This year, we’ve decided to offer up a retrospective of some of the top Texas wines for 2012. Starting November 1, I began tasting through a sampling of more than 60 different Texas wines including selections from larger, well-known producers including Llano Estacado Winery, Fall Creek Vineyards and Messina Hof, to smaller estate producers including Calais Winery, Perissos Vineyard and Winery, Pontotoc Vineyards, and Landon Winery. I tried to get as wide of a selection as possible. There are MANY Texas wines out there, which means it’s virtually impossible to try them all. In the end, I’ve managed to whittle down a list of 10 reds and 10 whites that span a breadth of the great winemaking Texas is seeing right now.

A few things to note:

1) I tried to taste wines that were available at the time of evaluation. (November 1—December 15). There are a number of beautiful wines that I’ve tasted throughout 2012 that could easily have earned a spot on this list, such as the McPherson Cellars Roussanne Reserve or the Lost Oak 2010 Syrah—but these were not available in circulation. I should note that since tasting through these wines in the past month, a few of them now have very limited availability, but were able to find at the time of evaluation.

2) All of the tastings were done blind. Once I collected the wines for tasting, all of them were brown-bagged and opened by a third party before tasting in an effort to keep all evaluations objective and fair.

3) Each wine tasted was awarded a score between 1 and 5 in the categories of nose, palate, finish, and overall drinkability for a total of 20 points per wine. The final list is based on the top scoring evaluations.

4) Finally, and most importantly, this a list compiled based on my own personal tastes and overall understanding of what well-made, balanced wine should taste like. But in the world of wine, as with good Texas barbecue or Tex-Mex food, what really matters is what tastes good to you. Discovering that for yourself is the most rewarding part of learning more about Texas wine.

This is a list of all wines that scored 18 or higher in overall points in alphabetical order.

Red Wines

Brennan Vineyards 2010 Dark Horse

~$19 – Winery (Brennan Vineyards and 4.0 Cellars)

One of the first showings of Texas grown Nero D’Avola, a Sicilian grape known for its sweet tannins and peppery flavors. This wine is lighter in style, but big on complexity. It’s smoky and spicy with hints of bright red fruit, wild orchid, white pepper and even a little bacon. If this is what we have to look forward to from Nero D’Avola, I look forward to seeing more of it in the future.

 

Duchman Family Winery 2010 Montepulciano

~$22 – Select grocery and liquor stores, winery

This wine works well as an every day wine that can easily make the grade for a special occasion. It’s fruit forward with blackberry, blueberry, vanilla and cinnamon on the nose with a hint of earthiness and medium tannins on the palate. Montepulciano has been a consistent work horse for Duchman from vintage to vintage.

 

Duchman Family Winery 2010 Nero D’Avola

~$20 – Winery

The first two Nero D’Avola wines released in Texas this year also happen to make this list. The fruit in this wine has dark blackberry and aromatic ripe blueberry. You’ll find notes of vanilla and baking spices, but also a bit of leather and excellent tannic structure on the palate.

 

 

Inwood Estates Vineyards 2009 Magdalena 

~$50 – Select liquor stores, winery

This wine is an example of how beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon can actually be in Texas. The nose has rich, ripe red fruit, soft vanilla and the perfume of walking into a greenhouse full of violets. With such a big nose, the wine is actually lighter on the palate balanced with a hint of acid and nervy tannic structure.

 

Llano Estacado Tempranillo Cellar Reserve 2010

$16 – Grocery stores such as HEB, select liquor stores, winery

For those who are unsure of Texas Tempranillo, this wine makes a good introduction. Not only because it’s just a good wine in general, but because it’s a rounded, approachable version of what this often cantankerous grape can be like. You’ll catch hints of raspberry, blackberry, bacon, smoke and portobello mushroom.

 

McPherson Cellars Sangiovese 2009

~$16-$18 – Some grocery stores, Spec’s, select liquor stores, winery

Rich with dark cherry and raspberry, a little forest floor, and a hit of vanilla, this full-bodied wine has a lovely round finish and drinks beautifully. (Note: This is a wine that is For Sale In Texas Only, which means less than 75 percent of the wine is from Texas. The remainder is from neighboring New Mexico.)

 

Pedernales Tempranillo Reserve 2010

~$30 – Select liquor stores, winery

This Tempranillo gives us a glimpse at the true nature of Tempranillo in Texas. It’s a finicky grape with dark fruit, mushroom, tobacco and often a little leather. The Pedernales tames some of the wild tannic structure in this grape without stripping it down too much. You also find hints of cinnamon, vanilla, and a touch of green parsley. This wine is rustic, yet elegant.

 

Perissos Vineyard and Winery 2010 Racker’s Blend

$45 – Winery

Seth Martin of Perissos Vineyard and Winery likes to get the most flavor from his estate grapes, which grow on a peaceful tract of land in the Colorado River Valley near Marble Falls. Each year, he selects a portion of each of the red varietals that grow on his property to blend into his Racker’s Blend. A true field blend, the percentage of grapes varies from year to year. This 2010 vintage is big with ripe dark and red fruit, rich floral perfume and a melange of cocoa, cherry and fresh tobacco. With more than 15% alcohol, it’s not a wine for sissies.

Pontotoc Vineyard 2011 San Fernando Academy 

$25 – Select Central Texas outlets including East End Wines (Austin), House.Wine and Lincoln Street Wine Bar (Fredericksburg), Sandstone Cellars Wine Bar (Mason), Salt Lick Cellars (Driftwood), winery (info@pontotocvineyard.com)

This is a big wine. What’s that former soap opera? The Bold and the Beautiful? That’s this wine. And not just because well-loved Mason County winemaker Don Pullum threw just about everything but the kitchen sink in here. (Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Tempranillo, Grenache and Syrah) But because it’s just a great all around red wine—especially for the Texas steak lover. On the nose is lush dark fruit,  green pepper, vanilla and cocoa, and a little bit of dark forest floor. This is a big, balanced wine at a restrained 12.5 percent alcohol. Get some.

William Chris Vineyards 2011 Hunter

$32 – winery

For those of you who enjoy Pinot Noir for its red fruit and earthy qualities, this is the Texas Wine for you. Let me be clear that this is NOT a Pinot Noir. In fact it’s a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre. But this wine has all the elegance and complexity of a French Burgundy. Excellent bright, red fruit with a refined finish.

 

Honorable Mention: Messina Hof Cabernet Franc Reserve, Salt Lick Cellars 2010 Mourvedre, Duchman Family Winery 2010 Aglianico, Landon Winery Tempranillo Reserve 2011, Llano Estacado 1836

White Wines

Becker Vineyards 2011 Fumé Blanc

~$10 – Select grocery and liquor stores, winery

One of the top sellers from Becker, this is a consistently good wine that balances the best of its citrus, peach, and white flower aromas with a dry, balanced finish. And at $10, it’s a top pick for an every day white wine.

 

 

Brennan Vineyards 2011 Lily

$18 – Select grocery and liquor stores, winery (Brennan Vineyards or 4.0 Cellars)

This wine was a happy surprise. Its aromatic bouquet of white and yellow flowers with hints of honeysuckle and apricot almost trick the senses into thinking it may be a little sweet, but it turns out to have a balanced off-dry finish with good acidity that prevents it from being cloying. Excellent wine for spicy foods.

 

CapRock Winery 2010 Roussanne

~$15-$17 – Select grocery and liquor stores, winery

This golden beauty took home a gold medal from the 2012 Dallas Morning News and TEXSOM International Wine Competition this year. And with good reason. With lush citrus, young peach, and a touch of minerality, this is a great wine to have on hand during the summer time.

 

 

Duchman Family Winery 2010 Trebbiano

$12 – Winery

Those who like bone dry wines brimming with minerality and a hint of citrus will love this wine. Lemon zest, a touch of red apple and hot, wet limestone dominate the nose and palate with a balanced, rounded finish. A perfect white for a red wine drinker.

 

 

Hilmy Cellars 2011 Muscat Canelli

$22 – Winery

Typically this is a wine that you might find on a dessert wine menu. Muscat Canelli tends to reveal quite a bit of sugar in the wines it produces. And while this wine definitely has hints of sweetness, it also has a beautiful balance with acidity. If you like sweet wine, you’ll love this one. If you DON’T like sweet wine, I’d still give it a try with spicy Asian food like Thai or Szechuan Chinese. That little touch of sweetness will pair perfectly with the heat from the food.

 

Lost Oak Winery 2011 Riesling

~$17 – Winery (Lost Oak Winery or 4.0 Cellars)

If you’re a Riesling fan, you’ll probably like this wine. If you’re NOT a Riesling fan, I encourage you to try this wine. It’s not the cloyingly sweet syrup you’ve come to expect out of a Blue Nun bottle. This Riesling is dry with citrus, apricot, white tea, and the faint scent of honeysuckle. The crisp finish is similar to what you’d find in French Alsatian Rieslings—not surprising considering owner/winemaker Gene Estes spent a few years living in Alsace.

 

McPherson Cellars 2011 Les Copains

~$12-$14, Some grocery stores, Spec’s, select liquor stores, winery

Pretty on the nose and pretty on the palate, this is the kind of wine that can please all friends at the table. Rather fitting since its name is French for “friends,” which is particularly how the fruit, sophistication and complexity of this blend of Viognier, Roussanne and Grenache blanc work together in this wine. Note: the 2011 vintage was almost sold out when this wine was sampled. Look to the 2012 vintage in the Spring of 2013.

 

Pedernales Cellars Reserve Viogner 2011

With a strong focus on Viognier as the primary white grape in their program, Pedernales Cellars continues to hammer out a standard of elegance for this grape that is creating a foundation for what Viognier should taste like. Not only in Texas, but anywhere else. Swoony floral characteristics with ripe pear, melon and apricot as well as a hint of juicy fruit gum perk up the nose, while a dry and crisp finish with balanced acidity make this wine the perfect alternative to your average Chardonnay.

 

Perissos Vineyards and Winery 2011 Roussanne

$34 – Winery

You can almost taste the complexity in this wine simply by looking at its bright golden color. Grown on the High Plains, this French Rhone varietal shows off its very best in this wine with ripe pear, yellow flowers, cantaloupe and honey-baked fruit on both the nose and palate with a crisp finish. This is a perfect example of what Roussanne can do in Texas soil.

 

Vineyard at Florence 2011 Aurelia

~$30 – Select liquor stores, winery

For a long time, Texas has taken stabs at producing wine from the American hybrid Blanc du Bois. But the reviews have often been mixed. The Aurelia from the Vineyards at Florence is finally the exception. A beautiful wine with soft tropical fruit along with a fragrant floral bouquet of white and yellow flowers. Its crisp, dry finish leaves a hint of minerality, making this a perfect warm-weather wine with food.

 

Honorable Mention: Duchman Family Winery 2010 Vermentino, Fall Creek Vineyards 2011 Chardonnay

- Jessica Dupuy

Tagged: Becker Vineyards, Duchman Family Winery, Hilmy Cellars, llano estacado winery, Lost Oak Winery, McPherson Cellars, Pedernales Cellars, Perissos Vineyard and Winery, Pontotoc Vineyards, texas wine

The stars were bright in the Capital City on Friday night where fans of Texas’ bountiful foods and wines celebrated not only the “locavore,” but the “loca-pour” in us all. Edible Texas Wine & Food Match, presented by Edible Austin and The Texas Food and Wine Gourmet was the first-ever culinary competition of its kind in the state of Texas. The event challenged chefs from Central Texas to create a menu using regional foods to pair with appellation wines of Texas. The goal: to bring out the best in both.

Held at the AT&T Conference Center in Austin, the dinner was offered as an official event of the 2011 International Association of Culinary Professionals’ national conference.

Though attendees were each given a ballot to cast a “Peoples’ Choice” vote, the evening was guided by a panel of guest judges including Jacques Pépin, world-renowned chef, television celebrity, author and culinary educator; Francois Dionot, founder and director of L’Academie de Cuisine; John Besh, chef, restaurateur, author and television personality; Michael Bauer, executive food and wine editor for the San Francisco Chronicle; and Paula Lambert, cookbook author and founder of the Mozzarella Company.

From a field of several dozen competitors, a committee of food and wine experts, including our own Pat Sharpe, selected their top five chefs to compete for the final event including Kelly Casey, executive chef at Hudson’s on the Bend restaurant, Austin; Patrick James Edwards, sous chef  at Bin 555 and Wine Bar, San Antonio; David Garrido, owner and executive chef at Garrido’s Restaurant, Austin; Josh Raymer, owner and executive chef at Navajo Grill, Fredericksburg; Peter Smith, executive chef at JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa, San Antonio. Each competing chef vied for the perfect pairing reflecting Texas terroir using regional foods and a selection of Texas wines.

Fifteen Texas appellation vintages from eight Texas wineries were paired in the event including Becker Vineyards, Flat Creek Estate Winery, Fall Creek Vineyards, Inwood Estates Vineyards, Messina Hof Winery & Resort, Perissos Vineyard, Sister Creek Vineyards, and Stone House Vineyards.

The chef finalists offered an array of beautiful dishes including a local market salad with roasted beets, pickled peaches, and goat cheese from Chef Josh Raymer paired with a refreshing pear and floral 2010 Perissos Vineyards Viognier, a roasted lamb loin with a tongue-teasing porcini-raspberry soil from Chef Patrick James Edwards paired with Becker Vineyards 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and a fluffy cloud of aerated goat cheese with blackberry-persimmon paper, and an emulsion of fennel pollen and honey from Chef Peter Smith paired with a light and aromatic 2010 Flat Creek Estate Moscato.

But in the end, Chef David Garrido took first place with his famous crispy oysters with habenero honey aioli paired with the dry, yet slightly sweet Fall Creek Vineyards 2010 Chenin Blanc, a coffee-chipotle beef tenderloin paired with Fall Creek’s award-winning 2006 Meritus (Bordeaux blend), and a zucchini cake with lemon cream and candied pecan paired with Sister Creek 2010 Muscat Canelli—a special treat with a hint of honeysuckle effervescence.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the newly launched nonprofit Texas Center for Wine and Culinary Arts, a new nonprofit dedicated to promoting Texas food, wine, and agriculture through educational programming and hands-on experiences. Major sponsors of this event include AT&T Hotel and Conference Center, GO TEXAN, Whole Foods Market / Greenling Organic Delivery, Glazer’s, Trattoria Lisina / Salt Lick: The Driftwood Experience and Montesino Farm.

Hats off to Chef Garrido for his palate-pleasing efforts and a tip of the hat to the chefs and wineries featured in this momentous event. If you missed this year’s event, not to worry… This was the first of a 5-year program, which will travel around the state featuring regional chefs, foods, and wines.

- Jessica Dupuy

Tagged: Becker Vineyards, Bin 555, david garrido, Edible Austin, Edible Texas Food and Wine Match, Fall Creek Vineyards, Flat Creek Estate Winery, garrido's, hudson's on the bend, Inwood Estates, Jessica Dupuy, Josh Raymer, JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa, Kelly Casey, Messina Hof Winery & Resort, Navajo Grill, Patrick James Edwards, Perissos Vineyard, Peter Smith, Sister Creek Vineyards, Stone House Vineyards

As part of the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival, the pioneers of the Texas wine industry convened on Saturday, April 2nd at Austin’s Hyatt Regency to share a taste of their top wines paired with a six-course lunch by Executive Chef Kevin Dee.

Among this assembly were Kim McPherson of McPherson Cellars, Ron Yates of Spicewood Vineyards , Mark Hyman of Llano Estacado, Ed Auler of Fall Creek Vineyards, Dan Gatlin of Inwood Estates Vineyards, and Russell Smith of Becker Vineyards. June Rodil, beverage director of Congress restaurant and one of the state’s top sommeliers, led each course pairing and moderated an engaging discussion on the current state of Lone Star Wine.

Below are the pairings:

Baby spinach salad with roasted chiogga and white beets, local strawberries and champagne vinaigrette – McPherson Cellars Syrah Rosé 2009 (~$10)

Quail Confit over baby arugula and butternut squash Risotto with toasted pumpkin seeds – Spicewood Vineyards Semillon Reserve 2007 (~$18)

Chicken scallopine over roasted sweet potatoes and watercress citrus salad with Meyer lemon caper sauce – Llano Estacado Viviana 2009 (~$23)

Strube Ranch shortribs, Pure Luck polenta, braised chard – Fall Creek Vineyards Meritus 2006 (~$40)

Bleu cheese selection – Inwood Estates Vineyards “Cornelious” Tempranillo 2007 (~$40)

Local Strawberries with chocolate torte – Becker Vineyards Vintage Port 2009

Of the courses, our favorites included the chicken scallopine, which presented bright, citrusy flavors that balanced perfectly with the acidity and mild sweetness of Llano Estacado’s Viviana white blend.

We also liked the rich braised shortribs rounded out with the full-bodied, dark cherry notes of the Fall Creek Meritus. (Although the big dark fruits in the Inwood Estates Tempranillo also worked well with this dish.)

Our favorites out of the wines?… all of them. Each of them could hold their own against similar varietals world wide.

In the past year, each of these wineries have had at least one of their wines featured as a Texas Monthly Wine of the Month—half of which were paired with this lunch. And with good reason. Not only have these wineries figured out the key to making good wines, they’ve figured out the key to making good Texas wines, which as the past 15-20 years have shown, has been a long and painstaking process in finding the grapes that work best in the state as well as enduring the unpredictable Texas weather patterns.

And while some of the larger wineries have found consistency and high volume sales with wines such as the Becker Vineyards Viognier, the Fall Creek Chenin Blanc, or the Llano Estacado Chardonnay—all of which sell for around $15 or less—all of the wineries have a selection of wines that reflect a more “hand-crafted,” artisan style that have brought each of these winemakers high esteem through the state including Inwood’s “Cornelious” Tempranillo and Fall Creek’s Meritus.(Both of these have smaller production and fly off the shelves for $30-$40.)

But as Fall Creek’s Ed Auler revealed, “Wines across the state have gotten to a point where the quality and value are balancing out,” meaning you can rely on the merit of the wine you’re buying whether it’s a $10 or $30 bottle… Just one more thing to make Texans proud.

Tagged: Becker Vineyards, Congress restaurant, Fall Creek Vineyards, Inwood Estates Vineyards, Jessica Dupuy, June Rodil, llano estacado winery, McPherson Cellars, Spicewood Winery, Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival, texas wine

Cabernet Sauvignon is perhaps one of the most recognized varietals on the market. It’s a grape that thrives in classic French Bordeaux, bold California vintages up and down the western coast, and gives an extra kick to those big Super Tuscans that have become so popular. But few people believed it could be a good grape for Texas. That is until wineries such as Llano Estacado Wineries, Fall Creek Vineyards, and Becker Vineyards started producing some pretty amazing Cabs from vineyards in the High Plains and even in the Hill Country; Cabs that would certainly be described as Texas Cabs in that they have many of the same qualities you’d expect from California, France, or Italy, but with a distinct Texas twist.

This month’s Texas Wine of the month is one of those Texas Cabs: Becker Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon “Newsom Vineyard,” 2007. A well balanced wine with rich fruit, nice acidity and balanced tannins, this Cabernet Sauvignon was selected with the help of Jose Perez who has been the sommelier at Houston’s famed RDG + Bar Annie for 20 years.

“I love what Dr. Becker has done with his wines, but this one alone is one of my favorites,” says Perez. “It’s well made and is an affordable wine for what it is.” (The wine is $62 on the RDG menu, and $40 retail at the winery.) “It has dark fruit, coffee, and cocoa flavors as well as a nice smoky-meaty quality almost like bacon. I love to suggest this to people who aren’t familiar with Texas wines and it always makes a great impression.”

Perez often pairs this with RDG’s coffee-rubbed filet of beef with roasted ancho chile sauce and says it also works well with roasted guinea fowl and grilled squab.

At around $40, it’s not cheap. But nothing good in life really is, and this is a fantastic wine. The only problem, according to Becker Vineyards General Manager Bret Perrenoud, the wine is virtually sold out and only on a few restaurant wine lists including RDG + Bar Annie. (So your best bet is to save up for a special night out and order a bottle at RDG.

Or, Perrenoud suggests a similar selection, the Cabernet Sauvignon “Canada Vineyard,” 2008. This selection is also $40 but is available at the winery, and is just as good, if not equal to the “Newsom Vineyard” Cab. (Both vineyards are from the High Plains and produce amazing fruit.) As of last Sunday, the Cabernet Sauvignon “Canada Vineyard,” 2008 just won a silver medal at the San Antonio Wine Competition.

Salut!

Winery: Becker Vineyards

Retail Price: $40

Availability: Although the Cabernet Sauvignon “Newsom Vineyard,” 2007 is sold out in retail, the Cabernet Sauvignon “Canada Vineyard,” 2008 is available at the winery for $40.

Tagged: Becker Vineyards, Bret Perrenoud, Canada Vineyards, Jose Perez, Newsom Vineyards, RDG + Bar Annie

Did you know: Texas has a total of eight federally-approved viticultural regions, or “appellations” throughout the state and a total of nine official wine trails to help guide interested wine enthusiasts throughout these regions?

For this month’s column on Texas Wine, we’d like to introduce you to the Texas Hill Country Wine Trail, which encompasses three of the Texas appellations including The Texas Hill Country, the Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country, and the Bell Mountain Viticultural areas.

(NOTE: An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication used to identify where the grapes for a wine are grown. This is important for winemakers in being able to place a label on their bottle designating where their grapes originated. It’s a distinction that adds more credibility to a bottle of wine—as an example, check out any good bottle of French wine and you’ll find an appellation label.)

We’re starting with this wine trail, if not because it represents the first region in the state to receive an appellation designation, then because it is the second-largest appellation in the United States spanning more than 15,000 square miles—and it doesn’t hurt that this area has some excellent wines and beautiful scenery along the way. See a full list of wineries here.

This trail stretches as far south as New Braunfels to as far north as Lampasas and stretches west of Fredericksburg and east to just outside the Austin city limits. With this much turf to cover, it’s advisable to make a three- to four-day road trip out of this trail, stopping at some of the area’s top restaurants, guesthouses, and sights along the way—and if you’re in the Fredericksburg area, don’t miss a dinner at the Cabernet Grill, where chef/owner Ross Burtwell serves up hearty rustic-American fare accompanied by a 100% Texan wine list.

This time of year, spring is ushered in by a flourish of wildflowers. Now is the time to take advantage of the colorful views and the fantastic weather. I recently made an excursion to check some of these wineries off of my list. Below are a few of my favorites:

Mandola Estate Winery – As the Italian name implies, Mandola’s  specializes in Italian grapes grown in Texas soil for their portfolio. Not only is the name synonymous with great food, but Mandola’s now stands for great wine, too; particularly the crisp and fruity (but not too sweet) Vermentino. This aromatic wine will be great for the warmer, eh em, hotter days of summer and would be fantastic with a garlicky shrimp dish or simply as a refreshing cocktail on its own.

I also liked the Dolcetto, a classic Italian grape meaning “slightly sweet.” But don’t be fooled, the sweetness refers to just the grape. This bold red wine is a sturdy, slightly tannic wine, with no sweetness at all, making a great partner for a good juicy steak.

Texas Hills Vineyard – Owner Gary Gilstrap has stumbled onto something at his Johnson City winery as the only winemaker producing a straight Rousanne, a classic French grape primarily grown in the Rhone Valley (an almost identical match to the Texas Hill Country climate and terrain). This bright white wine is crisp and light, but is layered with great apricot and honey flavors.

I also liked the Toro de Tejas, a rich Tempranillo blended with a little Cabernet Sauvignon making a great earthy wine that is surprisingly smooth and low on tannin, meaning your tongue won’t feel rough after you try a taste. “To me, the Tempranillo is the grape of Texas,” says Gilstrap. “It will rise to be one of the best grapes grown in this state.”

Becker Vineyard – Perhaps the largest and most widely known vineyard in the Fredericksburg area, Becker Vineyards has made a name for producing a consist portfolio of wines. I had a chance to taste their 2007 Prairie Rotie, an earthy red wine made in the Rhone-style of Southern France. This wine does have a little tannin, but its dark fruit flavors would work very well with wild game such as elk or pheasant.

Fall Creek Vineyards – A trip to Fall Creek is like visiting a little piece of Napa Valley, except for the long, windy drive around Lake Buchanan. Like Becker, Fall Creek is known for its consistency, even with its premiere wine, Meritus, which is a blend of different grapes each year. But as owner and winemaker Ed Auler says, “We take the best of the grapes we have each year to make the best blend we can make. That always varies from year to year when you’re working with Texas weather.”

Meritus is a great wine indeed, especially if you can get a hold of the 2004 vintage, which won Double Gold at the Taster’s Guild International Competition. But I’m particularly a fan of their latest release, the 2008 Tempranillo made from grapes grown at the Salt Lick Vineyard in Driftwood—the very same Salt Lick of barbecue fame. I’m not sure if it’s because these grapes were grown on legendary barbecue land, but this big, juicy-meets-earthy wine is an excellent mate for smoked brisket and sausage. At the same time, this new release from Fall Creek is elegant and sophisticated, even if the meal you’re pairing it with permits you to lick your fingers.

Other wines not to miss: Grape Creek Vineyards 2007 Cabernet Syrah, Alamosa Wine Cellars 2006 Palette, Pedernales Cellars 2009 Stonewall Muscat Canelli.

But don’t take my word for it. When it comes to wine, if you like it, then it’s good. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Do take advantage of this time of year. The Hill Country Wine Trail is hosting a Wine and Wildflowers event April 9-11 and 16-18 with wine and cheese pairings, wildflower seed packets, and a 15-percent discount on three-bottle purchases at each of the trail’s 24 wineries. The cost is $35 per person or $60 per couple for an all access pass to this seasonal event. And don’t forget, the 25th Annual Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival kicks off April 15 with multi-course, wine-paired lunches at Fall Creek Vineyards, Becker Vineyards, and Stone House Vineyards.

Enjoy the Texas Hill Country Wine Trail – But please remember, Drink Responsibly!

Tagged: Becker Vineyards, Fall Creek Vineyards, Mandola's Estate Winery, Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival, Texas Hill Country Wine Trail, Texas Hills Vineyards, Wildflowers and Wine