Lewelling Vineyards

"Our family is proud to present this wine that celebrates 144 years as one of the oldest continuously-owned family vineyards in the Napa Valley." - Wight Family

Last call on for Texas on the remaining 2005 Vintage: (Pioneer Wine Company is the Texas distributor).

Robert Parker Reviews: 2005 Lewelling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard 94+ points $90 retail

2005 Lewelling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 92 points $50 retail

A super winery, Lewelling merits considerable attention for their Cabernet Sauvignons that are reminiscent of top-class Bordeaux Pauillacs possessing the extravagantly rich fruit of Napa. The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits a dense purple color along with a lovely perfume of burning charcoal embers and exceptionally pure creme de cassis fruit. Full-bodied with sweet tannin, stunning purity, a layered mouthfeel, and a long finish, it is an excellent Cabernet available at a bargain price by Napa Valley standards. Moreover, it should drink well for 15+ years. Boasting even more intensity, aromatic complexity, and a fuller, longer mouthfeel and finish, is the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Wight Vineyard. Sharing the same black/purple color, purity, and personality of its sibling, it should have 20-25 years of longevity. If Pontet Canet were making Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley, it might taste like this. Don't miss these wines if you love great Cabernet Sauvignon. RP

www.lewellingvineyards.com

The vineyards of the historic Lewelling estate were established in 1864 near the western foothills in St. Helena by pioneer winegrower and horticulturist John Lewelling. Janice Lewelling Wight, John Lewelling's great-granddaughter, and her husband Russ built a home on the family property in 1950 and quickly became involved in operating and replanting the vineyard. Today Russ, together with his three sons, Alan, Doug and Dave, farm a 28-acre vineyard on a portion of the original estate, one of the oldest continuously-owned family vineyards in the Napa Valley.

During the 1870's and 1880's the vineyards of the St. Helena area established a reputation for producing some of the finest wines in the United States, a reputation that is now acknowledged world-wide and is attributed to the unique combination of soils and climate found here. Over the years Lewelling Vineyards has consistently harvested exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that have been sold to such fine Napa Valley wineries as Caymus, Viader, and Beaulieu. In 1992 the Wight Family began production of their own vineyard-designated wine.

My favorite Napa Valley producer, I served Lewelling at my wedding, damn good Cabernet. Cheers - Ali

LIOCO in the news again!

A very in-depth article in the Wall Street Journal on California's well worth the money killer Chardonnays...here's what they said about LIOCO

" Lioco 'Charles Heintz' 2007 (Sonoma Coast).Very Good. This is how Chardonnay can taste with super-ripe fruit, a caring winemaker and no oak. Complex and interesting, with great texture. Complete and soul-satisfying." Read the entire article here: $44.99. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204731804574387333738746724.html

So cool, I was lucky to taste this one at the winery last year. And well well, there's a bottle chilled in my fridge right now...this will go perfect with fresh Halibut for dinner in a few hours! Cheers - Ali

Rainy Days...FINALLY!!

Oh as I look out the window of my office, I'd so love to capture the sound of this beautiful rain storm in Austin right now. We desperately need this rain, nature's soundtrack to relax the day away.

This past week was a hectic one, I was honored to host Jurgen Wagner, the winemaker of Spain's Cellar Capcanes winery for a few days in Austin and Dallas, spend an evening with a wonderful group of wine enthusiasts at The Wine Rack in Midland and wrap the week up on Friday with the knock-out Avante Beverages team back in Dallas for their state sales meeting.

Today and tomorrow I'm going to focus on a little R&R for sure. Back to Fort Worth on Monday for an Avante portfolio trade tasting then a few days in Houston to talk shop and pump up the volume with loyal supporters of all things TexaCali Wine Co. A few wines of note I sipped over the past few days:

www.cellarcapcanes.com - the Mas Donis $15

www.medlockames.com - RED $25

www.vineconnections.com - Luca Beso de Dante $50

www.davisfamilyvineyards.com - Barn D'Or $24

www.handleycellars.com - Sauvignon Blanc $12

www.pellegrinisonoma.com - Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet $28

www.liocowine.com - LIOCO Indica $20

www.teirawines.com - Merlot $15

www.storrswine.com - Rusty Ridge Zinfandel $34

www.vineconnections.com - Crios Syrah Bonarda $15

www.langewinery.com - Freedom Hill Pinot Noir $65

Go click around on their websites today, read their stories. I always learn something new when I read up on these fine wines and others they make. Ahh, loving this rainy day, I almost forgot the sound of rain drops. All tucked in... Cheers - Ali

and one for the little guy!!

...2008 Teira Dry Creek Sauv Blanc $15 suggested retail price.

Nice one. 112 cases just landed in Dallas for the State of Texas. You'll find it on the wine list at all DFW Fireside Pies too.

Bravo Bill Knuttle and Dan Donahoe on the first time Wine Spectator review! 88pts. Light-bodied, with pretty lemon-lime, floral, Key lime and passion fruit flavors that are bright, ...ripe and extremely refreshing. Candied pear drop and orange blossom notes give this a kick on the finish. Drink now. 1,500 cases made. –MW

Ahh last summer was so much fun at Teira... http://texacaliwinetrail.blogspot.com/2008/08/skeet-shooting-and-teira.html

Cheers - Ali

Cellar Capcanes

The next two days will be spent alongside Jurgen Wagner of Cellar Capcanes, I've met him a few times now in the states during Eric Solomon's National Tastings in San Francisco and Dallas, most recently at the winery in the Montsant Region of Spain. We'll be in Austin for 24 hours and then Dallas for about 6...if you're in the Austin wine trade, come by the Hotel San Jose fro 5-7pm tomorrow night to meet Jurgen and taste a few new releases with us.

A few words about Cellar Capcanes from the European Cellars website: The property is situated in the village of Capçanes and served for several years as the village cooperative. In the 1990’s, the co-op began making kosher wines for the Jewish population of Barcelona, and from that exposure in the much larger city, the property began to attract a greater level of interest. In 1995, a vast investment took place and the whole winery was been completely restructured and modernized. Eric Solomon was quite impressed with the quality of the wines and saw the potential for even further improvements and launched several custom cuvee projects with Capçanes, building the strong foundation on which their close relationship is built.

This bottle is my personal favorite...Costers del Gravet 2006

Appellation of Origin: D.O. Montsant

Varieties: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Grenache, 20% Cariñena

Vineyards: Sourced from different vineyards throughout the valley

Age of Vines: 30 - 60 years old

Altitude: 200-550 meters above sea level

Soils: Clay and granite with several plots of slate, slopes and old granite terraces

Aging: Aged for 12 months in new and one year old mainly French oak barriques

Rating: 90WA

Cheers - Ali

August 8, 2008

REPLAY. Sipping on some great Davis Family Vineyards wines tonight with a few wine collectors in Austin. Davis Family Vineyards of course - are available in Texas, but if you really want a few treats for your cellar and table, you've got to sign-up for the the "Friends of the Family" here http://www.davisfamilyvineyards.com/fotf_register.htm to get the year-round wine goods.

Last week Guy was in Dallas with me as well as his new 2007 releases. PHENOMENAL Vintage for DFV! I'm telling all the TexaCali Inner Circle members to sign up directly with his club or else, these 2007's wines will not be available much longer in regular distribution around here. Supply and demand at its best.

So my point is, invest in the future here and wines you'll be proud to serve to your dear friends and tell this "dream-come-true" story about. Do you know about his old vine Zinfandel Vineyard at the bottom of this slope? Epic! Enjoy the video I filmed while sipping

glass of DFV Russian River Chardonnay while visiting the Davis Family home last year... Cheers - Ali

LIOCO "2009 Winery of the Year"

speaking of the LIOCO Indica Old Vine Carignan below...

Job well done by the men of LIOCO! Cheers to Kevin, Matt and Kevin! Available at your favorite place to buy wine in Texas. Cheers - Ali

(please click picture to enlarge).

name that vine!

Is it Garnacha from Spain? Malbec from Mendoza? Syrah from France? Post your guesses, it's a fun one!

HINT: this was taken from an iphone in July from a producer I represent. Cheers- Ali

UPDATE: Thanks to all the comments on Facebook, Steve Edmunds was the first to guess the correct grapevine - Carignan from Redwood Valley in Mendocino County, California.

Found on www.liocowine.com "a selection of benchland vineyards in mendocino’s redwood valley compose this wine. the fruit comes from predominately old-vines which are dry-farmed and head-pruned. this cool, upland valley supports gradual (and often late) ripening. the soil is red clay strewn with fist sized rocks. the combination of vine age, an extended growing season, and tougher soil conspires to produce complex, intense wines.".

Next Post...2009 Wine & Spirits "Winery of the Year" LIOCO! Cheers - Ali

New Reviews from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate #184

Please click on image to enlarge.Bravo to the winemakers of Vine Connections. Argentine wines are ON FIRE in Texas (oh in a very good way!). Cheers - Ali

A transitional wine...Crios Malbec from Argentina!

Featured on NBC's Today show with Ray Isle. Cheers t0 2008 Crios Malbec "My transitional wine from Summer to the Winter, a lot of dark fruit, black berry and spice...drink this now with sausages on the BBQ". Kathy Lee Loved it, we all know she's a boozer : )

Congrats to Olivia and Feast!

For all you foodies out there, Bon Appetite magazine's September 2009 issue praises 2 of Texas' best! Here's a blurb from the website...

2009's Top Ten Best New Restaurants in America

Today's most exciting restaurants have a lot in common. They represent the new standard: simple, satisfying local food—all served with zero pretense. They support local farmers, sustainable agriculture, and regional cuisine.

Olivia

2043 South Lamar Boulevard, Austin; 512-804-2700; olivia-austin.com

There's only one thing on the walls of Olivia: a Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings concert poster that chef James Holmes's grandfather gave to him. The image—two groundbreaking country music legends from Texas—captures the spirit of this sophisticated yet laid-back spot. The restaurant's clean art-gallery-esque interior really shows off the poster—and Chef Holmes's food. He gathers his culinary inspiration from (and in) his backyard vegetable garden. The resulting menu includes produce-based dishes like risotto made with squash and greens, and spinach-potato gnocchi with olives and tomatoes. Holmes is also fond of riffs on comfort-food classics, like spaghetti cooked in red wine and the milk-braised pork shoulder here. The diverse clientele—a tattooed musician on his way to a show or an operagoer dressed to the nines—only adds to Olivia's considerable charm.

Feast

219 Westheimer Road, Houston; 713-529-7788; feasthouston.com

The locals didn't have much faith in Feast, a British-style gastropub with a menu that includes bubble and squeak, black pudding, and tons of offal. "They told us that we must put steak on the menu or we wouldn't make it. This is Texas, after all," says co-owner Meagan Silk. Despite the skeptics, Silk, her husband, James, and their friend Richard Knight decided to press on. And it's a good thing they did. Today, the restaurant—and its Brit-centric menu—is a huge hit. For the offal novices, we chose this recipe, which makes good use of beef neck bones and pig's feet. Try it. We promise that it's delicious.

eParker Wine of the Day...

and one of my personal favorites from Eric Solomon's Spanish portfilio. Eric took us to visit the Castillo family and winery during our visit in Spain. Unbelievable balance in these wines folks!

WA Tasting NOTE: The 2007 Monastrell is even better than the 2006 which received 88 points in Issue 175. The wine is estate grown and bottled from old vines and low yields. It was aged for six months in seasoned French and American oak barrels. Dark ruby-colored, it exhibits a nose of spice box, black cherry, and blueberry. This leads to a medium to full-bodied wine with layered fruit, savory flavors, enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years, and a pure close. Drink it over the next four years. Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC $9-$15 Retail.

2007 Bodegas Casa Castillo Monastrell

A Mourvedre Dry Red Table wine from Jumilla, Spain

Wines of Origin - LIOCO

A few solid suggestions for the weekend...look for LIOCO at Centennial, Whole Foods, The Austin Wine Merchant and Block 7 to name a few retailers around the state! Cheers and TGIF! Notes from Tanzer...

2007 LIOCO Chardonnay Sonoma County Pale gold. Vibrant, pure aromas of citrus fruit, flowers and herbs. Juicy lime and lemongrass flavors are complemented by notes of anise and honeysuckle. Gains power on the finish, which strongly repeats the anise note and offers good mineral cut. This is an outstanding value. $20, 90pts.

2007 LIOCO Pinot Noir Carneros Vivid red. Smoky red berry and cherry aromas are complicated by pungent herbal and floral notes. Mineral-driven red fruit flavors are refreshingly tangy, with a bite of cherry skin adding grip. Becomes deeper and chewier with air and finishes with excellent clarity and sweet persistence. Give this some decanter time. $37, 90pts. 2007

LIOCO Red Wine Indica Mendocino County A blend of carignane, petit sirah, grenache and mourvedre) Bright red. Flamboyant aromas of raspberry, cherry preserves and incense. Lively but supple red berry flavors are given depth by anise and cherry pit qualities. Reminds me of an open-knit 2007 southern Rhone wine, with excellent finishing clarity and persistent sweetness. $20, 90pts

Davis Family Vineyards Winemaker Dinner

Come on out and join Guy Davis, owner and Winemaker of California's Davis Family Vineyards...

Tillman's Roadhouse in the Bishop Arts District - Dallas.
Wednesday August 26, 7pm

The evening's lineup...

Seared Diver Sea Scallop
Pancetta butter beans, tomato consumme and sorrel swirl
2006 Gusto Sauvignon Blanc

Java Rubbed Lamb Ribs
jammy red wine glaze and tiny greens
2005 Barn D'Or

Jimi Hendricks Quail
Cherry wood smoked with spoon bread
(Special Davis Family Olive Oil)
2006 Old Vine Russian River Zinfandel

Cypress Grove Truffle Tremor
With Pistachio lavosh, baguette studded grissini and comeback creek figs
2005 Russian River Pinot Noir

Buttermilk Panna Cotta and Blueberry Powdered Sugar Dusted Landy Lemon Bar
With Blackberry Splatter
2006 Russian River Syrah

$95 per person.
Seated is limited for this special evening, please call Tillman's for reservations.
(214) 942-0988

See you at Tillman's!

TexSom 2009

Wonderful News tonight...Please join me in congratulating June Rodil of Uchi for winning Texas Best Sommelier tonight in Dallas!

It's a might fierce competition and she just rocked the house. I am very proud of our Austinite and fellow lover of Sake too! She's as sweet as she is smart - what an honor! And what super great news to kick-off my over-due blogging of late. Please congratulate June next time you see her at Uchi - outstanding my friend! Bravo and Well Done! - Ali

(This is a pic of June during out first "twitter happy hour at Uchi a few weeks ago).

Whole Foods - Downtown Austin

Congrats to Heather GK. in Houston for guessing the store yesterday that is featuring Handley Cellars "Dry Creek" Sauvignon Blanc - she was quick to comment on Facebook. All the Handley Cellar's wines are lovely and a fantastic value as well. Just a few medals and reviews they've received over the past year...Cheers - Ali

SWEEPSTAKES WINNER
2004 Pinot Noir Estate Reserve, Anderson Valley
San Diego International

BEST OF CLASS WINNERS
2007 Viognier, Dry Creek Valley, Handley Vineyard
- North of the Gate
2006 Pinot Noir, Mendocino County
- West Coast Wine Competition
2007 Pinot Gris, Anderson Valley
- North of the Gate

DOUBLE GOLD WINNERS
2006 Riesling, Mendocino County
- Mendocino County Fair
2003 Brut, Anderson Valley, Estate Vineyard
- San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
2004 Pinot Noir Estate Reserve, Anderson Valley – Pacific Rim International
2005 Syrah, Dry Creek Valley, Handley Vineyard - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
2007 Viognier, Dry Creek Valley, Handley Vineyard – Orange County Fair
2006 Pinot Noir, Mendocino County - Long Beach Grand Cru, North of the Gate
2006 Chardonnay, Dry Creek Valley, Handley Vineyard – North of the Gate
2007 Gewürztraminer, Anderson Valley – Riverside International
2007 Pinot Gris, Anderson Valley – Mendocino Wine Competition
2006 Pinot Blanc, Anderson Valley, Hein Vineyard – Los Angeles International
2006 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley – West Coast Wine Competition
2006 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley - San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
2006 Zinfandel, Redwood Valley – Riverside International

Recent Praise for Handley Wines

2006 Anderson Valley Estate Vineyard Chardonnay
90 POINTS - Wine & Spirits Magazine (October 2008)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - California Grapevine (August-September 2008)
EXCEPTIONAL - Dan Berger's Vintage Experience (September 11, 2008)
FOUR STARS - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - Santa Rosa Press Democrat - Michele Anna Jordan (September 10, 2008)
RECOMMENDED - San Jose Mercury News (July 9, 2008)
"GREEN CHARDONNAY AWARD" - Sierra Magazine (May/June 2009)

2007 Gewürztraminer, Anderson Valley
RECOMMENDED - More (December 2008)

2006 Pinot Blanc, Anderson Valley, Hein Vineyard
“Utterly lovely.” – Vinography (November 8, 2008)

2006 Riesling, Mendocino County
ONE PUFF - Connoisseur’s Guide (Sept. 2008)

2006 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
RECOMMENDED - Connoisseur’s Guide (Oct. 2008)
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - California Grapevine (Aug.-Sept. 2008)
RECOMMENDED - USA Today (Nov. 20, 2008)

2006 Pinot Noir, Mendocino County
“PINOT PICK” - Sunset (Nov 2008)

2006 Syrah, Redwood Valley, Kazmet Vineyard
91 POINTS - Wine Spectator Insider (Oct. 29, 2008)

Guess the store?

Deal of the Summer! Handley Cellers delicious Sauvignon Blanc from their gorgeous Dry Creek property. This wine is SINGING.......Oh yeah! Ali

www.handleycellars.com

The Next Food Network Star??

PLEASE WISH ME LUCK TOMORROW! Oh what the heck, I cook and drink with the masses all over the world. I'm all done with the 11 page application, you can click on www.texacaliwine.com "Next Food Network Star" link to view my "headshots". This should be a fun experience - so stay tuned.

In the meantime, I'm running into new wine and sake drinkers all over Texas who ask me how I do what "I do"...well here's a little summary for you all. Cheers - Ali

TexaCali Wine Co. was founded in the spring of 2005 with a mission
of assisting family owned wineries across the world in gaining
access to the Texas wine trade and to all Texas wine lovers.

After many years of learning the wine business in San Francisco, Alison Smith, a Fort Worth native and the owner of TexaCali Wine Co. now lives in Austin and is actively involved each day in the promotion of “wines made by real winemakers” making it onto dinner tables all over the Lone Star State.

In less than five years, TexaCali Wine Co. has grown into representing over 100 prestigious producers such as Domaine de Marcoux from France, LIOCO from California, Susana Balbo from Argentina, Lange Estate from Oregon, Lewelling Vineyards from Napa, and Russian River pioneer Pellegrini Family Vineyards from Sonoma - just to name a few!

TexaCali Wine Co. also represents the most premium Ginjo Sake producers from Japan – and yes Texas is a huge premium sake market.

“TexaCali Ali” has built a reputation of “the hardest-working person in the wine business” among the Texas wine trade from assisting in all areas of selling wine. From distributor inventory management, staff training and education, promotion on the TexaCali website and wine blog, to in-store customer tastings, all passages from the winery to the Texas table are covered by TexaCali Wine Co. efforts.

TexaCali Wine Co. thrives on Texas Wine Lovers spreading the word to others about the wines and Sake of TexaCali Wine Co. The “TexaCali Inner Circle” is vastly reaching those who care about and love fine wines…to learn more about The Inner Circle and TexaCali producers, please visit www.texacaliwine.com

Sipping through Summer

Whew - what a summer we are having in Texas. The heat is especially extreme in Austin - weeks of 100+ degree days. I really wish I had a pool in the yard. Some day. Thank GOD for having a plethora of summer wines and ginjo sake to keep things cool around here. I'm so thankful many of you are making a choice to purchase from family and independent producers of TexaCali!

Honestly, there's a lot of CHEAP SWILL flooding the market, most of the giant wine companies are losing their shirts and slashing prices on all the crappy wine that usually sells in the most remote places. The economic shake-out has been tough on overpriced wines and wines that really never delivered the goods when the economy was rockin'! I ask each of you to continue making an effort of supporting "the little guy"...you are the only people that can make a difference!

I am asked all the time "what are your favorite wines", well that changes each day. This weekend I'm really excited about sipping on Handley Cellers Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc ($15) and Medlock Ames Organic Sauvignon Blanc ($25) - such elegant and pure wines. Also, as for reds, I recently sipped on a 2004 Pellegrini Cloverdale Ranch Merlot ($24) - WOW!!!! The fruit in this bottle is just singing, it's going to be perfect with a grilled Bison tenderloin - oh and the Davis Family Vineyards Barn D'Or Syrah/Cab blend would also be divine with the Bison. Endless choices really, I can't leave out Crios Rose of Malbec ($11), a summer (oh I admit, Spring, Fall and Winter too) staple at my house. The Crios wines must be bought handfuls at a time - trust me! Enjoy your weekend, I know I am looking forward to CHILLING OUT! Cheers - Ali

Premium Sake Tasting...

Chill Out with Sake in Dallas this Week! Sigel's Fine Wine & Spirits sent out this promo all over the metroplex...hope to see a few of you there, the classes are limited to call to confirm your seats!

Sigel’s-Elite Seminar
featuring Ali Smith, Vine Connections Sake (yep that's me!)
Thursday, July 9th
Sigel’s-Elite (3209 N Fitzhugh)

Alison Smith of Vine Connections Sake, Texas' leading Japanese Sake Educator, will be conducting a fascinating introductory tasting of this iconic Japanese beverage. The seminar will feature an overview of the world of Sake, including the differing levels in the Sake quality hierarchy, Sake Terroir, Sake production methods and Sake & Food pairings, while showcasing some of the finest Japanese Sake producers available in this country.

Sakes to be Tasted:

Junmai
Tozai Living Jewel

Junmai Ginjo
Nanbu Bijin Southern Beauty
Chiyonosono Sacred Power
Kanbara Bride of the Fox

Tokubetsu Junmai
Rihaku Dreamy Clouds (Nigori)

Junmai Daiginjo
Ginja Shizuku Divine Droplets

Join us for our latest Sigel’s-Elite Wine Seminar, showcasing superior winemaking in an enjoyable and educational setting. Elite Seminars are held in the education center of our newest location, Sigel’s Elite (3209 N Fitzhugh). Each seminar will analyze and discuss a variety of wines in a seated, university style classroom with guest speakers, multimedia presentations and plenty of opportunity for Q&A style learning. Each Elite Seminar will be strictly limited to 20 seats per session, lasting approximately one hour each. Special pricing will be available after the tasting.
Session 1 will run from 6:00-7:15pm, Session 2 will run from 7:30-9pm. The seminar will be held at Sigel’s Elite, 3209 N Fitzhugh on Thursday, July 9. Cost for the event is $25 per person. To reserve a seat at this event please contact Scott Turner or Jim Fleming with credit card information at store04wine@sigels.com or 214/635-3162.

Solomon Scores Again...

No surprises here, the Spanish and French producers represented by Eric Solomon are FANTASTIC!

Robert Parker's reviews on the greatest and latest are now available to read all about... please click on http://www.texacaliwine.com/2009waspain.cfm

Happy 4th of July! Cheers - Ali

The Mile High City Break!

Posting from Denver, Colorado this afternoon. I'm here for a few days for a mid-year sales meeting for Vine Connections. Last year about this time I flew into Denver to see Death Cab for Cutie and Rogue Wave at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater - what a wild venue and amazing time. This visit will be much different, although just as exciting. The Vine Connections portfolio has set Texas wine and ginjo sake sales on FIRE over the years and I just can't help wanting to learn more from this group. We are assembled from all corners of the country, California, Wyoming, Florida and New York to name a few.

So here's the latest BIG NEWS from Vine Connections...ANORO (pronounced Ahn-your-o) the long awaited wines of Master Sommelier Ken Fredrickson are now ready to roll into our big State! He teased us a bit last year and sent a few for the Charlie Palmer's account in Dallas, but now we have full steam ahead and plenty of product to show you all. More details later this week - I can't wait to get my hands on the Anoro Chardonnay - just in time in Texas! Cheers! Ali

Dog Days of Summer...Already??

What are you doing to beat the heat? I'm talking TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURE DAYS around Texas - so soon this summer!!! No fun, unless you have a bottle or two open of the following cool producers - just ask your favorite wine shop...copy, paste and print this list to go!


Lange Estate 'Willamette Valley" Pinot Gris $16

Handley Cellars "Dry Creek" Sauvignon Blanc $16

Crios Torrontes - Argentina $14

Pellegrini "Olivet Lane" Russian River Chardonnay $24

Davis Family Vineyards "Gusto" Sauvignon Blanc - New Zealand $18

Dom. L'Hortus Rose - Southern France - $15

Teira Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc $14

San Clodio - Spanish Blanco Blend $20

Lioco Sonoma County "Unoaked" Chardonnay $20

Breakfast.Lunch.Dinner

So I've had a homemade Spanish Tortilla on my mind for over a week now. Simple ingredients: Thinly sliced potatoes & onions, handfuls of eggs and a little dash of salt and pepper. A few snap shots of my first try at it this morning...

While in Spain, I saw the Tortilla in every Tapa's bar, airport and truck-stop restaurant along the way. I never took a bite until late in the trip and man it was one of the best tastes of the entire week. I had a few sips of Spanish Rose alongside the Tortilla - Artazuri Rosado to be exact. Now that I'm back, it begs the question...what wine would you recommend with it? SALUD! Ali

Top 10

Everyday while in Spain, we had plenty of travel-time on the bus. The group of folks I traveled with were all top wine industry professionals across the US - distributors, restaurateurs and powerful retailers. Chatting with this group from sunrise and into the wee-hours of the morning each day was great fun and inspiring.

Throughout the week "Top 10" lists were compiled by my "back of the bus" companions. I won't even go into all the titles, they usually had less to do with wine and more to do with pop-culture. So in remembrance of those crazy-ass Top 10 lists...here's one for the books - click on the pictures to enlarge.

"Top 10 Mind-blowing Moments of the Solomon Trip"

10. "Professor Xavier Gramona" explained "Mouseability" of his beautiful Cava. "We focus on crafting wines that have a long life without oxidation, the spirit, maturity, balance and complexity can grow-up, the yeast is the most responsible".








9. 84 farmers gave over 1.5million to Capcanes, the man below swimming in his skivvies directed them to do so. True Vision and Courage!
The Capcanes property is situated in the village of Capcanes and served for several years as the village cooperative. In 1995, this vast investment took place and the whole winery was completely restructured and modernized thanks to farmers - true believers of the region.


8. The Priorat - is a small unique pocket of black hills where powerful, deep red wines of superb quality have been made for over eight centuries. Before standing on this schiste ridden hillside, we had NO idea how steep and vertical the vineyards of the Priorat stand. By far the hardest farming and vineyard management we saw in Spain. TexaCali Ali's personal favorite new discovery: "Closa Batllet" created by Sonia and Marc Ripoll.

7. 2005 Clos Eramus. This appeared over dinner in Falset, not often I get to drink (not just taste) a 100 point wine over dinner while sitting next to the winemaker! The vertical vineyard slightly right of center in this photo is the orginal Daphne planted a few years ago in the Priorat. Here's the parker blurb: 'The 2005 Clos Erasmus is produced from three vineyard sites originally terraced by the Greeks. The current blend is 85% Garnacha and 15% Syrah with a long-term goal of making a 100% Garnacha wine. The wine was aged for 18 months in new French oak. It is super-fragrant with aromas of crushed stone, slate, cinnamon, baking spices, cassis, kirsch, blueberry, and wild black cherry. Perhaps a bit tighter than the 2004, on the palate there is a liquid minerality that must be tasted to be believed. Opulent, harmonious, and awesome are words which really cannot do justice to this extraordinary vinous achievement.

6. Scala Dei "God's Ladder" - after sipping the gorgeous 100% Garnacha Blanca from 100+ year old vines of Conreria de'Scala Dei "Les Brugueres", winemaker Jordi Vidal led us on a tour to see remains of a Carthusian monastery in Scala Dei, Priorat.





5. Bodegas Mustiguillo - their mission is to protect indigenous "Bobal" and nuture it into what has become one of Spain's most fancinating wines. From their Mestizaje red blend of bobal, tempranillo, cabernet and garnacha tintorera to their 100% bobal bottle of Quincha Corral, a true sense of place can be tasted in each sip.





4. Paella! I can't leave this one out, the father who began working at age 6 is now retired but playing golf and has become one of the best amatures on the senior circuit in Spain! This particular paella was an incredible savory mix of roasted green snap peas, grilled artichokes, olive oil and rice. Fire roasted for a few hours and served HOT! Delicious with the wines of Mustiguillo.




3. 16th Century Wine Cellar complete with its Amphora's. Just breathtaking to see the techniques of winemaking that still reign today. This historic site is on the property of Cellar del Roure winery - created in 1995 as a family estate by Pablo Calatayud. Based in the village of Moixent, the property is committed to nurturing and championing the wines and indigenous varietals of the region, most notably the Mando grape. The estate owns three different blocks of vines on the northern slope of the Serra Grossa at 550 meters above sea level.

2. Casa Castillo - Day 5 we visited the newest addition to the Solomon Selections Spanish Portfolio. I had the great pleasure of sitting next to the second generation of the family Mr. Nemesio and his son Jose Vincente who revived this property that was originally founded in 1870. Stylistically the wines are true to their terroir and taste. Very well balanced monastrell, syrahs and cabernet. The 2006 Las Gravas was my personal favorite last spring at the Solomon tasting in San Francisco, still is. 55% Monastrell, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. Gorgeous wine!

1. Number 1 already? Well I have to give the honors to the 'back of the bus posse" a few members are missing in this photo, but this Friday night in Madrid was the most fun time all week long. Thanks to JT, Arthur, Jeffery and Ronnie for always keeping it real and making me laugh to tears this night. An unexpected & unplanned night of savory tapas (oh that tortilla and octopus plate!) and wines that were full of surprise and adventure.




I took well over 600 pictures and am in the midst of creating a day-by-day photo essay on www.texacaliwine.com. It's going to take a few more days, I'm off to Dallas and Fort Worth until Sunday. Stay tuned and in the meantime, go click around on www.europeancellars.com to discover your own Top 10 list from Spain...Cheers! Ali

Quick Update from Spain

Meet the talented team behind Capcanes. After a tour of the winery and tasting, they hosted us for lunch on the mountain-tops above the vineyards...more details coming later about our time at Capcanes.

Traveling without my laptop this week, so I'm on borrowed time at the hotel Cal Lop in the Priorat.


They say a picture is worth a thousand words...more on www.texacaliwine.com under "photos - Spain 2009". Keep checking in, I'll try to upload more very soon. Salud! Ali