The Wine:
Pedernales Cellars Vermentino, 2014
Who Likes It:
Cat Nguyen, a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and advanced level sommelier with the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. After nearly ten years as a buyer, she recently left Mark’s American Cuisine in Houston to join the team at Republic National Distributing Company.
The Grape:
The Vermentino grape is wildly famous in Italy, particularly in Sardinia. It goes by various names like Pigato, in Liguria; Favorita, in Piedmont; and Rolle, in Provence (France). Regardless of what you call it, Vermentino is known for crisp minerality, refreshing acidity, and fresh Granny Smith apple, citrus, and herbal notes.
Why She Likes It:
”Spring-time in Texas makes me think of being outdoors, sitting on patios, and having fun in the sun. Which also means sipping on something delicious. Pedernales Cellars has always been a favorite Texas winery, so when they announced the release of a Vermentino, I was thrilled to see how theirs would taste. Not surprisingly. it’s delicious. Bright and vibrant with citrus and herb. It has a refreshing finish that will stimulate your tastebuds. This is a perfect Texas style patio wine.”
Suggested Pairings:
Serve this refreshing wine up with grilled fish tacos with cabbage and remoulade. This is an extremely versatile wine and can be paired with most shellfish or mild Gulf coast seafood.
On Down the Road:
“In Houston, we have international travelers visiting the Medical Center, shopping at the Galleria, or working at a conference. At Mark’s I was often asked for Texas wines. People are interested. They try the wines and usually say, ‘I didn’t know that Texas had such great wines!’
“It’s a very exciting time for the Texas wine industry. Consumers are wanting and willing to try new things. Educational organizations such as TEXSOM, which recruits sommeliers from all over the country and reaches new and upcoming somms have been showcasing Texas wines since the very beginning. I believe that Texas wines will only gain more recognition as time goes on, not only in the Texas market but other states as well.”
Winemaker’s Notes: David Kuhlken, Pedernales Cellars
“We have been committed to Viognier for producing premium whites since we first opened the winery. However, we have seen our growers have increasing success with Vermentino and felt like it was another Texas white varietal that has great potential going forward. This first year working with Lost Draw Vineyards has produced a fantastic wine and we are looking forward to making Vermentino a bigger part of our wine program in the future to compliment the Viognier wines in our lineup.”
Price:
$29
Availability:
Winery only.
