Chardonnay – NV; Pleasant Hill Winery; Brenham, Texas

With a slight buttery taste and a classic golden color, savor this one quickly to enjoy the most of what it has to offer.  There is no noticeable oak flavor with this Chardonnay, but it does have a slightly tart green apple note and a hint of toasted pecan.  Serve it chilled and enjoy with your favorite spiced up dish.  It pairs well with some good old shrimp etouffee and gumbo.

www.pleasanthillwinery.com

Sister Creek Vineyards – Sisterdale, Texas

Since 1998, Sister Creek Vineyards has been perfecting the art of Bordeaux and Burgundy style wines in Texas.  Here, you’ll find some of the best red blends in the state.  You’ll likely exhaust your wine tasting vocabulary as you describe the sensation of each wine during your tasting session.  Yes, they are that good!  Don’t be embarrassed if you want to go for round two of a tasting session.  Sometimes your palate just needs some more time discerning all of the notes in a wine. The tasting room is located in a restored 1885 Cotton Gin.  The building just happens to also be a fantastic place to make and store wine.  On occasion, you might find some of their older vintages for sale, by the register. Grab as many as you can!  They are worth every penny!!  Their wines make great additions to family gatherings, weddings and any celebrations. Trust us, it will be a hit and your guests will enjoy themselves knowing you took great care to choose something this good for the occasion!

http://www.sistercreekvineyards.com/

Singing Water Vineyards – Comfort, Texas

Just south of the historic district of Comfort, is a place that specializes in good award winning red wines. Owners, Dick & Julie Holmberg, found this property in the early 1990’s and by the late 1990’s began planting their own vineyards. After selling grapes to a number of wineries, they decided to try crafting their own wines. Next thing you know, they’ve made a name for themselves. They’ve traveled to some major wine regions and brought some of the best of what they’ve found to their vineyard. Their Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Texas Reserve, Freedom and especially the Sweet Lupe are some of the noteworthy wines that you’ll want to sample and add to your collection. The winery location sits back in the country in a lovely little valley on some very scenic grounds. The tasting room and winery porch overlook the creek. Wine lovers can just sit back and enjoy their piece of Hill Country paradise along with a good glass of their wine. We highly recommend making this your last stop of the day so you can enjoy a glass of wine and a lovely sunset as you make yourself comfortable on the porch and remind yourself that, “Life is good!”

 

http://www.singingwatervineyards.com/

Maui Splash – Maui Winery; Ulupalakua, Hawaii

And now for something completely different!  Yes wine lovers, Hawaii does produce local wines.  This particular one is from the Tedeschi Vineyards on Maui.  It is a pineapple fruit wine that is light bodied and refreshing.  It has a vibrant passion fruit style scent which will be noticeable on the palate, as well.  The wine has that distinct, yet more subtle pineapple flavor. The wine is a nice crisp and slightly sweet variety that is very enjoyable this time of year. Naturally, this should pair well with your favorite fruit or nice light creamy dessert. Serve this at your next blind wine tasting party and see the surprised looks on everyone’s faces when it’s revealed.  Don’t worry if after having a glass or two, that you begin feeling like dipping your toes into the surf and sand of Hawaii.  With something so delightful from such a beautiful location, that’s completely natural! This is definitely ono!

www.mauiwine.com

Becker Vineyards - Stonewall, Texas

This has to be one of the classic winery destination stops of the Texas Hill Country.  Established in 1992 by Richard and Bunny Becker when there was nothing out there, they have now helped establish Fredericksburg and the Texas Hill Country as a top destination for wine lovers in the state.  With both estate vines and access to vineyards from the Texas High Plains and throughout most of Texas, the Beckers’ have grape resources to make just about any quality Texas wine you can imagine.  Any time of the year is a great time to visit as the winery has many events and live music occasions on a regular basis. Most wines made here are Bordeaux, Burgundian and Rhone style.  The list of wines is quite extensive and to pick out a few to grab your attention would do injustice to the others.  One thing is for sure, the older the reds you have from Becker wines the better they will be!  Plus, the reds are good for your heart, just ask the doctor.  The estate grounds have a log cabin built around 1890s.  The reception hall adjacent to the winery is a great place for events.  The outside grounds and surrounding Hill Country landscape makes a good backdrop for weddings.  And there is more than just wine!  Check out the lavender fields!  During their annual Lavender Festival, you can enjoy picking your own lavender then enjoy some great tasting Becker wine.  The winery also makes a great place for your first “wine date”.  What’s there not to like about this place?  You just can’t go wrong here! Check out their website to see what the latest events are and plan your next trip accordingly.

www.beckervineyards.com