 | | Vintage Valentine's Day A thousand movies can't be wrong - there is something unmistakably romantic about wine. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, here are a few suggestions for making it a vintage occasion. 1. It's not always about you. You have the rest of the year to enjoy the wines you like, so on Valentine's Day, order the favorite of the favorite person in your life.
2. Add some sparkle. Valentine's Day is a celebration and a sparkling Texas wine is a toast-worthy choice for every special occasion.
3. Know your pairings. Every wine goes with candlelight, but you can enhance the rest of the dinner with the right pairing. Steak on the menu? A Cabernet, Zinfandel or Pinot Noir make a great choice. Making chicken with a cream sauce? Try a Viognier or a Chenin Blanc. Seafood? A Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio should make a wonderful pairing.
You can find wineries in your area and a complete listing of wine and food pairing suggestions at www.gotexanwine.org. |
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| | February 2010 Ask the Expert
3 Questions for Dan Gatlin, Owner of Inwood Estates Vineyards and The Vineyard at Florence
What excites you about a new project like The Vineyard at Florence?
The Vineyard at Florence was a natural. They began with a 30-acre vineyard just 35 miles northwest of Austin. They will easily produce 90-100 tons of fruit per year, so they had a direct stake in the Texas wine industry from the beginning. Although it is many things with many amenities, at its heart, The Vineyard at Florence is a serious agri-business with very committed ownership. That's perfect because that's what it takes to be good.
How does the addition of non-wine industries enhance The Vineyard at Florence?
The Vineyard at Florence also offers a spa and a cafe, as well as luxury villas available for overnight stays. Additionally, roughly 65 home-sites in the hills overlooking the vineyard have been developed, and construction of new luxury homes is underway even now, in spite of the economy.
The Vineyard at Florence is a special place. Although it offers diverse amenities, I believe that a large number of people who build there will be people who are fairly serious about food and wine. With its excellent Old World architecture, stunning views of the vineyard, and proximity to Dallas, Austin and Houston so people can be just far enough (but not too far) away, it becomes the perfect place for people who would rather watch the Food Network than the Golf Channel. Having high-quality wineries on site that produce premium wines from the real vineyards on the estate where you can know the winemaker and share the wines and experiences with your friends creates amazing opportunities for entertaining.
How important is wine tourism to the wine industry of Texas?
Obviously, tourism works extremely well with the wine industry. Having been one of a small nucleus of retailers that introduced Napa's famous brands to Texas (Caymus, Chappellet, Phelps, and many others) in the 1970s, I remember Napa as a very different place than it is today. Far from the glitz and glamour it represents now, it was a land of fruit stands, tractor dealers, orchards and even cattle. The power of the wine industry to transform an area into a tourist destination is remarkable. However, there are some caveats. First and foremost, to be a lasting success, it needs to be the real deal. People demand authenticity. |
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The ABC's of Wine: An ongoing, alphabetical guide to better wine literacy
This month's letter: N
Naming: the winemaker's art of giving a name to a particular wine.
New Wine: a young, fruity wine that is ready to drink a few weeks after harvest.
New World Wine: general classification used to describe wines made outside the traditional European wine-regions.
Nose: a tasting term used to describe the bouquet of a wine.
Notes: a term that implies specific hints, aromas or flavors of wine.
Grower Spotlight: A Closer Look at the Grape Growers of Texas
Dr. Vijay Reddy, Reddy Vineyards
Location: West Texas, near Brownfield
Elevation: 3,300 feet
Appellation: High Plains
Acreage: 105,000 plants on 105 acres
Top Varietals: Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, Viognier, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Muscat Canelli, Orange Muscat, Malbec, Pinot Gris, Montepulciano, Aglianico, Shiraz, Petit Verdot, Barbera, Rousanne, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Syrah, Tannat, Cinsault and others.
Yield: 400 tons annually
Clients: Grows regularly for 10 or more Texas wineries
Climate: Low rainfall, low humidity, cool nights
Background: Born in India, Dr. Vijay Reddy holds a master's degree from Kansas State University and a Ph.D. in Soil Science from Colorado State University. In 1979, he became president of Western Agricultural Laboratories Inc. in Lubbock, a post he left a year ago to devote his full energies to Reddy Vineyards.
West Texas farming was a longtime pursuit - he began planting cotton and peanuts 30 years ago - but he saw promise in a new crop after talking with neighbor and Texas grape grower Neal Newsom. In 1997, Reddy put out five acres of wine grapes.
Since then, his wine grape operation has expanded to 105 acres offering 41 varietals, and Reddy Vineyards has become one of the preeminent growers in Texas. The wine dinners Reddy hosts with wife Sabada are among the industry's most pleasant surprises, with the Reddys pairing Texas wines with authentic Indian dishes.
Reddy on planting 41 different varietals: "The reason that I have planted that many is that we don't have much information on what we can plant, other than about a half-dozen proven varietals that have been tested here. But none of the Italian varietals have been tested, so we plant small test-acres. A couple of years from now, I may know what works, and I might not need to plant 41 varietals. I might plant just 10 or 15." |
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