TGIF!

Hi everyone, what a busy week up in Dallas and Fort Worth. The past few days have been loaded with TexaCali Wine Co. producer events and tastings - and I'm without a voice! Lost it last Monday and it's been trying to squeak out ever since. Jeesh.

A few things to point out to you all... Yucatan Taco Stand - OK all you Dallas peeps, here's a real reason to make a full day of visiting Fort Worth - head to the Fort Worth Modern or the amazing Fort Worth Zoo for the afternoon and make sure to stop into the Yucatan Taco Stand for lunch or a hearty dinner. They are located just a few blocks S. of downtown Fort Worth in the hospital district. Check out the Lamb Stew I had for lunch yesterday - delicious!! The wine list is so fun, Crios, Mapema, Crios, Budini from Argentina and Con Class and Espelt wines from Spain. I'm jealous of all the Fort Worthians who live close and can frequent this place, a real restaurant homerun!

PRESS COVERAGE FOR CRIOS! Argentina is soo hot right now...Great mention of Torrontes in the Wine column of Today's online magazine. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/29279409/

From Argentina, I discovered an excellent example of torrontes, the country’s most widely planted white grape that’s getting more (and well-deserved) attention here these days. This one is the 2008 Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes, made from grapes from Cafayate in the northern province of Salta, where some of the best-quality grapes are grown. This delicious, intensely floral $15 wine is balanced by a core of pear and citrus, especially lemon and grapefruit, and a touch of vanilla that combine to fill the mouth with flavor. It’s also made without oak and, as the label aptly puts it, combines the floral qualities of viognier with the dry crispness of sauvignon blanc. It’s another wine for lighter foods.

And Crios Malbec is recommended in the WSJ by Howard Silverman of Howard's Wine Cellar in Chicago. There is also a video clip to accompany the story. WINE RECOMMENDATIONS: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123500581329718303.html

Off to Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, Harlingen, McAllen, Houston then back to Austin over the next few days - wheewwwwww - just hope I get over this laryngitis! Cheers- Ali