by Andrew Chalk
It is a mid-July evening and I am in Bryan, Texas where I have just arrived at Messina Hof Winery. The temperature is a ‘balmy’ 92⁰ and I am here for their Moonlight Harvest, an event where I will be picking grapes, followed by stomping them and then, this having bonded the 40 or so participants, finishing with a dinner. Continue reading
Filed under Andrew Chalk, Wine
by Andrew Chalk
This week Andrew Chalk takes in an interview with the winemaker at Messina Hof, a Texas vineyard established in 1977 by Paul and Merrill Bonarrigo, which is rooted in the union of two family heritages. Winemaker Paul Bonarrigo’s family dates back seven generations to Messina, Sicily. Merrill’s family is from Hof, Germany. Jump for the video. Continue reading
Filed under Andrew Chalk, Wine
by Andrew Chalk
Palm Bay Imports brought Raimund Prüm, owner and wine maker of S.A. Prum through town this week and I had the honor of interviewing him at Oceanaire. As well as speaking better English than me he also showed his deep commitment to the integrity of the wine from his native Mosel region of Germany, home of some of the best Riesling in the world.
Jump for Andrew’s video interview with the winemaker. Continue reading
Filed under Andrew Chalk, Wine
by Andrew Chalk
You may recall that Crave conducted MoAT1 (the Mother of All Tastings No. 1) just a month ago where we pitted 16 Texas wines from the Viognier grape against two known stars from California and a French example. Texas took the top six spots, confirming an improvement in quality that I have seen happening over several years. Now comes news that TXWineLover blog, one of the best blogs about Texas wine, has conducted a similarly comprehensive tasting, but this time of wines from the Roussanne grape from Texas. Roussanne is a good choice. It has also been steadily improving and is also a wine grape originating from the southern Rhône region of France. Continue reading
Filed under Andrew Chalk, Wine
by Steven Doyle
Kay Agnew, Chef Joel Harloff, and Oak Cliff Cellar’s JR Richardson are hosting a “Dali Remembered” wine dinner at Bridge Bistro Wednesday July 17, 2013. Dali was the wonderful wine bistro located in One Arts Plaza where The Greek now resides. Dali was considered the local Cheers outpost for wine geeks.
Harloff, who is midst retooling Ocho Kitchen and Bar into a new version of Mi Piachi will throw down a wonderful menu that we list below, all paired with Oak Cliff Cellars. Call 214-740-1985 for reservations. Seats are $75 per person. Continue reading
Filed under Steven Doyle, Wine
by Andrew Chalk
Our new green press release machine is powered by recycled root vegetables. Today we are using carrots. It brings news that Bijoux is holding one of their all too rare wine dinners. These always seem to sell out, mainly on account of Scott and Gina Gottlich’s gracious hospitality and superior food.
Plus they have Beat Kotoun, one of the most experienced wine representatives in town and the only one with a pony tail. He is bringing Cakebread Cellars wines, of which the Sauvignon Blanc with the goat cheese is an enlightened combination.
Filed under Andrew Chalk, Wine
by Andrew Chalk
Après moi le fromage! Sigel’s has a Bastille Day sale with 20% off all French wines. They even have a special deal of only $25.59 on the Bila Haut ‘Occultum Lapidem’ (max. three bottles) believed to be the only wine named after part of the female reproductive system. The world’s most powerful wine critic, Robert Parker, let it pass his lips and was stimulated enough to give it a ‘classic’ rating.
Roll the biomass press release machine…. Continue reading
Filed under Andrew Chalk, Wine
by Kenny Kucwaj
Italian wines are some of the most misunderstood wines in the world . I think most of us cut our teeth on rot gut cheap Chianti’s that had more acid than the marinara sauce we were eating with the spaghetti and meatballs. Some of that jug wine ( by the way Ernest and Julio Gallo was from California) was better suited to peel paint .Although I experienced my first Italian wines from my friends Grandfathers basements in Brooklyn ,and I don’t remember Wine spectator reviewing those I do remember how great they were with Nonna’s ( Grandmother in Italian) homemade pasta. Continue reading
Filed under Kenny Kucwaj, Wine
