Houston Rodeo announces Uncorked winners
November 28, 2008: By Ron Saikowski, Wine Walk
A tasting panel went through almost 2,000 wines from all over the United States and 15 other countries on the weekend of Nov. 15-16 to determine the “pick of the litter” for Houston Rodeo Uncorked 2009. The top Texas Wine was PINEY WOOD TEXAS MOON MAGNOLIA (no vintage). Several other top Texas wines included HAAK VINEYARDS & WINERY JACQUEZ MADEIRA TEXAS 2004 (Gold), LLANO ESTACADO VIVIANO TEXAS 2005 (Gold), BRENNAN VIENYARDS AUSTIN STATE “COMANCHE RED” 2007. There will be more on this competition in future columns.
The Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association held a competition for non-commercial wine makers on Nov. 8 in Fredericksburg during the “Grape Camp” with 40 Texas winemakers competing. Top winemakers receiving gold medals for their non-commercial wines include BARRETT ROUSE (3), MARK ROGERS, JOSEPH ZAPPONE, SCOTT & CAROL GREENE, ZIAD NOSHIE, and JEFF & PATRICIA COBO-STARK.
Bernhardt Winery will be hosting Katerina Belik on Sunday, Nov. 30, from 1 to 5 p.m. featuring Rosinka Spirit Companion Pairing. The Rosinka Spirit Companion is a selection of foods that have been carefully chosen for pairing with various spirits. Rosinka has embraced history, tradition, science, and expert advice to help you enjoy your time with family and friends. This is a very unique approach to pairing wines & foods. You will learn curious facts and stories about your favorite drink to feed your mind, and a toast proposed to please your soul.
Our area has an abundance of wine events. Below is a sampling of wine-related events which I believe will be enjoyable and educational:
Nov. 29 – Holiday Open House & Tasting from noon to 5 p.m. at VINO100 in The Woodlands.
Nov. 30 – Yepez Winery in Baytown will be hosting musician Bob Curry from 2 to5 p.m. in their winery courtyard. For more information, go to www.yepezwinery.com.
Dec. 6 – Haak Winery in Galveston County will be hosting a special Christmas gathering on the winery grounds. For more information, go to www.haakwine.com.
Dec. 7 – Chocolate tasting paired with wines at the Bernhardt Winery from 2 to 4 p.m. Event is limited to the first 40 paid reservations at $25 per person. Please call (936) 894-9829 to make your reservation for this event and other events at the Bernhardt Winery.
Dec. 9 – Prospective Wine Grape Grower Workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. produced & presented by the Texas AgriLife Extension Viticulture Team in the Gillespie County Extension Office in Fredericksburg, Texas. Cost is $125 per person and $200 per couple. For more information, call, (979) 845-2604.
Dec. 19 – Bernhardt Winery will be hosting a Christmas celebration of luminaries from 5 to 10 p.m. with an evening concert featuring Kevin Black, Conrad Olson, Silver Shoes, and others. Hay rides will also be provided. “Cookin Cowboy Catering” will be providing Chuck Wagon cooking for the winery guests.
Jan.31, Feb. 7, and Feb. 28 – Vineyard seminar at the BERNHARDT WINERY with hands-on experiences in the BERNHARDT VINEYARDS under the watchful eye of JERRY BERNHARDT. This seminar is a MUST if you are interested in starting your own vineyard. Seminar fee of $30 per person includes a luncheon paired with Bernhardt Wines.
If you are looking for a unique Christmas gift for your favorite wine lovers and want something other than wine, try these Christmas gift offerings: Cheese tray & cheese knives, Wine tote bag, Subscription to WINE SPECTATOR Magazine, Crystal Decanter or Wood-handled corkscrew.
Ron’s wine pick is a huge robust BECKER VINEYARDS 2005 CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVE. This oak-aged RED is loaded with black currants, wild berries, and hints of cloves. This wine is grown in the NEWSOM VINEYARDS in West Texas at an elevation of 3800 feet. This wine is great for that cold winter day and would pair excellently with a Texas steak. This wine retails for $24.95 per bottle at places like SPEC’s, HEB Central Market, and Woodlands Liquors.
This article can also be found published online in The Courier
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