Dallas-Austin-Houston this week (this time no hurricane!)!!

I'm joining Virtuoso Selections for a portfolio tasting this week. Come by and meet Luis Reginato who is the winemaker behind Luca, Tikal and La Posta wines from Argentina among many other incredible wines to taste! Here is the scoop...

Dallas - Tuesday,September 27, 2005
Tasting from 3-7pm at the McKinney Ave. Contempory

Austin - Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Tasting from 3-7pm at the Starlite Cafe

Houston - Thursday, September 29, 2005
Tasting from 3 - 6pm at Rouge - 812 Westheimer Rd.

Cheers - Ali

The Big One that didn't get away!!

One day last July I received a call from Brian Hoffman, a Bay Area radio and newspaper personality who is THE expert on fishing conditions in and around Northern California. He began to share with me his story about the big catch…which happened to be his passion for great wine. Brian has bottled his very first vintage of Napa Valley red wine called Block 16. He named this wine Block 16 after the first block built on the Las Vegas strip – it’s a clever and quite luxurious label! So here is the scoop on how the wine tastes – IT ROCKS!

Block 16, a Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from a single vineyard of organically grown grapes in the St. Helena appellation of the valley. This ultra-premium wine is full bodied but silky, an opulent red bursting with flavors of chocolate and warm berries, with a lingering palate of sage and cassis. I loved the hint of coco powder and deep dark fruit on the finish.

The 2003 Block 16, a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Cabernet Franc, was aged in 100% French oak artisan coopers (70% new). Only 327 cases (750 ml.) were produced.

I hope Brian makes more of the 2004 vintage or we are going to have angry Texans on our hands!!! Cheers - Ali

Living Strong

As I go through these hot September days with business dealings and so many other weekly "to-do's" that seem normal through this crazy journey called life, I’m left feeling very anxious about sponsoring a women in the Congo of Africa and having enough money to give to a neighbor in need. The terrible tragedy along the Gulf Coast – many of the towns and historical sites I traveled through as a young child and teenager – has nearly broken my heart. What to do - what can I do? I have no extra funds to give during my start-up months of TexaCali Wine Co. Man, I woke up this morning and was immediately called to help. I spent the morning with Henley (my 8 yr old black lab) visiting homeless kids and old folks here in the Dallas area – I was overwhelmed by all the kindness I saw from folks living in Texas. It really drove my thoughts throughout the rest of the day...

Since last week I’ve received dozens of emails from restaurants, friends and acquaintances promoting a way to give back – well, God bless everyone who has, it’s so amazing to see so many generous and unselfish families and businesses in Texas putting those who are less fortunate first. God I wish I could give more.

I struggle with my own financial needs vs. so many people not only in America but throughout the world who need support from people like me who have the opportunity, freedom and God given ability to pay the bills and create commerce. I feel blessed to have a strong streak of “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” in my soul. Some days I don’t even feel like smiling, but I know I owe it to my “blessing” to keep on keepin’ on, to wake up each morning and make the most of each day. Living Strong.

I’m left with an image each night as I struggle to sleep in my own comfortable bed, many of the people rescued and waiting for our help in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast areas and Texas shelters are wearing the yellow bands around their scrawny wrists for Lance Armstrong’s “Live Strong” organization. Many of these fellow Americans who are now homeless gave to a charitable cause before the disaster – with conviction. My hope is that they continue to wear these bracelets as a reminder, that they too are living strong. These yellow bands now serve 2 purposes for thousands.

Whether helping a woman and her children in a hideous African war or just showing up at a shelter to listen to a lonely grandfather - I urge each of us to take time out of our normal weekly to-do's and help those who are not so lucky in life. We should thank each one of them for their inspiration to us - staying strong and living stronger for those less fortunate during this horrific U.S. disaster and world wars going on all over our planet Earth. -Ali

90 Days...

Well TexaCali Wine Co. has wrapped up the first 90 days of official business. And business ROCKS! I can honestly say that none of the wines and sake I represent are "stinkers". I'm so proud to show them each day - whether it's a customer shopping at Central Market that loves Malbec or a buyer in a rural town that has never tasted Torrontes to seeing a set of eyes light-up over their first sip of premium sake.

Emotionally, I know I've made a great decision starting this venture - my heart and brain are soo connected when it comes to the promotion of great wine in the state of Texas. Thanks to all of you that have supported my dream "start-up" within this the low-tech, old-school wine industry. Good people hang together.

Cheers to the many great wines of TexaCali Wine Co.! - Ali