This month, we’ve selected a wine you’re sure to love. It’s the 2010 McPherson Cellars Roussanne Reserve and it is a winning example of what this southern French varietal can do in Texas. In fact, if you pay close attention, you’ll probably notice it taking a stronghold as one of the top white wine varietals in the state.

This wine gets the “Wine of the Month” vote at the suggestion of James Tidwell, Beverage Director of the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas. As one of the seven Master Sommeliers in the state, Tidwell has an eye—or should we say taste—for top notch wines and this particular Texas white wine is one he serves by the glass at the  Four Seasons.

Tidwell isn’t your average wine geek—though it is definitely a term he’s comfortable to embrace. With a degree in International Trade and Finance as well as a degree from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, the Louisiana native has a vast knowledge of many different things, the result of being born to two academic professors. It was during his time in culinary school that he developed an insatiable curiosity about wine.

“I liked the creativity of cooking, but so many kitchens are just day-to-day production and the routine got monotonous,” says Tidwell. “Studying wine opened the door to so many other disciplines and arts that are out there. Plus, it’s a lot cooler on the other side of the kitchen doors and when you’re serving wine, you get to talk to guests and have immediate feedback on the job you’re doing.”

James Tidwell courtesy Four Seasons Hotel Las Calinas

Tidwell eventually found his way to Texas and landed a job at the Four Seasons Las Colinas where has has been for 10 years. Along the way, he has managed to add myriad wine-related certifications to his resume including a diploma from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, Certified Wine Educator from the Society of Wine Educators and the highly esteemed Master Sommelier certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers. In short, Tidwell rates up there as one of the most studied wine experts in the state. It was during his pursuit of his Master Sommelier status that he was introduced to Drew Hendricks of Pappas Bros., who was also working his way towards a Master Sommelier certification. The two became fast friends, earned their Master’s pin and also came up with the idea to host a Texas-based sommelier competition that would help promote wine education in conjunction with a wine and spirits conference for both professionals and consumers. In 2005, the Texas Sommeliers Conference (TexSom) was born.

Though Tidwell jokes that the conference was a great excuse for him to throw a weekend-long party at the Four Seasons Las Colinas for his friends in the wine industry, the evolution of TexSom has become significantly more that that.

“When we started TexSom, Texas was an under-served market in terms of wine knowledge and appreciation,” says Tidwell who added that there was only one Master Sommelier in Texas when TexSom began, now there are seven. “We wanted to offer people in Texas [professionals and consumers] the opportunity to see what is going on the rest of the wine world. The competition portion is a way for us to help other Texas Sommeliers with their continued education in wine.”

Registration for TexSom 2012 opened this week—and it is anticipated to sell out. Now in its 8th year, TexSom is a national hub for wine professionals and enthusiasts to mix, mingle, sip, savor and discuss the world of wine and has more than quadrupled in attendance with a growing contingent of consumers eager to join in on exclusive tastings and educational seminars.

“This conference has really shown just how dynamic the Texas market is and just how interested Texas wine consumers are in knowing more about the world of wine,” says Tidwell.

But Tidwell, and sidekick Hendricks, have now taken their Texas focus to the next level with a mind towards promoting Texas wine. The two are in the early planning phases of creating a private marketing organization that will help promote participating Texas wineries to expand their brand both within the state and nationwide.

“Sommeliers tend to be attracted to wines from new and unusual areas and yet sometime we overlook what is in our own backyard,” says Tidwell. “If I’m promoting wine from all over the world, I need to be sure that I give every area a fair shot. Texas wines have grown by leaps and bounds since I arrived here 10 years ago. I’ve tasted beautiful wines from this state and I want other people to know about them.”

One wine Tidwell can’t seem to stop talking about is from celebrated Lubbock-based winemaker Kim McPherson of McPherson Cellars. The 2010 McPherson Cellars Rousanne Reserve has been a show stopper since its release, giving wine fans a double-take upon first sip.

Food & Wine magazine’s Executive Wine editor Ray Isle said he was blown away by this “really good Roussanne” when tasting it for a Texas Wine Panel at the Austin Food & Wine Festival in April.

Tidwell was quick to add this wine to his “by the glass” menu at the Four Seasons particularly for its balance. He notes qualities of citrus, ripe peach, tropical fruit and a slight waxiness in the nose and on the palate. “There’s a lot of fruit on this wine, but it’s not sweet and it’s beautifully balanced. It continues to prove itself with many types of people and it goes well with so many different foods.”

Try it with ahi tuna and fresh spring vegetables, seared scallops and grilled corn, or roasted chicken and rosemary potatoes, this Roussanne wine holds up against a variety of flavors.

“This is a wine I recommend time and time again for people in Texas, and it has been a huge eye opener for people regarding how great Texas wines are becoming,” says Tidwell. “I even brought it to a wine conference in Washington and opened it for a bunch of sommeliers during a ‘show and tell’ break and it was a huge hit.”

This wine is classified as “reserve,” which really only means that it was produced in a fairly small quantity—a little more than 200 cases. Unfortunately, you can not find it at retail outlets across the state but you can order it directly from the winery online for a mere $18.

Or you can head to the Four Seasons Las Colinas and have James serve you a glass and explain first-hand why he thinks it’s so great.

The baby brother to this elegant wine is the McPherson Cellars 2010 Roussanne. It’s a slightly different style with a little more grapefruit and tea, but it’s still an excellent example of what McPherson is doing with this grape. You can find this at a number of retail outlets across the state for about $14.

Winery: McPherson Cellars

Retail: $18

Availability: Winery and some select restaurants

– Jessica Dupuy