comments, reviews, information about Texas wineries, Texas wines

Evening of YOGA & WINE

$18/person or $30/couple
6:30 pm–A wonderful, full hour plus a wee bit more of an outstanding yoga class that will stretch each part of your body & soul.

7:30 pm–A terrific, refreshing glass of locally made Texas wine accompanied by a happy plate of cheese and fruit.

Reservations are encouraged so that the appropriate amount of food can be anticipated, but reservations are not required, so if moved by the spirit at the last minute, then come on down and join us! questions and so on, email [email protected]

Yoga & Wine, 2nd Thursday

Thursday, August 12th, 6:30 pm 

San Gabriel Wine Trail on June 19th, 2010

San Gabriel Wine Trail June 19th!

Summer Trail – June 19th, 2010

Winter Trail – January 29, 2011

 Enjoy visiting 3 Wineries: Georgetown Winery, Inwood Estates Winery in Florence and Salado Wine Seller

& 3 Wine Bars: Silver & Stone Restaurant, The Vineyard at Florence & Salado Swirl and Sip

Includes 3 Tastings at each location, souvenir wine glass, snacks and a gift to take home. Trail Price $ 35 per person

 The June 19th wine trail will have 3 start locations (Georgetown Winery, Inwood Estates Winery & Salado Wine Seller) and two times (The Trail times will be 11am-3pm will be the first trail time and 3pm-7pm will be the second.)

Only 150 tickets will be sold per time and with only 50 people starting per location which will help control overcrowding at the locations.

Buy tickets at http://www.sangabrielwinetrail.com/

Sensing Oak in Wines

OAK in WINES   Tuesday, Mar 2nd, 6:30 pm

What do you mean “aged in oak”?  Why oak?  How does that affect the flavor?  Do they age wine in mesquite?  Find out the answers to these questions and expand your understanding of wine.  Lecture and wine tasting.

This wine tasting class is at Salado Wine Seller (841 N. Main Street, 947-8011) and it will familiarize you with oak in wine and how it influences the wine.  $25 per person. Tuesday March 2nd 6:30-8:30pm  Please sign up through Temple Recreation Department.  (254)298-5690 

https://webtrac.ci.temple.tx.us/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/wbar02IRM.html?wbsi=ylMlbdfjpbkraAaj&tv=57949&xxguest=yes&xxstart=wbar0220.html&lang=CUSTM

Evening of Yoga & Wine

Join us for an Evening of Yoga & Wine at Salado Wine Seller ( 841 N. Main Street, 947-8011) on Wednesday Feb.10 at 6:30pm.  In celebration of February’s loving light, during this special event, we’ll focus on the heart chakra.  Yoga 6:30 -7:30, wine and refreshments 7:30 – 9 pm. $18 per person, $30 per couple.  Reservations, email [email protected].

Pick up a Texas Winery Passport

passport2Come by Salado Wine Seller and pick up a Texas Winery Passport and earn free gifts. Getting Rewards is fun and easy! Simply take your passport to the Texas wineries and follow the directions on the passport. We’ll be happy to stamp it as well. If you forget to ask us for a stamp, don’t worry, just take a look at your receipt and you’ll find our code on the bottom.

Some wineries have a display in their visitor area that will show their code. Once you get your four stamps, log on to www.gotexanwine.org. Click on PASSPORT REWARDS tab and enter the codes from your passport, fill out the forms and your free reward-item will be shipped to you. Keep collecting and filling out new passports to earn additional rewards. Filled passports can be collected and used to track your favorite Texas wines.

Black Friday Special

On Sale $34.95!!!

On Sale $34.95!!!

Only $34.95 at Salado Wine Seller on Friday, November 27th, 12 pm – 7 pm

Well, I’ve succombed to Black Friday Fever!  Salado Wine Seller will feature the Spiegelau Vino Grande Bordeaux 5-Piece Gift Set at the low price of $34.95.  That’s $10 off our normal price and $5 off the lowest price at Amazon.com.

These are a great gift for your favorite wine lover.  This is from the VINO GRANDE line, which according to Spiegelau is “the ‘intelligent’ glass for elegant and perfect wine drinking“.  These glasses are durable and dishwasher safe.  The set comes with 4 wineglasses and one decanter.

While supplies last! 

Don’t worry though, I’ve got plenty.  No need to camp out on my doorstep.  You can spend your morning at those crazy big box stores, or simply sleep in.  Have your turkey leftovers and then come by and purchase this bargain for a gift or for yourself.  While you’re here, sip and swirl some of the best Texas wines and enjoy a glass of wine on the porch in the afternoon sun. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

McPherson Wine Dinner at The Range Restaurant

Featured Wine

Featured Wine

You’re invited!  Come to the wine dinner with the folks from McPherson Wine Cellars on Friday, November 13 at The Range Restaurant.  Call (254) 947-3828 for reservations.

 According to McPherson’s website: 

Kim Mcpherson has made wines of exception quality in Texas and California for over 25 years.  After graduating from Texas Tech University, Kim completed the enology and viticulture program at UC Davis and worked in Napa Valley.  In 1979 Kim returned to Lubbock as a winemaker at Llan Estacado Winery, founded by his father, Dr. Clinton “Doc” McPherson, the pioneer of the modern Texas wine industry.  Kim was named winemaker at Cap Rock Winery in 1990 and in 2000 created McPherson Cellars to Honor his father. 

Kim and “Doc” were inducted in to the “Who’s Who in Food and Wine in Texas” in 1998.  Kim’s Texas wines have won over 400 medals in state, national, and international wine competitions including two Double Gold Medals at the prestigious San Francisco Wine Fair.  He continues to be an innovative and dynamic force in the Texas wine industry.  Kim produces only premium quality wines from grapes grown primarily on the Texas High Plains, including “Doc’s” Sagmor Vineyard and the Dell Valley in far West Texas.  Kim believes in “planting to the land” so his focus is on Rhone and Italian varietals and his dedication and skill show in McPherson Cellars wines.

 

McPherson Wine Dinner Menu

Shared plates of Cilantro Pesto Torta with Peach-Ancho Jam, Toasted Texas Pecans and Fresh Focaccia

Viognier

 

1st Course

Hook, Line and Sinker-Grilled Giant Texas Firecracker Shrimp with Crispy Glass Noodles over a “pool” Blue Caracao Sauce

Hook, Line & Sinker Blush

 

2nd Course

Baked Mexican Tortilla Soup

Sangiovese

 

3rd Course

Hickory Smoked and Ale Braised Beef Shortrib with Blue Corn Grits, Caramelized Texas Onions, Natuaral Jus and topped with Green Chile Gremolada

Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Dessert to Share per Couple

Texas sized Warm Dried Cranberry Tarts topped with Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream, Fresh Berry Sauce and Brandied Caramel

La Diosa Sangria

Brennan Vineyards–Winemaker Dinner

Brennan Vineyards 

Adelea’s On Main is excited to join forces with the Salado Wine Seller to present a night of fabulous food and wonderful wine pairings from Brennan Vineyards on October 14th at 6:30 p.m.  
 
This evening will be an educational event where each wine and food pairing will be explained and discussed.  Guests will arrive to passed hors d’oeuvres on the patio and a brief introduction to Brennan Vineyards.  Guests will then retire to their tables inside for a dining experience that includes a first course of a Bacon Wrapped Quail Salad, a second course of Filet Mignon and Roasted Salmon and a dessert course of Hazelnut Chocolate Mousse.  The cost for this reservation only evening will be $65 per person and $120 a couple.   This price includes your 4 course meal and the corresponding wine pairings, your wine educator, tax and gratuity.  Call us at 254.947.0018 to make your reservations soon as we only have 42 spots available for this event.

 

MENU

Passed Hors d’Oeuvres

Herbed Mushrooms and Gruyere in Puff Pastry

Tarragon Chicken Salad in Gougeres

Prosciutto and Herbed White Bean Puree on Crostini

Brennan Vineyards Viognier

First Course

Bacon Wrapped Quail atop Spinach with Gorgonzola Cheese, Dried Cranberries and crisp Bacon dressed in a tangy Red Wine Vinaigrette

Austin Street Red

Second Course

A duet of Filet Mignon with Mushroom Cabernet Sauce and Roasted Salmon topped with a Dill Beurre Blanc accompanied with Mashed Potatoes and Sauteed Spinach

Brennan Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Dessert Course

Hazelnut Chocolate Mousse in a Lace Pecan Basket

Austin Street Muscat Blanc

TV show featuring Salado Vineyard

KNCT crew films grape picking

KNCT crew films grape picking

This picture is Stephen & Mary Hanik (from Salado) being filmed by Christian Wohlfhart of KNCT TV.  Mr. Wolfhart produced a film about the Texas wineries called, “A Journey In Every Glass”.  We’re going to host a special public screening of the documentary on Saturday, September 5 at 7pm.

Christian spent a considerable amount of time documenting my vineyard this spring, and filming harvest.  Unlike other media who visit us, he even helped harvest!  He then followed the grapes on their journey to Red Caboose Winery.

This documentary was produced by a local PBS station, KNCT.  They explored the Central Texas’ wine industry via visits to area wineries.  While filming, they helped us pick chardonnay grapes.  This is the only time I remember the media actually getting involved and picking, so I hope the show is a great success!

The show will premiere at 7 pm on Tuesday, September1, 2009 and it is  entitled “A Journey In Every Glass” .   If you are in the Central Texas viewing area (Killeen, Temple, Waco) you can watch the program on KNCT TV.

This program will help promote the annual KNCT Wine Classic fundraiser in January, so I’m sure it will be played again.  Check your local listings!

First “Two-Sip Tele-Tasting” with Texas Wines

The following post is completely copied from the EATS Blog because we’re so excited to see some of our favorite wines do so well.  We carry Texas Hills Orange Muscato, Brennan Viognier, & McPherson Sangiovese.  Read on for Kim Pierce’s review…

The First “Two-Sip Tele-Tasting” with Texas Wines

The “Texas Two-Sip Tele-Tasting” put on by the Texas Department of Agriculture was so cool. Yup: TDA and cool in the same sentence.

Here’s how it worked. TDA sent 10 wines in nearly indestructible wrappers to a handful of people who write about wine. They were all tagged – 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, etc. – and labeled with the varietal.

Then at the designated time, we all signed on to a Webcast – where our tasting guides led us through each pairing.

Our guides were Devon Broglie (Best Sommelier at the 2006 Texsom Conference and a Whole Foods Market Southwest wine buyer) and Craig Collins (second in ’06 to Devon, oversees Central Texas sales team for Prestige Wine Cellars). I know both these guys through the Texas Sommelier Association and grape-picking at Guy Stout‘s Hill Country vineyard.  The varietals – viognier, sangiovese, Rhone reds, tempranillo and orange Muscat – were chosen because they thrive in Texas and point to the future of wine here.

The Texas wines were paired with comparable wines, and no one knew which was which. While all the Texans did well, the standouts were the viognier, tempranillo and orange muscat.

Brennan Vineyards Viognier 2008 ($19) vs. Australia’s Yalumba Eden Valley Viognier 2007 ($17.99):
I liked the Brenner better, for its bright, sweet-tart apricot, orange blossom, floral aromas that were, as Devon put it, “confirmed” in the fruit-forward flavor. The Yalumba was rounder, more honeyed and complex with a more pronounced gravelly mineral, a “classic viognier,” said Devon.

Llano Estacado Signature Melange 2007 ($11) vs. France’s La Vieille Ferme Rouge 2006 ($7.99):
I successfully identified the Texas blend (syrah, carignane, mourvedre, grenache and viognier) because of its stronger minerality, a characteristic I find in a lot of Texas wines. In the follow-up tasting notes, Devon and Craig wrote that the Llano is “softer and quicker to mature than most true Rhone growths.”

McPherson Sangiovese 2006 ($18) vs. Italy’s Badia Coltibuono Chianti Classico 2006 ($25):
Devon gravitated to the more rustic, iconic Old World wine. I couldn’t ID the McPherson, despite it being one of my favorite Texas wines with its bright, ripe cherry-strawberry-raspberry flavors. “This warm climate sangiovese is soft and mellow,” say the guys’ notes.

Inwood Estates Vineyards Cornelious 2007 ($39.50) vs. Spain’s Pesquera Tinto Ribera del Duero 2005 ($35):
Both guys loved Dan Gatlin’s unfiltered tempranillo, writing in their tasting notes that it’s “the new style of Spanish tempranillo which is often softer, with velvety tannins and more fruit forward. The result is rich, red-fruit character with dark cherry combined with leather, cigar-box, anise and silky tannins which are soft and approachable.” I just enjoyed both wines.

Texas Hills Vineyards Orange Moscato 2005 ($17.50) vs. Quady Electra Orange Muscat 2007 ($12.99):
The Texas wine showed heads and shoulders better than the Quady. The Texan was lyrical, sweet but balanced with bright acid, with aromas and flavors of orange zest, juicy peach and blood orange. Devon suggested pairing it with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream. By contrast, the Quady was viscous and cloying. No contest here. Now, where’s the Blue Bell?

Here’s the You Tube link to the Webcast: http://www.youtube.com/user/GoTexanWine. The hour-long video is broken up into five parts.