wine grapes suitable for sparkling wines.
There are so many different microclimates and so many different geological features that are worlds apart, says Christopher Vendrette,
co-founder and CEO of William Chris Wine Company in Fredericksburg who bottled their first sparkling wine in 2012 and 2014.
And the final misconception Archer mentions is the miscellany of grapes and the inability to grow Chardonnay or Pinot Noir in Texas for sparkling wines.
Elisa says, Texas is the size of France. So yes, there are areas of the state that can grow these grapes.
But we are also looking into other varieties that can work in the Texas heat.
She mentions a hypergrade variety Blanc de Bois that she sources from her father's vineyard that is an integral part of her sparkling wine program.
I've tasted Elisa Christopher sparkling wines and I must say they are fantastic.
I've also been to several wine events lately and have asked winemakers about upcoming events and new projects.
And many of them have mentioned a sparkling wine being added to their portfolio.
So be on the lookout for more Texas wineries trying their hand at traditional sparkling wine production.
Early bird tickets are now on sale for the fourth annual Texas Wine Jam at Vinovium Winery in Johnson City on November 7th through 10th.
The Texas Wine Jam is a wine and music festival that gives back benefitting the Texas Wine Community Scholarships and the Sims Foundation,
which provides mental health and substance use recovery services for musicians, music industry professionals and their dependent family members.
Registration is now open for the fall 2024 winemaking certificate classes at Texas Tech University.
The winemaking certificate program accommodates working professionals and non-traditional students through self-paced online content.
To complete the certificate, students must complete 18 continuing education units.
Courses being offered this fall include wine production and fermentation and the legal aspects of the wine business.
For more information and registration, visit dpts.ttu.edu.
The badges for the Fredericksburg Food and Wine Festival are now on sale.
This event will take place in Fredericksburg, Texas on Friday and Saturday, October 25th and 26th.
There will be 20 plus culinary experiences and hands-on culinary demos and 30 wineries, spirits and breweries to try.
There are also a couple event add-ons to choose from including the street dinner, wine and yoga by Vino Vignassa and the Fisher & Wiser Waterfront Brunch.
For ticket purchases, visit FredericksburgFoodWineFestival.ticketspice.com
In round Salkowsky's column Wine Walk, he catches up with a few winemakers and winery owners to get the scoop on this year's harvest.
David Cokin, co-owner and executive winemaker at Peranala Sellers, says,
Quality is on track given the general moderate temperatures and timely rains this year. We expect to get the majority of our fruit from the Texas High Plains,
where everything is looking better than most of the last few years.
Ron Yates, owner of Spicewood Vineyard, says,
Harvest is looking quite promising and is on track to be about two weeks early in the Texas Hill Country.
While our crop will be slightly smaller than last year's record of state harvest, we are excited about the quality of the fruit.
Dr. Bob Young, co-owner and executive winemaker at Bending Branch Winery, says,
We are looking forward to the quality fruit from across the state.
Spring hail caused mixed levels of damage for a few of the Texas Hill Country vineyards where we get our fruit.
Talent vineyards in Mason County, which has avoided hail damage and enjoyed good rains this spring and summer, is expecting a good quality crop.
And Dave Riley, winemaker at Dukeman Family Winery, said,
The 2024 crop is looking terrific, a big crop coming in a bit earlier than usual and excellent quality.
We expect Harvest to kick off in August with Rouson coming in first, followed by Vermantino.
The Texas Hill Country winery scholarship program is accepting applications.
This nonprofit trade association scholarship is open for submission with a deadline of November 1, 2024.
To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must be a Texas resident,
a graduating high school senior enrolled in a related wine industry program,
or a current student enrolled in a related wine industry program with a cumulative GPA of 2.75.
Applicants will need three letters of recommendation with one letter of recommendation being academic.
For more information on this scholarship opportunity, visit their website at texashillcountrywineries.org.
The Texas Wine School will officially open in San Antonio, Texas on August 1.
The Houston-based Wine School announced several months ago that it would be expanding its offerings into the San Antonio market.
The courses are tailored for wine enthusiasts and industry professionals and aimed to enhance the city's wine culture and education.
Initial courses include Taste Like a Pro, White Wine Edition on Thursday, August 1, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Wines of France on August 14, from 7 to 9 p.m.
A Comparative Wines of Pinot Noir wines from around the world on August 18, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Wines of Italy on August 21, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Followed by Wines of Spain on August 28, from 6 to 8 p.m.
WSET courses will be offered starting in September.
For more information and course registration, visit their website at thetexaswineschool.com.
And that's your Texas Wine-Seeing News!
This week we complete our Texas Wine Great mini-series on Marseille.
Marseille is a white wine grape variety that is most commonly found in the northern Rhone region of France.
It is a fuller body white wine that produces deeply colored wines that are rich and nutty with hints of spice and pear, which adds to its overall complexity.
Marseille can thrive in hot climates such as what we have here in Texas,
but attention to detail in the vineyard is a must to avoid the grape from overriping and dropping in acidity,
which will produce a wine that is uninteresting and flabby.
Due to the delicate balance of its acidity and rightness, the vines require careful timing as the window of opportunity in harvesting is rather short,
and the tendency is to pick just prior to full rightness to ensure that the acidity does not fall off.
Marseille wine generally possesses good weight and structure, but often lacks any depth of perfume and flavor,
unlike its blending partners, Roussaint and Vignier.
On the nose, Marseille is slightly earthy with notes of honey, suckle and fig with citrus aromas of lemon and orange, as well as stone fruit flavors of apricot.
Marseille and Marseille blends can often replace Chardonnay for those who like to expand their palates and try something different.
While that completes our great mini series for the most popular grape varieties in Texas,
here's a quick recap on the grape varieties mentioned in the past few episodes.
For the top red grape varieties, we talked about Tempranillo, Moved, Malbec, Multi Puccino, San Giovese and Serrat.
And for the top white grape varieties, we had Trebiano, Blanc Dubois, Vermintino, Vignier, Marseille and Roussaint.
The Texas wine industry is an exciting landscape for the potential to produce a myriad of grape varieties from the traditional Vitus Vanifera to the new hybrids.
So continue to enjoy the many expressions of these popular grape varieties that our talented Texas wineries are producing.
Before we get into the events for the weekend, let's check the weather.
The weather for the weekend in the Texas High Plains wine growing region will have high temperatures of 91 degrees with low temperatures of 67 degrees.
The North Texas wine growing region will have high temperatures of 91 degrees with low temperatures of 72 degrees.
The West Texas wine growing region will have high temperatures of 86 degrees with low temperatures of 61 degrees.
The Texas Hill Country wine growing region will have high temperatures of 84 degrees with low temperatures of 68 degrees.
degrees and the Gulf Coast wine growing region will have high temperatures of 91 degrees with low
temperatures of 74 degrees. Spicewood Vineyards in Spicewood, Texas is hosting the Blue Bonnet
Collective for their flower arranging class on Saturday July 27th from 1 to 2 p.m. They will
teach you all about the art of arranging a beautiful flower bouquet from practical tips and tricks to
flower pairings, seasonal selections, shopping notes, and vase selection you will learn it all.
For more information on this event visit their website at spicewoodvineyards.com.
Join William Chris Vineyards in High Texas for their Cigars and Sunsets event
on Saturday July 27th from 7 to 9 p.m. This exclusive wine and cigar pairing is a delightful
experience that invites you to explore the intricate dance between fine Texas wine
and premium cigars. Under the guidance of select, savor, and shares seasoned cigar connoisseurs,
guests will partake in a curated tasting session featuring three wines paired with premium cigars.
For more information on this event visit their website at williamchriswines.com.
Head on out to Wine for the People in Fredericksburg, Texas for their reserve tasting event on Saturday July
27th at 2 p.m. Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Texas Terroir with this
reserve tasting experience led by winemaker Ray Wilson. Guests will be treated to a curated selection
of five limited production wines thoughtfully paired with seasonal and locally sourced bites.
As Ray Wilson unveils the stories behind each glass, you will gain exclusive insights into the art of
winemaking. Whether you're a wine aficionado or a curious explorer, this reserve tasting
experience promises to be a profound connection with the flavors that make Texas wine stand out.
For more information on this event visit their website at wineforthepeople.com.
Join Mirstone Vineyards in Stonewall, Texas for their systemic approach to wine tasting event
on Saturday July 27th from 12 to 2 p.m. If you've ever wondered the right way to taste wine or are
looking to becoming more savvy wine taster, then join Mirstone Vineyards the last Saturday of each
month as they demystify the wine tasting process from start to end. You'll expand your wine vocabulary
and gain useful tools to identify an array of wines as you taste through a flight together.
The course will include a light pairing to educate students of the influence of food and wine
along with take-home training materials and a souvenir wine glass. For more information on
this event visit their website at MirstoneVineyards.com. Join Blue Lotus Winery in Sigeen for a
fun-filled weekend of events starting with their Comedy Night event on Saturday July 27th from
7 to 10 p.m. Head on out to the winery for an evening of laughter and good vibes while Texas
born comedians Ashley Overton and Shannon Mugridge deliver the punchlines that will have you rolling
in your seats at this hilarious fun night out. How about joining Blue Lotus Winery for their
Christmas and July event on Sunday July 28th from 2 to 4 p.m. as you create your very own
set of Santa bottles that everyone will enjoy during the holiday season. All materials will
be provided and no talent is necessary. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the wine.
Just sit back, relax, and enjoy a glass of Blue Lotus wines while your creative masterpiece takes shape.
And finally how about heading on out to Blue Lotus Winery to get your wine and swing dance on
Sunday July 28th from 1 to 4 p.m. They will have a swing class from 1 to 2 30 p.m.
then you can show off your new dance moves. Bring a friend, bring a partner, or just bring yourself.
There will be plenty of dancers to get your groove on. The talented instructors will teach you all
you need to know. And of course a glass of wine is included with your ticket purchase.
For more information on this event visit their website at bluelotuswinery.com.
12 Fires Winery in Vineyard is calling all volunteers to head on out and help harvest
their first ever estate mauvedre on August 3rd. This is an exhilarating time as they have been
spending many years cultivating the vineyard for this very moment. They would love for you to join
them for this memory making event and be a part of another Grand 12 Fires storyline. There will be
lunch and libations for all the well-deserved vineyard grape cluster cutters. If you are interested
in volunteering for this event email sales at 12fires.com. If you are looking for a fun time
out at a winery to help celebrate the harvest season, well look no further. Here are a few
of the many wineries in the Texas Hill Country that are hosting grape stomping events. There's
a paella party at Bairns Creek Vineyard on August 4th, grape stomping paella party at the Texas
Wine Collective on August 10th, a harvest picnic and t-shirt stomp at Peridnala Sellers on August
17th, and a grape stomping event at Becker Vineyards on September 1st. For more information and event
times visit their websites at BairnsCreeksVineyards.com, TexasWineCollective.com, PeridnalaSellers.com,
and BeckerVineyards.com. Join Wimbledon Valley Winery in Driftwood, Texas for their
murder mystery dinner on Saturday, August 3rd at 7pm. With the passing of prohibition and organized
crime on the rise, the juice joint, also known as Sidecar, a swanky speakeasy run by Rosie Marie,
has been nothing but jumping. To celebrate its success, Rosie is planning a party to remember
at the exclusive night spot and guests are dying to attend. With murder on the menu, you are certain
to find a medley of individuals to make the party most memorable. From the major mobsters and their
moles, to the swanky singer with her hopes at Hollywood, the cigarette drill with the temper
that sizzles, to the crooked police chief with nothing to lose. No one is safe from murder.
For more information and reservations for this intriguing murder mystery event,
visit their website at WimbledonValleyWinery.com. And those are your wine events for the weekend.
Stay tuned for your music lineup for the weekend up next.
Arch Ray Winery in Fredericksburg gets the music lineup started this week with A.D. Mack on stage
Friday, July 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. followed by Hayden Whittington on Saturday, July 27 from 3 to 6 p.m.
Fiesta Winery on 290 will have Jeff Wood on stage Saturday, July 27 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Pair Nala Sellers in Stonewall, Texas will let Josh Pig assume the musical duties
on Saturday, July 27 from 1 to 5 p.m. Tornow Locks in Burnett, Texas will have the smooth
sounds of the Jazz Daddies on stage Saturday, July 27 from 2 to 5 p.m. Augusta Venn Winery
in Fredericksburg is having their Sips and Sounds event with Father and Son on Friday, July 26 from
3 to 6 p.m. followed by Dylan Hayvins on Saturday, July 27 from 2 to 5 p.m. Andy Garcia will close
out the set on Sunday, July 28 from 3 to 6 p.m. Bernhardt Winery in Plannersville will have
Anthony Pitt on stage Saturday, July 27 from 1 to 5 p.m. followed by Run To You performing a Brian
Adam tribute on Sunday, July 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. Deep Roots Vineyards in Plannersville will have
ZZ Rocks on stage performing a ZZ Top tribute on Friday, July 26 from 8 to 10 p.m. followed by Gun
Powder and Lead on Saturday, July 27 from 8 to 10 p.m. as well. Deep Roots Vineyards will also have
Genoette Mission music with Jen Harris on stage Saturday, July 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. followed by
Michelle Kay on stage Sunday, July 28 from 2 to 5 p.m. West Sandy Creek Winery in Richards, Texas
will have Mitch Jacobs on stage Saturday, July 27 from 4 to 7 p.m. followed by James Zimmerman on
Sunday, July 28 from 2 to 5 p.m. Barron's Creek Winery in Fredericksburg will have Duovino on
stage Saturday, July 27 from 12 to 3 p.m. Bending Branch Winery in Comfort, Texas will let Steve
Feinstein rock the house on Sunday, July 28 from 2 to 5 p.m. Longhorn Sellers in Fredericksburg will
have Bill Mackle on stage Saturday, July 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. William Chris Vineyards in High, Texas
will have Jake Martin on stage Friday, July 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. followed by Trace of Gold on
Saturday, July 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. Stephen K. Morse will close out the set on Sunday, July 28
from 1 to 4 p.m. as well. Blue Ostrich Winery in St. Joe will host Freddy Bassas on stage Saturday,
July 27 from 1 to 15 to 4 p.m. English Newsome Sellers in Lubbock, Texas will have Kenny Mains
on stage Saturday, July 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. Moody Family Wines in Bullard, Texas will let
Shawn Christopher Jam out on Friday, July 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. followed by Michael Jesch on
Saturday, July 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. as well. Triple-N Ranch Winery in Trinidad is having a
Coldplay U2 and Keen tribute on Saturday, July 27 from 6.45 to 9 p.m. Tasha Vineyards in Huntsville,
Texas will have Country Acoustics on stage Sunday, July 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. Lone Star Wine
Sellers in McKinney will have Bayless Lavamore on stage Friday, July 26 from 8 to 11 p.m. followed
by Roger Escavado on Saturday, July 27 from 8 to 11 p.m. Mark Flatt will round out the music set
on Sunday, July 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. Peters Prairie Vineyards in Mason, Texas will have Justin McFarland
on stage Saturday, July 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. Wild Seed Farms in Fredericksburg will have Woody
Eastman on stage Saturday, July 27 from 2 to 5 p.m. followed by the Frumpkins on Sunday, July 28
from 2 to 5 p.m. as well. Barnhill Vineyards in Anah, Texas will have 90 to nothing covering 90s
Rock on Friday, July 26 from 8 to 10 p.m. followed by the Timeless HTX on Saturday, July 27 from 8
to 10 p.m. as well. And Singing Water Vineyards in Comfort, Texas will close out the music lineup
for the weekend with Rayleigh Gale on stage Saturday, July 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. And that's your music
lineup for the weekend. Stay tuned for Did You Know?
With Harvison Full Swing at many wineries across the state, the excitement of this year's crop
is palpable. Crush is an important part of the winemaking process. It sets the tone for what
happens months, even years down the line. Crushing grapes with feet is hardly a new trend. There is
ample evidence that humans have stopped on grapes in vats, tubes, and legars to make wine for at
least 7,000 years. The most practical and efficient way to crush grapes is to use a crusher de-stemming
machine which crushes the grapes and releases the juice at the same time removing the stems.
But as a consumer and wine enthusiast who wants to be practical and efficient when it comes to wine?
For us, when it comes to wine, we just want to have fun. So instead of the modern day nomadic
grape press that fills a large bladder with air or water to crush the grapes, comes the traditional
old-school ancient art of foot or grape stomping. Foot trotting is still used in some European wine
regions such as Spain and Portugal and now in some New World wine regions such as the United States,
they are implementing the practice of grape stomping, if not for the functional aspect of the
process, but as a visual aesthetic allure to the winery. But Did You Know? That foot trotting or
grape stomping has a serious functional component to winemaking. When grapes are crushed by the pressure
and force of a human or mechanical foot like the legars in Portugal, they exert just enough force
on the grapes to break the skins and release the juice without crushing the seeds inside. If the
seeds and the cell layers of the grape skins are disturbed, it adds a layer of bitterness and
astringency to the wine due to the release of tannins. But grape stomp activities and contests
generally don't use the juice extracted from these grapes. Most wineries use the event as a way to
invite consumers out to the winery for educational experiences, harvest assistance, and best of all,
good times and great memories with friends and family. Here's a little fun fact when you are
watching your next grape stomp contest. Most grape contests consist of two-person teams.
The main participant is the stomper who is of course responsible for squishing the grapes and
releasing the juice. But Do You Know What The Second Participant On The Team Is Called?
The Swabby. The Swabby stands below a barrel full of grapes while a stomper is stomping and
makes sure nothing prevents the grape juice from getting into the jug. So when you are
considering your teammate for this weekend's grape stomp contest, choose wisely who your Swabby is.
Well, that would do it for this week's episode. Thank you for joining me. I'm Mike Cole, your
Texas Wine Scene correspondent, and I look forward to seeing you next time on the Texas Wine Scene. Cheers!
For more in-depth information on the wineries mentioned in this episode, visit the Texas Wine
Lover website at txwinelover.com or the Texas Wine Lover app. There you will be able to find a
vast amount of information about Texas wineries and wine-related businesses. You can also search
for information such as Texas wineries with lodging, 100% Texas wineries, tour companies,
winemaker profiles, and much, much more. So visit their website at txwinelover.com.
And please leave me a rating and a review and share the podcast with all your wine-loving friends. Cheers!