Vertrag – NV; Fredericksburg Winery; Fredericksburg, Texas

There’s a pleasant bouquet from a freshly opened bottle that helps prepare your pallet for a smooth tasting wine.  Made from a mixture of the sémillon and chardonnay, this golden- green toned wine is ideal for dinner or enjoying by itself. The crisp and slightly dry wine has a nice fruit balance and a very smooth body and finish.  It is an ideal dinner wine that will pair nicely with foul, ham, and fish.

www.fbgwinery.com

Bell Springs Winery – Dripping Springs, Texas

Located in the hill country of Texas, this new winery offers a selection of whites and some reds that have been made from grapes from different regions of the world.  Made in small batches, each wine has its own distinct taste that’s worth sipping on their country side porch. There are currently seven wines to taste with both dry and sweet varieties represented.  On a beautiful sunny afternoon, you can also enjoy your purchase while listening to live music performed on the deck while enjoying a small snack or just relax in one of the ample rockers set out for your enjoyment.  Check this one out on your next drive out to the hill country and you won’t be disappointed.

http://www.bellspringswinery.com/

Muscadine Blush – NV; Emerald Coast Wine Cellar; Destin, Florida

Are you feeling the bitter cold of winter settling in already?  Then this wine will help put your mind back in a warm summer beach mood.  This semi-sweet Muscadine wine is quite tasty and smooth.  The warm golden hued goodness possesses a wonderful fruit forward Muscadine flavor that does not overwhelm or overpower your taste buds. There are also subtle hints of citrus that help round out and balance this sweet wine. This one can be served after dinner and enjoyed as dessert.

http://www.emeraldcoastwinecellars.com/

Late Harvest Riesling – 2005; Bell Mountain Vineyards; Fredericksburg, Texas

It looks like a Riesling, smells like a Riesling, and taste like a Riesling!  This Riesling is produced in the Rhine Valley style with about 5% residual sugar. The citrus and apricot aromas are aromatically pleasing.  Not only is this a Texas made wine, but made from Texas grown Riesling grapes to boot! The color is a beautiful buttery shade and the taste has the depth and full body appeal of a good Riesling. No need to travel to Europe to find fine white wine…this is a true Texas winner!



http://www.bellmountainwine.com/

Yepez Vineyard – Baytown, Texas

This vineyard is relatively new to the Texas wine industry and is in the early stages of establishing itself as a well known Blanc de Bois and Black Spanish vineyard. They have a good selection of traditional red and white wines, but their sweet wines, especially the Honey Wine and Sweet... Blanc de Bois Reserve, are a must have for your wine cellar. The Sweet Blanc de Bois Reserve has a subtle almond flavor that does not overpower while the Honey Wine has a rich honey color and aroma. The Honey Wine is a unique offering that pairs nicely with fresh fruit and cheese. Well worth having in your wine cellar for holiday entertaining.

http://www.yepezvineyard.com/



Pinot Noir – 2005; Homestead Winery; Ivanhoe, Texas

This wine has a nice fruit forward taste with a peppery and lingering tannin flavor that should be shared with the family for a holiday feast. It has a bold taste, but doesn’t over power the turkey or ham at your holiday meal. It is suitable paired with food or enjo...yed alone.

http://www.homesteadwinery.com/

Fredericksburg Winery – Fredericksburg, Texas

Fredericksburg Winery located in downtown Fredericksburg offers an extensive collection of Texas sourced wines.  They take pride in making wines old fashioned way.  This family owned and operated winery boasts many dry and sweet wines, as well as a holiday spiced red wine following in the Gluhwein tradition.  Nothing beats their holiday spiced wine served warm on a cool and crisp fall or winter day and during the holidays. Talk about a cup of Christmas cheer indeed! They offer a generous free sample of six wines per person and their friendly staff are eager to answer your questions about wine making and their wines.

http://www.fbgwinery.com/

Grape Creek Vineyards – Fredericksburg, Texas

Grape Creek Winery has been producing wines in the Texas Hill Country since the late 80’s and is turning out some wonderful blends with 100 medals in the last two years. They offer a large selection of both whites and reds, made from Texas and New Mexico sourced fruit. If y...ou enjoy red blends with Cabernet, Sangiovese, Malbec, and Syrah that are well balanced and slightly spicey and full bodied, belly up to the tasting room bar and sample their red selection, which has many award winning options available. Their tasting room is spacious, offering food and many gift giving options, and their outside patio faces the vineyard and is well shaded from the hot Texas sun by some lovely large trees. This is a stop worth making and taking the time to sit and enjoy a glass with friends and family as you begin to unwind and leave your cares and worries behind. Tastings cost $10 for six samples and you get a souvenir glass too!

http://www.grapecreek.com/

Bell Mountain Vineyards - Fredericksburg, Texas

Bell Mountain Winery has a wide range of unique wines produced from locally sourced Texas grapes, from dry Riesling, made in a more traditional European style to sweeter Cabernet Rose and fruity styles like their Raspberry and Peach. Incidentally, the Peach really does exu...de a fresh, ripe Peach aroma, making you think you have a cupful of fresh fruit in the glass. As one of the first wine growing appellation of Texas, this winery has something for everyone. For $2 you can taste all the wines you’re interested in sampling and if you make a purchase, your tasting is free.

http://www.bellmountainwine.com/

Muscadine Wine – NV; Rosemary's Vineyard and Winery; La Grange, Texas

Made from the red muscadine grape, this wine has a light and sweet flavor that’s quite nice. It is a delightful wine that is a very fruit forward and full flavored allowing the muscadine characteristics to shine. It’s wonderful for fall dishes and desserts, or to enjoy just by itself.

wines-made-in-texas.com

Salado Creek Winery – Salado, Texas

Despite the biblical floods from tropical storm Hermine, you can still sip some fine tasting wines at this newly relocated winery.  If you’re an LSU football fan, you’ll also be in good company with the owners.  No matter what your college football colors are, you can find the right white or red wine to fit your game mode. This winery offers the gamut from whites like Chardonnay and Riesling to award winning reds like Petit Verdot and the full bodied Lagrein. A number of assorted fruit and port varieties are also available. Luckily the hours are conducive to allow one to spend a while sipping and enjoying live music on the weekends until 10pm. So, if you’re wondering what to do after the shops all close and you’ve finished your evening meal, head over to see what’s going on and enjoy the atmosphere, company and wines as you ponder when the next Salado flood may occur. Hopefully, none too soon!

http://www.saladoswirlandsip.com/

Georgetown Winery – Georgetown, Texas

Located in the downtown square, this winery has a nice selection of reds and fruit wines that will make any afternoon a wine sipping day. Wine is available by the glass to enjoy inside when it’s blistering hot outside or outside when you have time to linger at the bistro table and enjoy a nice cool breeze on a sunny day.  Either way, you should enjoy this spot for a good selection of red wines.  Live music can also be enjoyed some evenings along with plates of delectable snacks that pair nicely with your drink. If you stop by on the first Friday night of the month, you will also be able to enjoy this spot and other shops on the downtown square that stay open later for your enjoyment.

www.georgetownwinery.com

Schrock – 2006; Bernhardt Winery, Plantersville, Texas

This aromatically pleasant white wine is quite refreshing. This is a moderately sweet wine that is smooth, clean and slightly creamy. The light honey hued wine with a hint of fruitiness makes a wonderful sipping wine to be enjoyed catching up with friends, or paired... with slightly spicy or sweet dishes.

http://www.bernhardtwinery.com/

Rosato di Sangiovese – 2002; Alamosa Wine Cellars; Bend, Texas

This aged Rosé pairs well with any fish or stir fry meal. There is a subtle hint of spiciness to this slightly sweet wine, but not so much that it overpowers your senses. Thankfully, this Rosé isn’t overly sweet or too light, nor is it too bold. With a lovel...y deep plum/rose tint, to its unfiltered state, it is simply, a wonderful wine for this time of the year. Enjoy!

http://www.alamosawinecellars.com/

Solaro Estate Winery – Dripping Springs, Texas

One of the newest boutique wineries to open in Texas is making some high quality robust reds that will make you want to come back for seconds and thirds. Winemaking can be both an art and a science and this winemaker has done a superb job balancing both skills. This winery ...is dedicated to creating pure Texas pleasure via the grape with mostly 100% Texas sourced grapes from single sourced vineyards. Over half of their wines use Texas sourced grapes, making this winery a must visit for those truly passionate about more locally and Texas sourced products and wines. Their current lineup is all about the reds, with every one well worth sipping and enjoying. They cater to dry reds and are doing a fantastic job producing them, with Rieslings and Muscat soon to follow later this fall or early winter. The tasting room is a delightful spot with floor and ceiling windows allowing visitors to soak up some beautiful Texas hill country scenery of distant rolling hills amid the foreground of grapevines, while savoring the fruits of the harvest.

http://www.solaroestate.com/

Strawberry – NV; Lehm Berg Winery; Giddings, Texas

Made from Texas-grown strawberries, this wine is a very flavorful, crisp “fruity” strawberry wine. It has just the right sweetness to compliment almost any Texas meal or serve as dessert. Sadly, this winery unfortunately closed early last year. The owner made this an...d other great wines using German style methods passed down through their family. This was one of our most unique and fun winery visits, as our stop allowed us to personally visit with the elder husband and wife team that once had this establishment. Unfortunately, the wife has since passed away and the winery has closed, but we will never forget our delightful visit with them, their hospitality and the love they put into their products. You may still be able to buy some remaining stock from the Retreat Hill Winery near Navasota, Texas. We will miss this one.

www.lehmbergwinery.com

Gervasi Vineyard – Canton, Ohio

Located just outside on the east side of Canton, is an upscale Italian themed winery and vineyard.  The bistro is located inside a restored barn of the 1800’s. The grounds are set back from the road, with the large winery and bistro facing a small lake. The two story building has a downstairs outdoor patio with fire pits, as well as various chairs sitting under the trees down by the lake to allow visitors to linger with their wines while enjoying the beauty of the season. The look and feel of the inside of the barn sets a pleasant mood from their wine tasting selection.  Though the wines are not 100% Ohio grape varietals, many are in the Italian style, with dry deep reds, and well balanced whites. The experience is upscale, yet approachable and welcoming; with very warm service and excellent wines, the menu offers ample opportunity to find something to complement your wine selection or tasting. Don’t forget to stop by the marketplace before leaving to explore their seasonal selections and food offerings worth tucking into gift baskets.

www.gervasivineyard.com

Merlot – 2002; Spicewood Vineyards; Spicewood, Texas

This dry and bold merlot has just a hint of raspberry flavor to it. Leathery and subtle tobacco notes enhance the richness of this deep red worth savoring with a meal or alone.

http://www.spicewoodvineyards.com/

Sarah's Vineyard - Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Nestled in the Cuyahoga National Park, Sarah’s Vineyards makes for a nice stop while traveling over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house.  The winery is roughly three years old, producing some 100% pure Ohio grape varietal wines, along with some California blends. Some good tasting wines made from the Niagara grapes grown in Ohio near Lake Erie are on the menu. The wines complement the natural scenery and history of the Cuyahoga Valley. As luck would have it, the winery is also home to various art mediums both indoors and out, with many for sale. The outdoor garden should also not be missed, and there is ample outdoor seating in front by the garden or off the back patio deck where better views of the vines and the surrounding forest can be taken in with your wine tasting. Stop by Wednesday or Thursday nights and enjoy fire roasted pizzas on either patio or inside the spacious interior of the lovely barn-style winery.

http://www.sarahsvineyardwinery.com/

Syrah-Cabernet 2004; Texas Hills Vineyard; Johnson City, Texas

This Syrah-Cabernet blend (75/25) is suitable for just about any occasion.  First taste impressions are bold with a bit of a pepper taste and a smooth finish. There is also a hint of leathery taste to this full bodied semi-dry red wine that is satisfying to the palate. This is a great wine to enjoy with dinner or by itself.

http://www.texashillsvineyard.com/

Haak Winery – Santa Fe, Texas

Nestled along the Texas gulf coast in Galveston County, is a winery that has some great tasting Blanc du Bois and sweet red blush wines. This winery has been in business for some time and is often very lively on the weekends with events frequently scheduled on their back patio, which often include live music and an opportunity to enjoy the entertainment while meeting other wine enthusiasts. There is a generous sampling of wine related gifts and food pairing options available in their gift shop and a growing list of wines offered on their menu. Though there are both dry and sweet wines available, we found the sweets to be more of their specialty. Dessert wines are also available and should not be missed.

http://www.haakwine.com/

Texas Star Winery – Richards, Texas

Tucked away along the western edge of the Sam Houston National Forest is one of the more unique new wineries in Texas. They feature a Prickly Pear Cactus Wine. Yes, that’s right! After all, the prickly pear is the official cactus of Texas so why not make a wine from it? In addition, they also make a Hibiscus Flower Wine. If you are already a Hibiscus tea fan, then this wine shouldn’t be that unusual for you. Don’t expect to find a chardonnay or cabernet here, but do expect to find some specialty wines that are a unique reflection of Texas and the creative spirit of the owner. In about a year, they will be releasing a cranberry wine which should be worth making another trip to taste.

http://www.texasstarwinery.com/

Muscato Blanco – 2005; Flat Creek Estate Vineyard; Marble Falls, Texas

A touch of pear and citrus notes are the first noticeable flavors of this crisp and tasty semi-sweet wine. The sweetness permeates the palate in this very fruit forward selection. It is wonderful served chilled on a warm day and pairs nicely with light summer desserts. This wine also makes a nice dessert on its own.

http://www.flatcreekestate.com/

Chardonnay – 2005; Sister Creek Vineyards; Sisterdale, Texas

It’s hotter than the realm of Hades outside! What better way to beat the heat than with a nice chilled Chardonnay? Sister Creek’s Chardonnay is a smooth, golden buttery glass of goodness. This evenly balanced, mellow, toasty white wine is quite refreshing ...and we highly recommend enjoying the entire bottle when opened! It’s already aged eight months in oak, so why let it age in the refrigerator overnight after opening? Drink it!

http://www.sistercreekvineyards.com/

Bending Branch Estate Vineyard; Comfort, Texas

A new boutique winery in the Texas Hill Country offers a unique selection of wines not typically found in other Texas wineries. This small family owned and operated vineyard and winery focuses on the Tannat grape, which is a bold, red/black variety. They have crafted a great red wine from this grape that will please Texas red wine lovers. Their Cabernet Sauvignon is flavorful and wonderfully pleasing to both cab and non-cab fans. Two white wines compliment the reds --- a Viognier and a Roussanne. Though the winery is just opening its doors to consumers, they have already started collecting awards at this year’s Lone Star International Wine Competition. Though their selection is limited for now, they plan to introduce their reserve line of additional varietals in September 2010. Their great tasting wines will have many first time visitors longing for a return stop on future Hill Country trips.

http://www.bendingbranchwinery.com/

Ironhorse Red – 2005; Pillar Bluffs Vineyard; Lampasas, Texas

This Cabernet/Merlot blend (50/50) should suit both cab and merlot fans and pairs nicely with any good hearty meat or pasta feast. It is not too dry or too mellow and your initial taste impressions will perceive a medium bodied red wine. Savor this one, as Pillar Bluff may... not currently be making this one, but they do offer many other reds and whites worth trying.

http://www.pillarbluff.com/

Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – 2004, Becker Vineyards, Stonewall, Texas

A favorite among many Texas wine lovers, Becker Vineyards offers a variety of wines that suit most pallets. Our inaugural tasting for “Wine of the Moment” is a smooth, blood red wine that can stand up to a steak just fine. This bottle is initially fruit forward, opening into a leathery rich tannin and full-bodied flavor. Robust and bold, this wine is one worth trying and one we recommend as our wine of the moment.

http://www.beckervineyards.com/

Decisions...decisions....

Which wine will be posted first? Red, White, Blush, or some mix thereof? Only Dionysus (ancient Greek god of wine) may know.