Craft Beer, Fine Wine, Artisan Spirits, and Mouthgasmic Food.

Monday, November 2, 2015

Update your Texas Wine Education

Whatever you thought about Texas wine, let’s update those thoughts. I recently went on a media trip out to Spicewood Vineyards where I got to see some familiar faces and meet some new ones too. Spicewood Vineyards, Fall Creek Vineyards, Stone House Vineyards, and Inwood Estates Vineyards treated us to a beautiful fall evening of wine, bites, and education with friends.

Welcome to the fine world of Texas Wine. 

After arriving at a beautiful swath of Texas Hill Country, we enjoyed some wine straight from the barrel to bid farewell to the sun. Our wine tasting and education started with and introduction to the history of wine in Texas and the nation. Over the last 20 years, technology in irrigation, advancement in industry knowledge, and the influx of seasoned winemaker in Texas moving Texas wines forward.
Ron Yates gives us a short lesson on growing grapes.
 

One of the big themes of the evening was quality over quantity. This is not a new concept as this phrase is repeated in many industries that pride themselves on pouring their passion into their products. However, the importance of quality over quantity isn’t pervasive across all parts of the the Texas wine industry yet, particularly in the consumers. The more phenolic concentration in the grapes, the lower the yield, and the higher the price for a great bottle. However, that wine is going to be an exemplar of quality over quantity.

Susan Auler pouring some sips. 

Dan Gatlin feels so strongly about quality over quantity, that he offers an superflight experience at Inwood Estates. During the 2011 drought, Dan sacrificed allowed only 0.29 tons of grapes per acre to develop (9% of typical yield). This produced a harvest that was exceptionally high in concentration and phenolic development which produced a premium quality wine. For just $45 per person, you can taste a flight of these wines against their Spanish counterparts, Numanthia, from  side by side.

A big thank you to Susan Auler and Sergio Cuadra of Fall Creek Vineyards, Dan Gatlin of Inwood Estates Vineyards, Ron Yates of Spicewood Vineyards, and Gina Ross of Stonehouse Vineyard! It was a great way to to further my Texas wine education. 


This is baby Syrah. Oh, you're so young and cute!


Barrels of wine are much more fun than a barrel of monkeys!


Sergio pouring some tastes in the cellar. 


And the vineyard mascot.