Podcasts about texsom

Mentioned in this EpisodeConnect with the Podcast: Facebook: @texaswinepod Instagram: @texaswinepod Email: texaswinepod@gmail.com Visit www.thisistexaswine.com Help the Show: Subscribe to the newsletter. Donate virtual Texas wine or join the podcast membership at the Gold Medal, Silver Medal, or Bronze Medal Level! Leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! Texas Wine In the NewsJames Suckling ReportCristaldi & Co ReportHouston Rodeo's Wine Competition ResultsAmy Beth Wright for Wine Enthusiast: “In Texoma AVA, a Spirit of Experimentation Drives Growth”HEB's Dan Schuette Receives the Clinton ‘Doc' McPherson AwardRoger Morris for The Drinks Business:“What Does the Future Hold for Texas Wine?”Stagecoach Wine Trail - January Trail Event!The Chalk Report: Profile of Fearing's Sommelier Paul BotamerInterview with Valerie Elkins William Chris Wine Company Use code earlybird2025 to get $20 off tickets to the Texas Wine Auction - offer expires 12/31/24 Texas Wine Growers Grafted Gold Star NA Special ThanksNeed lodging in Fredericksburg? Check out Cork + Cactus! Find Cork + Cactus and many more great rentals at Heavenly Hosts.com! Thanks to Texas Wine Lover for promotional help! For the latest information on Texas wineries and vineyards, visit Texas Wine Lover. Don't forget to download the Texas Wine Lover app too!Wine & Food FoundationI'm so happy to be part of the community of wine and food lovers at The Wine & Food Foundation! Get more information about upcoming events, wine education classes, and membership options here.

Mentioned in this EpisodeConnect with the Podcast: Facebook: @texaswinepod Instagram: @texaswinepod Email: texaswinepod@gmail.com Visit www.thisistexaswine.com Help the Show: Subscribe to the newsletter.Donate virtual Texas wine or join the podcast membership at the Gold Medal, Silver Medal, or Bronze Medal Level!Leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! Texas Wine NewsFort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo's Inaugural Vine 2 Wine International Wine CompetitionPREVIEW WEEK starts July 22! - Fredericksburg Food and Wine Festival Interview with Landon Miller of Signor VineyardsFind Signor Vineyards HEREFind @LandonLloydMiller music on Instagram HERE Gold StarEaker BBQ in Fredericksburg for putting Texas wine on the menu! Special ThanksNeed lodging in Fredericksburg? Check out Cork + Cactus! Find Cork + Cactus and many more great rentals at Heavenly Hosts.com! Thanks to Texas Wine Lover for promotional help! For the latest information on Texas wineries and vineyards, visit Texas Wine Lover. Don't forget to download the Texas Wine Lover app too!Wine & Food FoundationI'm so happy to be part of the community of wine and food lovers at The Wine & Food Foundation! Get more information about upcoming events, wine education classes, and membership options here.

Mentioned in this EpisodeConnect with the Podcast: Facebook: @texaswinepod Instagram: @texaswinepod Email: texaswinepod@gmail.com Visit www.thisistexaswine.com Help the Show: Subscribe to the newsletter. Donate virtual Texas wine! Leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! Top Texas Wine Stories of the YearBig-time Texas wine press from top local, state, and national wine writers.Hickory Sands AVA perfected by the TTB. (Llano Uplift AVA was perfected in 2022).Many Texas wines did very well in competitions, and white wines fared especially well. William Chris Vineyards was named one of the Top 100 Vineyards and Wineries.Harvest yields were huge.It was a great year for Texas wine festivals and events.The Texas Wine Love app debuted.Lots of education was delivered through seminars and symposiums. More Texans than ever (or so it seemed) decided to become Specialists of Texas Wine (levels 1 and 2), Texas Wine Ambassador Certification, and WSET courses. Bravo!Plenty of winemakers were on the move.Winery tasting rooms opened, and some closed. Others moved locations.The State Fair of Texas changed direction in the wine garden, and Texas wine only represents 13% of the formerly 100% Texas wine list.Many thanks to Daniel Kelada at Vinovium for co-hosting this episode! Vinovium Announcing the Texas Wine Pod Awards 2023! Retail Space of the Year: H-E-B Tomball Marketing Campaign of the Year: Pedernales Cellars for Seriously. Texas Wine. Best Social Media Post: North Texas Wine Country Edu-tainment Award: Texas Wine Club Social Media Consistency Award (tie): Reddy Vineyards and Duchman Family Winery Brand with Heart Award: Farmhouse Vineyards Keeping It Real Award: Alta Marfa Winery Winery Dog of the Year: Whiskey at Vinovium LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT for Best Restaurant Wine List: Cabernet Grill Special ThanksThanks to Texas Wine Lover for promotional help! For the latest information on Texas wineries and vineyards, visit Texas Wine Lover. Don't forget to download the Texas Wine Lover app too!Wine & Food FoundationI'm so happy to be part of the community of wine and food lovers at The Wine & Food Foundation! Get more information about upcoming events, wine education classes, and membership options here.Need lodging in Fredericksburg? Check out Cork + Cactus! Find Cork + Cactus and many more great rentals at Heavenly Hosts.com! 

Welcome the second episode of The Responsibilities Series, where we explore the specific responsibilities of those who work in fine wine, an Areni Global podcast brought to you in association with Moët Hennessy and their programme Living Soils, Living Together. Today we are talking about one of the most serious issues facing wine, which is the question of wine and health, and the growing movement challenging even the moderate consumption of wine and alcohol. Could wine lose its social license to operate? That once unthinkable possibility now seems to be a real threat, as the health lobby declares that there is no safe level of alcohol. In late October, a Congress on wine and health — the Lifestyle, Diet, Wine & Health Congress — was held in Toledo, Spain. It brought together a number of prominent doctors, scientists and other researchers, to look at what the evidence says about the impact of wine on health. Areni's Editorial Director Felicity Carter was there, and in this special podcast, she explains what was discussed. The Congress was organized by two European bodies, the Wine Information Council, and one called Foundation for Wine and Nutrition Research (FIVIN) The organizers brought together some of the world's major researchers in wine and they discussed its impact on health. Within the conversation, you will also hear clips from scientific authorities on the topic. (Dr. Curtis Ellison, Dr. Justus Apffelstaedt and Prof. dr. sc. Mladan Bobab) More about today's host: Born and raised into a winemaking family in Burgundy, Pauline Vicard grew up working in the vineyard. Her career has included market research for the BIVB and the French embassies in Norway and Cuba, to opening a wine and tea shop in Lille and leading the wine education programme for France's leading hospitality trade union (UMIH). After moving to London in 2015, she became Head of Wine at Clerkenwell London, for whom she organised more than 80 trade and consumer wine events. In 2017, she developed Fine Minds for Fine Wines with Nicole Rolet, owner of the Rhône Valley's Chêne Bleu winery. This led to the creation of Areni Global in 2019. As Co-founder and Executive Director, Pauline now directs all Areni's activities, including research, events, and publications. She has moderated and spoken at international events, including for the OIV, the American Embassy in Paris, TEXSOM, the Batonnage Forum, The Summit of Collectibility, Tasting Climate Change and Moët Hennessy's World Living Soil Forum, of which she is also a board member. Learn more about Areni Global: Website: https://areni.global/ Facebook: @FM4FW Twitter: @areniglobal Instagram: @areniglobal Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/areni-global/ To keep in touch with all our research and publications, subscribe to our newsletter: https://areni.global/subscribe About Felicity Carter: Felicity Carter is a well-known journalist and editor based in Europe. She is the Editorial Director of ARENI Global in London, and she is co-founder of Business of Drinks. She was previously Editor-in-Chief of Meininger's Wine Business International, a trade magazine she built into a global must-read, with subscribers in 38 countries. She is a regular media commentator, appearing on platforms as diverse as CNN, France24 and the New York Times, and has consulted to New Zealand Wine and the Dutch government. Felicity is an international wine judge as well as a regular keynote speaker at the wine industry's biggest conferences and events. Her work has appeared in The GuardianUS, The Sydney Morning Herald and numerous other publications. To learn more about Felicity Carter: https://twitter.com/felicitycarter https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicity-carter-a5754380/ https://www.instagram.com/carter.felicity/ https://www.facebook.com/felicity.carter.104/ If you want to read the cliff notes on today's interview, just head to https://areni.global/research/podcasts/ Thank you for joining us today!

Mentioned in this EpisodeConnect with the Podcast: Facebook: @texaswinepod Instagram: @texaswinepod Email: texaswinepod@gmail.com Visit www.thisistexaswine.com Help the Show: Subscribe to the newsletter. Donate virtual Texas wine! Leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! Texas Wine In the NewsVinePair: 10 American Wine Regions That Deserve More RecognitionVinePair: The 30 Best Rosé Wines of 2023TEXSOM Awards ResultsWine Enthusiast: If You Like Pinot Grigio, Try Picpoul.Decanter: Picpoul makes a splash in AmericaTexas Wine Club Wine Experiences in Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and HyeTeas Wine Club discount code: use code THISISTEXASWINE to get $100 off your first shipment!Get the scoop on FlavoryTX, an educational non-profit focused on Texas food and beverage.Interview with Dan and Maura SharpSharp Family Vineyards / The Vineyard at Blue MountainSpecial ThanksThanks to Texas Wine Lover for promotional help! For the latest information on Texas wineries and vineyards, visit Texas Wine Lover. Don't forget to download the Texas Wine Lover app too!Wine & Food FoundationI'm so happy to be part of the community of wine and food lovers at The Wine & Food Foundation! Get more information about upcoming events, wine education classes, and membership options here.Need lodging in Fredericksburg? Check out my home Cork + Cactus! Find Cork + Cactus and many more great rentals at Heavenly Hosts.com! 

Connect with the Podcast:Facebook: @texaswinepodInstagram: @texaswinepodEmail: texaswinepod@gmail.comHelp the Show:Subscribe to the podcast in Apple PodcastsSubscribe to the newsletter.Donate virtual Texas wine! Mentioned in this Episode:Sponsors Bending Branch Winery's Custom Crush ServicesSommly.com Texas Wine In the NewsCondé Nast Traveler: “This Once-Quiet Texas Town Is Now a Booming Wine Destination”New Zealand Herald: “US travel: The surprising wine region you might never have heard of”PR NewsWire: “Finger Lakes Winery Plants New Roots in Texas”Carl Hudson for Texas Wine Lover: “Less Recognizable Grape Varieties in Texas and Their Unfamiliar Pronunciations”Wine Enthusiast: “A Beginner's Guide to All Things Ice Wine”Rootstock Wine Fest TICKETS - Use code “Shelly” for 10% offToast of Texas TICKETS - Use code “Shelly” for $10 offInterview with James Tidwell, MSVisit www.TEXSOM.com for more information about submitting wines and past winners!Special ThanksThanks to Texas Wine Lover for promotional help! For the latest information on Texas wineries and vineyards, visit Texas Wine Lover. Don't forget to download the Texas Wine Lover app too!Wine & Food FoundationI'm so happy to be part of the community of wine and food lovers at The Wine & Food Foundation! Get more information about upcoming events, wine education classes, and membership options here.Need lodging in Fredericksburg? Check out my home Cork + Cactus! Find Cork + Cactus and many more great rentals at Heavenly Hosts.com! 

In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Tom Lutz, Founder & Creator of Repour Wine Savor, one of the leading new inventions in wine preservation technology. We discuss the technology, how people have learned about it, the differences between Coravin and Repour, and what the future holds.  Other topics covered in this episode include:Tom is a chemist by trade (he worked in biodiesel and aquarium products)Repour was invented when he had a newborn son and ended up pouring half bottles of wine down the drainTechnology: It uses food-grade oxygen absorbersBinds the oxygen, of which the atmosphere has 21%, does not replace itIt requires air to exchange and remove the oxygen, so the bottle needs to be stored verticallyThe capacity of the stopperBuilt for 5 pours of one bottle, glass by glass - this would expose the wine to 1,500 ml of airThe max amount a stopper has to handle is 2,000 ml of airUses recyclable materials. However, many municipal grids have 3”x3” grids that filter out small objects; for large customers, they do take back repours to recyclePricingConsumer: 4-pack ($8.99 / $2.25 each), 10-pack ($17.99 / $1.80 each), 72-pack ($120 / $1.67 each)There are often promotions via the email listA future target price point is $1/stopper or lowerTrade: 4x72-pack (288 stoppers) - starts at $0.83 / stopperCustomers Started with on-premise (restaurants)With COVID - moved more consumersWineries - have been using them for virtual tastings and wine club gifts, also several doing custom brandingCoravin vs. Repour - both work; Coravin is better for tasting and cellaring wine; Repour is for enjoying wine like you usually would and saving itMarketing Mostly word of mouthAfter 1 year of testing the science, started with a local somm group that did a blind tasting and Repour worked greatTEXSOM - gave out samples and many conversations have come back to that eventDuration of effectiveness - weeks or months; Repour has tested out to 6-7 monthsThe future - potentially replaceable inserts, sparkling wine, and the possibly showing how much oxygen absorbing capacity is leftIf you loved this episode, we would love for you to subscribe, rate, and review it on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. Until next time, cheers! Get access to library episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Connect with the Podcast:Facebook: @texaswinepodInstagram: @texaswinepodTwitter: @texaswinepodEmail: texaswinepod@gmail.comVoicemail: 802–585–1286 Help the Show:Buy Shelly a Glass of Wine!Subscribe to the newsletter to get the Texas wine crossword puzzle! Mentioned in this EpisodeHey podcast listeners,I'm excited to share that you can now support local winemakers by shopping for wine on sommly.com, where you can find over 450 Texas wineries and 80 wines available for purchase - direct from each winery!If you're a Texas winery, claim your page to add photos, team members, and additional info about your winery for free!If you're a wine lover, join me in creating a free profile at sommly.com to give your favorite Texas wineries a great review.Join me at Wine & Food Foundation's Toast of Texas on June 5! Use code SHELLY for $10 off! More information HEREJulie Kuhlken of Pedernales Cellars on Good Morning AmericaAustin Business Journal: “Austin startup Sommly eager to disrupt wine industry”Chron.com: "In Texas Hill Country, Johnson City is the new, cooler Fredericksburg”Houstonia: “How to Spend a Perfect Weekend in Lubbock”Vinepair: “We Asked 8 Sommeliers: What's the Most Underrated American Wine Region?”Dallas Morning News: “$13 billion boom: Why Texas wine is entering its best era yet”Dallas Morning News: “25 Texas wines to try in summer 2022”Wine Spectator: “‘Texas Wines' Celebrates Winemaking in the Lone Star State”Link to Robert Burks' Documentary “Texas Wines”Call for Entries for Texas Monthly 2022 Vintners CupInterview with Ricky Taylor of Alta MarfaAlta Marfa Gold StarCheers to the best TEXSOM Awards Panel! Stay tuned for TEXSOM Awards results HERE Special ThanksThanks to Texas Wine Lover for promotional help! For the latest information on Texas wineries and vineyards, visit Texas Wine Lover Wine & Food FoundationI'm so happy to be part of the community of wine and food lovers at The Wine & Food Foundation! Get more information about upcoming events and find membership options here. Need lodging in Fredericksburg? Check out my home Cork + Cactus!Cork + Cactus on AirBnBFind Cork + Cactus and many more great rentals at Heavenly Hosts.com! 

Connect with the Podcast:Facebook: @texaswinepodInstagram: @texaswinepodTwitter: @texaswinepodEmail: texaswinepod@gmail.comVoicemail: 802–585–1286Help the Show:Buy Shelly a Glass of Wine!Subscribe to the newsletter to get the downloadable Texas wine quiz. Answers included. Are you a Texas wine expert?Listen and Subscribe in Apple PodcastsListen and Subscribe in Google PodcastsListen via web browser Mentioned in this Episode Texas Wine In the News Texas Winemakers Docuseries! WATCH HEREAmy Beth Wright for Wine Enthusiast:We Are Not Constrained by Tradition: The Budding Wine Scene in Fredericksburg, TexasDale Robertson of the Houston Chronicle: List of Recent ArticlesWine Spectator Grand Award WinnersWilliam Chris Wine Company Purchases Hoover Valley Vineyard: PRESS RELEASEWalker County vineyards rebound after losing crop after historic winter stormWine & Food Foundation I'm so happy to be part of the community of wine and food lovers at The Wine & Food Foundation! Get more information about upcoming events, the IMBIBE: The WFF Education Series, and find membership options here. Check out Heavenly Hosts for your Fredericksburg lodging needs!Interview: Ron Yates of Spicewood Vineyards and Ron Yates Wines Follow @ronyateswines and @spicewoodvineyards Follow Ron @clubdeyatesDemerits and Gold Stars Demerit: Hill Country restaurants that don't have any Texas wine on the wine list! Gold Star: Hill & Vine in Fredericksburg!Shelly's Wine Education Website: www.toastwinetalk.com Thanks to Texas Wine Lover for promotional help! For the latest information on Texas wineries and vineyards, visit Texas Wine Lover

Connect with the Podcast:Facebook: @texaswinepodInstagram: @texaswinepodTwitter: @texaswinepodEmail: texaswinepod@gmail.comVoicemail: 802–585–1286Help the Show:Buy Shelly a Glass of Wine!Subscribe to the newsletter to get the downloadable Texas wine quiz. Answers included. Are you a Texas wine expert?Listen and Subscribe in Apple PodcastsListen and Subscribe in Google PodcastsListen via web browserMentioned in this EpisodeTexas Wine In the NewsDepartment of Agriculture 2020 Report on Texas Grape VarietiesShelly's Article on 2015–2019 Grape Variety Reports for Texas Wine Lover:Texas Grapevines by the Numbers: What's Trending Up, What's Trending Down, and What It Means for Texas WineRobert Clay Vineyards Auction for Touriga Nacional: More Information HerePerspective Cellars welcomes a new ownerTexas Wine Growers Video of Chris Brundrett talking about proposing a new AVA for TexasTTB's AVA Manual for PetitionersListen to Fredericksburg Texas Podcast HEREWine & Food FoundationI'm so happy to be part of the community of wine and food lovers at The Wine & Food Foundation! Get more information about upcoming events, the IMBIBE: The WFF Education Series, and find membership options here.Check out Heavenly Hosts for your Fredericksburg lodging needs!Interview: Michael McClendon, Partner and Winemaker at Sage's Vintage Custom Crush WinerySage's Vintage on InstagramSage's Vintage on FacebookMovie discussed by Michael and Shelly on Amazon Prime Video: Our Blood is WineDemerits and Gold StarsDemerit: none this time!Gold Stars: Tasting room and winery staff!Welcome Jackie Mancuso, vineyard manager at Southold Farm + Cellars. And 3 cheers to the kitchen for that awesome tasting board!Thanks Dana and team at Vintner's Hideaway!Thanks to The Austin Winery for an enjoyable afternoon! Winemaker and partner Cooper Anderson leads a stellar team that includes winemakers Adrienne Ash (Ash Wines) and Travis Elliott (Elliott Family Wines). Loved nerding out with you!Shelly's Wine Education Website: www.toastwinetalk.comThanks to Texas Wine Lover for promotional help! For the latest information on Texas wineries and vineyards, visit Texas Wine Lover

XChateau is a podcast about all things wine, from vine to your glass. We tackle the business of wine and keep you up to date with new and exciting developments in the wine industry.In this episode, Robert Vernick and Peter Yeung interview Tom Lutz, Founder & Creator of Repour Wine Saver, one of the leading new inventions in wine preservation technology.  We discuss the technology, how people have learned about it, the differences between Coravin and Repour, and what the future holds.  Other topics covered in this episode include:Tom is a chemist by trade (worked in biodiesel, aquarium products)Repour was invented when he had a newborn son and ended up pouring half bottles of wine down the drain.Technology: Uses food grade oxygen absorbersBinds the oxygen, of which the atmosphere has 21%, does not replace it.Requires air to exchange and remove the oxygen, so the bottle needs to be stored verticallyThe capacity of the stopperBuilt for 5 pours of one bottle, glass by glass - this would expose the wine to 1,500 ml of air.The max amount a stopper has to handle is 2,000 ml of air.Uses recyclable materials. However, many municipal grids have 3”x3” grids that filter out small objects; for large customers, they do take back repours to recyclePricingConsumer: 4-pack ($8.99 / $2.25 each), 10-pack ($17.99 / $1.80 each), 72-pack ($120 / $1.67 each)There are often promotions via the email list.The future target price point is $1/stopper or lower.Trade: 4x72-pack (288 stoppers) - starts at $0.83 / stopperCustomers Started with on-premise (restaurants)With COVID - moved more to consumers.Wineries - have been using for virtual tastings and wine club gifts, also several doing custom branding.Coravin vs. Repour - both work. Coravin is better for tasting and cellaring wine.  Repour is for enjoying wine like you normally would and saving the remainder of the bottle for later.Marketing Mostly word of mouthAfter 1 year of testing the science, Tom started with a local sommelier group that did a blind tasting, and Repour worked great.TEXSOM - gave out samples, and many conversations have come back to that eventDuration of effectiveness - weeks or months, Repour has tested out to 6-7 months.The Future - potentially replaceable inserts, sparkling wine and possibly showing how much oxygen-absorbing capacity is left.If you loved this episode, we would love for you to subscribe, rate, and review on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. Until next time, cheers!

Connect with the Podcast:Facebook: @texaswinepodInstagram: @texaswinepodTwitter: @texaswinepodEmail: texaswinepod@gmail.com Help the Show:Buy Shelly a Glass of Wine!Subscribe to the newsletter to get the downloadable Texas wine quiz. Answers included. Are you a Texas wine expert?Listen and Subscribe in Apple PodcastsListen and Subscribe in Google PodcastsListen via web browser Mentioned in this Episode Texas Wine In the News D Magazine: "Texas Wine Country Road Trip" Edible Austin: "The Road to Texas Wine Lovers’ Hearts" Save Texas Wineries Central Market Texas Wine Sale - Scroll down to see possible wine selections. Will vary by store.State Fair of Texas Blue Ribbon Wine Selections / Link to purchaseShelly's Texas Wine Lover article: "The State Fair of Texas Offers a Case of Blue Ribbon Texas Wine: Order Now and Create a DIY Wine Garden at Home"Jason Hisaw: Texas Wine AmbassadorInterview: Jason Hisaw Jason's 6/2020 Dallas Morning News BBQ Article "6 Texas wines to drink with barbecue" 2020 TDA appointment as Texas wine ambassador 2019 Texas Wine Lover Profile Also mentioned in the interview:Tootsie at Snow's BBQChef's Table BBQ on NetflixLone Star International Wine Competition Deep Dive: Vermentino Michelle Williams on Forbes.com: "Six Reasons To Fall In Love With Vermentino" Wine Folly: Vermentino Lauren Mowery of Wine Enthusiast: "Fan of Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio? It’s Time to Give Vermentino a Try" Pedernales VermentinoThe Austin Winery Vermentino What I'm Drinking Duchman Family Winery Vermentino Shelly's Wine Education Website:www.toastwinetalk.com Thanks to Texas Wine Lover for promotional help. For the latest information on Texas wineries and vineyards, visit Texas Wine Lover!

Connect with the Podcast:Facebook: @texaswinepodInstagram: @texaswinepodTwitter: @texaswinepodEmail: texaswinepod@gmail.comHelp the Show:Listen and Subscribe in Apple PodcastsListen and Subscribe in Google PodcastsListen via web browserSubscribe to the newsletter to get the downloadable guide to my top 10 Texas wine experiences during quarantine.Mentioned in this EpisodeTexas Wine In the News"H-E-B Is A Texas Titan"Tablas Creek BlogThe Taste With Doug Shafer Podcast featuring Kim McPhersonTexas Wine 101: Shopping for your First Case of Texas WineToday I’m going to talk you through what you need to know to get started learning about and drinking The Lone Star State’s greatest fermented fruit juice. That’s right, I’m talking about Texas wine.If you’re not already drinking Texas wine, what are you waiting for? So you’re not an early adopter. That’s OK. You’re here now, and that’s what matters. This episode is for all of you who are ready to explore Texas wine but are not quite sure where to start.Texas isn’t new to grape growing or winemaking. In fact, the first grapes were grown in Texas in the 1600’s by Spanish missionaries. We’ve had our ups and downs over a couple centuries, not to mention the nationwide catastrophe of Prohibition, but things started looking up for Texas wine in the 1980’s. The number of wineries expanded, and the wine started flowing.Remember it wasn’t until 1976 that the judgment in Paris happened when it became OK to even drink California wine. Before that France was the end all and be all. As I shared in my last podcast, many Californians and wine connoisseurs who had heard about Texas wines called them disparaging names like “Chateau Bubba” or “Cactus Blanc.”Here we are in 2020. Texas wine is a whole new ballgame. The spirit of experimentation is alive and well here. Texas isn’t just making the wines your parents drank, although sure, there are some of those too. You’ll find a bit of everything in Texas, from the most traditional grape varieties made in time honored ways to some more lesser known grape varieties, ancient winemaking techniques that are making a comeback. Behind every bottle, or can or keg, there’s a great story about hardworking Texans who farm the land and make great wine.There is a growing sense of pride in Texas grown, Texas made products and Texas wine is no different. Isn’t it about time Texas wineries had as much support as iconic Texas products as Whataburger, Bucee’s, Dr Pepper and Shiner Bock. That’s one reason I’ve been using the hashtag #texansdrinktexas.Today I want to give you some pointers about how to experience Texas wine for the first time, or the first time in a long time.But first, here are 5 things that I don’t recommend:Trying Texas wine once in 1997 and deciding it’s not for you and never trying it again.Trying texas wine in 105 degree weather out of a plastic shot glass at a festival and deciding it’s not for you and never trying it again.Mistakenly believing that a generic California wine is a status symbol.Being crazy about craft beer but not giving texas wine its due.Being all about natural wine but not considering texas’ natural wine producers. and even the more conventional producers that are using low-impact styles. This is a topic that could take up an entire podcast episode, but just know that the growers and wineries that are responsibly farming grapes in Texas are doing so with a lot of care for the end product and for the environment.Sadly, In the COVID-19 era, the places where you might encounter Texas wines are dwindling in number. Festivals are canceled, and we aren’t spending time in bars. Even wine tasting at wineries is on hold for the moment. Still restaurants are open, we still have to shop for groceries, and thank goodness, internet shopping is still a thing. We can experience Texas wines in all of these places, so let’s talk about each one.Then I’ll finish by introducing my Texas Wine starter case, a shopping guide that will fill your shelves with a nice variety of Texas wine.In a restaurant:Whenever you see a Texas wines on a restaurant wine list, I highly recommend that you order it. Not only do you get to try a Texas wine, but your purchase signals to the restaurant that there’s a market for Texas wines on the list.Since you’re attempting to drink more Texas wine, why not look for a restaurant that’s been recognized as having a great Texas wine list? look no further than the restaurants that have been named Texas Wine Champions by the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas Wine Ambassador Jason Hisaw. Jason works for a wine distribution company but has also been given authority by the Department of Agriculture to award restaurants that are great supporters of texas wine with this designation. You can find the list of restaurants by following Jason’s Instagram account: @txwineambassador. He travels the state and gives out these awards to deserving restaurants that have Texas wines by the glass and by the bottle.Finally, if a restaurant that you visit frequently DOESN’T have Texas wine on the list, ask for it! Restaurant owners have no reason to change up their list unless they ask. Ask them in person, and then ask them again on social media.In a wine shop or grocery store:Do you know which wine shop near you has the best selection of Texas wines? Make it your mission to find out! Don’t be afraid to talk to the salesperson. Maybe the shop will offer tastings or classes on Texas wine or let you know when a new wine comes in. Not only that, find out which sales person is the biggest fan of Texas wine, and get to know that person. Expect to get some great wine recommendations once you’ve established a relationship.Don’t limit yourself to the most familiar international varieties like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir. Although these can be great in Texas, some of our best wines are made from less common grapes such as Mourvèdre, Tannat, Montepulciano, Tinto Cao, Cinsault, or Picpoul Blanc.You’ll also run across wines with fantasy names such as Skeleton Key or Junkyard Red. It might not be clear what’s inside. Hopefully a staff member can help make recommendations if these grapes or brands are unfamiliar to you.One word of caution: Be aware that wine shops and grocery stores have started importing wine from Mexico. Quite good wine in fact. One popular brand is Casa Madero which is the oldest winery in the Americas. But it’s often displayed with the Texas wine. Don’t pick it up by accident!In the winery:As you probably know, there are A LOT of texas wines that aren’t sold in the grocery store, and you won’t find them on a restaurant wine list. Instead, they’re sold in tasting rooms or through mailing lists. These are probably the wineries that have had the toughest time this year since tasting rooms have been shut down. It is estimated that 95% of Texas wine is sold through the tasting room, so you can imagine the impact of the shutdown has had on these wineries. It’s really a shame, because there’s no better place to learn about Texas wine than to go straight to the source.That leads me to how we can best support Texas wineries. The answer is simple, buy wine from them. Yep, The absolute best way to support Texas wineries is to buy wines directly from wineries. When you buy curbside or online, the wineries are making more money than when the wines enter the distribution channel and get sent to retail locations.So since you’re committing to learning more about Texas wine, I want you to go visit the 5 tasting rooms that are closest to where you live - as soon as you can safely do so. Try their wines and learn their history. And while you’re at it, inquire about the wine club and any upcoming events on the calendar.Not every winery has a wine club. Some are selling to an email list or they’re just dependent on whoever walks through the doors of a tasting room. But if a winery offers a wine club, that’s a great way to support them. They count on your consistent support from season to season. When you sign up, you’re guaranteeing that you’ll stay a club member for a least a couple shipments.The best way you can find out which wineries are closest to you is to visit the Texas Wine Lover website at txwinelover.com and click on winery map.Your challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to go shopping and fill a case with Texas wine as suggested in the graphics that are posted to Instagram and Facebook. I’m calling it the Texas Starter Case.Basically, it’s an empty case box with labels for what Texas wines you need to buy to fill the box. If you drink the assigned wines, I feel like you’ll have a good sense for what Texas wine is all about. As we’ve discussed already, you can get these wines through retail channels, or better yet, directly from a winery.My Texas wine shopping list includes 3 slots for white wines: I’m suggesting a Viognier, a white blend, and a wildcard.You’ve 3 slots for rose. One of those might be a pet-nat. Now these are going to be hard to find at a grocery store. I think most Texas rose gets sold out of the tasting room because it’s so popular. But do yourself a favor and seek it out, because I think rose is one of the wines Texas does best. And if you can’t find a pèt-nat or another bottle of sparkling wine, substitute a canned rose! There are several on the market, and I even drank one on the last podcast.Finally, the other half the case is dedicated to red wine. I’ve included many of our state’s favorite grape varieties here, as well as another wildcard slot, this time for a red wine.When you’re looking for suggestions of which wines to try, you might want to do some research before heading out to the store or placing that online order. Ask your friends and family. Log on to the Texas Wine Lover website and look to see which wines have won awards. Of course I’m partial to the wines that have won at TEXSOM International Wine Awards because that’s the competition where I volunteer, and it’s definitely a tough competition to medal in, but you know when a wine wins there that it’s been carefully considered by a stellar panel of top notch judges and is really a special wine. The Texas Wine Lover site always shares results from the TEXSOM competition, from the San Francisco competitions and others, so you can go to txwinelover.com and find the results to see which wines have won.Click here for Texas Wine Lover coverage of Texas wine results in recent competitionsI’ll mention a few of my favorite wines that may be good choices for your starter pack:Viognier: Brennan Vineyards ViognierWhite blend: Llano Estacado 1836 White - This wine won the Judge’s Selection medal for best white in Texas at the 2020 TEXSOM IWA.White Wildcard: McPherson Cellars Picpoul BlancRosé: Lewis WinesPèt Nat: You’ll likely have to order a pèt-nat or pick it up directly from a winery, but there are a lot of good options available.Tempranillo: so many Texas wineries make Tempranillo that you won’t have any trouble at all finding one!Red Wildcard: Lost Draw Cellars Sangiovese- This wine won the Judge’s Selection medal for best red in Texas at the 2020 TEXSOM IWA.Tannat: Bending Branch WineryMourvèdre: William Chris VineyardsRed Blend: Reddy Vineyards Field BlendMore Rosé Recommendations from my recent interview:"Try These 5 Texas Rosés This Summer"Education & What I'm DrinkingSouthold PiquetteQuick update since recording the episode: Regan says that they use  a mix of red and white grapes in the pomace. They add no So2, just a very small mixture of yeast and sugar for canning. That's what gives the piquette its fizz. There you have it! The Austin Winery make piquette too!"Getting to Know Piquette, A Wine Adjacent Spritzer""What is Piquette? Meet Wine’s Easy-Drinking, Low-alcohol Style"

As lockdowns are enforced from Naples to New York and restaurants put up “closed until further notice” signs, how is this affecting the sommeliers? How are thousands of men and women spending their time, now they are not pouring wine for customers? In Episode 3, we talk to James Tidwell of Texsom, co-head of the world's biggest annual gathering of somms; Ronan Rayburn MS who, after working with Gordon Ramsay, launched 67 Pall Mall and almost instantly made it the HQ of the London wine trade; and Joe Fattorini, on-trade consultant and presenter, The Wine Show.

Interviews with Rajat Parr and Drew Hendricks on how they each found their unique niche in the wine industry.

Wine Road Episode 63 - Love at the Apple Fair In this episode Beth and Marcy have special guest Tracy Dutton on the show. She and the ladies talk about all that Dutton Estate Winery has to offer while sipping on the 2016 Kyndall’s Reserve Chardonnay. Tracy shares how she found love at the Gravenstein Apple Fair. Marcy gives us the Book and Item of the Day while passively bragging about her trip to Texsom. Tickets are on sale now for Wine and Food Affair and check-in locations are selling out!  Wine Road provides the Wine, When and Where of Northern Sonoma County with news on events, wineries, wines, dining options, activities, and places to stay. Show Notes:   0:25 Tracy Dutton - Dutton Estate Winery President & Co-owner   1:00 Wine of the Day - 2016 Kyndall’s Reserve Chardonnay   2:45 Custom Crush   3:20 Hard Apple Cider   4:45 Direct to Consumer   6:35 Visit Dutton Estate 10:47 Gravenstein Apple Fair 12:45 Kozlowski Farms 15:10 Book of the Day - Napa at Last Light by James Conaway  16:25 Item of the Day - GoVino 17:30 Texsom 2018 19:10 Wine and Food Affair tickets 19:25 Email beth@wineroad Links: Dutton Estate Winery Gravenstein Apple Fair Kozlowski Farm Sonoma County Parks Book of the Day - Napa at Last Light by James Conaway Item of the Day - govino Texsom Petaluma Gap AVA Lake County AVA WFA Tickets Credits: The Wine Road podcast is mixed and mastered at Threshold Studios Sebastopol, CA. 

Julia Dixon gives us her recap of Texsom, the Sommelier conference that wrapped up last week, from the volunteer's perspective. She talks about some of the seminars that made an impression as well as some special wines tasted off-program. She reads her wine description that won the Guildsom Social Media contest for "Best Tasting Note." Plus, she has many other projects coming down the pike in the next couple months!On the second half of the show, Jeremy Wilson talks about the TX Wine Lover web page and how it serves to present tons of information and to advocate for the TX wine industry. There are interactive maps of wineries and vineyards as well as one of the best blogs in the industry and podcast. Jeremy is a great advocate for TX wine!

James Tidwell is the Beverage Director of the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Irving, Texas, and also a cofounder of the TEXSOM wine conference.

Mark Sayre is the Wine Director of TRIO Restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas. Also in this episode, Erin Scala talks about how what preserves wine can also become a part of what we desire wine to be.