Italian Wine, Duck and Rock and Roll...

Friday night - had a super delicious dinner at Starlite - and possibly one of the best bottles of Italian wine I've tried in years - 2004 Le Pergole Torte [100% Sangioveto] If you haven't been to Starlite lately, you have been missing out. The menu has changed - fancy foods and intimate seating upstairs while a bistro-style menu is offered in the main dining area. The crabcakes are unbelievable - $7 for two and I highly suggest ordering the duck - amazing!

After dinner we saw The Walkmen at The Parish. By far - the very best small venue live show I've seen all year...they totally rocked the house. I saw them a few years back in San Fransisco at Slim's. This past Friday night they sounded soo GREAT! I even got a shout-out from the lead singer "who's that hell-fire woman out there?" Only those who have attended concerts with me or a basket-ball game can truly understand. What a show!

Saturday was filled with Texas-OU excitement around the house...a loss for my OU sweetheart did not lead to a festive day whatsoever. Cheers - Ali

House Wine

Well, I did it, finally after all these years of living as a nomad - I bought a house! It's a first-house, a true investment and a great place to rest my head for a few years (while my future house in the west hills of Austin with a massive infinity pool awaits!). Funny thing though - while signing my life away on paperwork, my credit report listed all the places I've lived since 1994. WOW.
Dallas - the city apartment on Cedar Springs, the upstairs cottage in Highland Park, a small one-bedroom on Gaston Ave - all bringing back memories of food and wine of course. My Dallas days were full of grilling out just about everything and drinking wine from Italy, Napa and Sonoma. I stuck to the Big Names in the 90's while I began to learn more about the world of wine.

Moving to San Francisco certainly stepped things up in the wine department - the 3 bedroom attic apartment on Broadway (where the rent equaled a small ranch in Texas) was filled with wines from the South of France and Burgundy. Then onto the high-rise at the top of the Fillmore hill and Pacific Ave. - mostly wines from New Zealand, South America and the Rhone Valley (on a serious budget this year). Ahh then last but not least my years living in the Presidio where the house was filled with wines from K&L Wine Merchants - where I worked - Loire, Champagne, Germany, Bordeaux and my favorite California producers like Pellegrini, Storrs and Handley - many of which I represent today.

Life brought me back to Texas in 2004 and more rentals - though a hellava lot cheaper. More money to spend on wine-hurray! Wine tastings, winemaker dinners, and Ginjo Sake - the best new addition to my personal food and wine life no doubt. This past year, I've managed to rent a groovy yellow house a few blocks from Barton Springs where memories of Spanish wine and their makers creating music on the front lawn abound.
I'll be out of here before Halloween - the move sandwiched in between Fort Worths 65 Roses event and a week long visit by Etienne Montille. Off to my new home, just a few blocks away from my LAST RENTAL.

I imagine the first night in the new house christened by 96 Krug...oh yeah! A few shots of the new place...what is your favorite "house wine" these days? Cheers - Ali

Tozai Ginjo Sake

Hi Everyone in Austin - this event is going to be a blast and for such a great Charity. I'll be there talking up the first "Tozai Sake Ice Bar" ever created! Oh yeah!

Check out one of the top-selling bottles in Texas.

Cheers - Ali

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet has been my very favorite for years now - find it in Texas for about $28 a bottle these days.

From the San Francisco Chronicle...A few grape varieties do particularly well in appellations within Sonoma County, such as Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel and Russian River Pinot Noir. Though it's somewhat overshadowed by neighboring Napa Valley, Sonoma County also does well with Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2007, the red variety was second only to Chardonnay's acreage and tons crushed. We tasted 75 wines from Sonoma County and its appellations, from several vintages: 2006, 2005, 2004 and a few 2003s. More than half were 2005s, from which our favorite three-star wines emerged.

CLOVERDALE RANCH CABERNET SAUVIGNON - Ranks the Highest!

Rating: THREE STARS 2005 Pellegrini Family Vineyards Cloverdale Ranch Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($28) Aged loam and soy sauce aromas add complexity and are lifted by bright, ripe berry-black cherry fruit. Sharp cassis, beautiful fruit complexity and fine-boned, tannic structure with walnut skin hints on the complex palate. Depth, refinement and great balance. Aged 19 months in a combination of French, Hungarian and American oak.
link to complete article

worldle up!

Over the past few months I've been working on a new website and blog design for www.texacaliwine.com here's a fun feature - "Wordle". The technology basically captures everything on my current blog front page and creates word-art. I think it's really cool...

Drinking Away Your Sorrows?

I'm trying to buy my first home right now, yeah the timing is ridiculous with the credit crunch as a sole proprietor. I've had to provide more financial records to qualify for a mortgage than a Southern Debutant requires from her beau before the Wedding Day. But that's just about the only change I've personally felt from the recent economic mess.

The question I'm asked the most, contemplated, analyzed and had to discuss in great length "has the wine business slowed down for you?". Comparing this year, to last year and even the year before - my brands are hitting record sales numbers in Texas. Call it the "energy bubble" or just a decent cost of living here, but Texans still have plenty to celebrate and continue to do so - with a lot of wine.

However - I'm very lucky to have the lion-share of great value wines made by family winemakers from all corners of the world. A handful of so-called "collectors-wines" still go quickly. A few days ago Slate published "How has the financial crisis affected the wine world?

I'm just glad Wall St. is in NYC and not in Texas - though I'm mad as hell at the broker who just plunked down 100% cash on a house I finally found in Austin. Wonder if he drinks wine??? - Cheers - Ali

What You Must Drink this Weekend

It's still hot - I looked up at the trusty car temperature gage at 6:15pm yesterday 95 degrees shouted back at me! Don't let the 4am cool breeze fool you into breaking out the heavy red wine yet! This is the crisp, refreshing and floral bottle of Spanish white wine that will be uncorked over the next few days at my house in HOT Austin, Texas.

Sitios de Bodega Con Class 2007
The Con Class is a blend of 80% Verdejo, 10% Viura, 10% Sauvignon Blanc - such a delicious combination!

A little background: For six generations, the Sanz family has been making wines in Rueda. In 2005, Ricardo Sanz created started producing his wines under the new Sitios de Bodega label in Rueda. The project distinguishes his modern approach from that of his father, who still produces wines under different labels.

Rueda is located in northwestern Spain - just south of the River Duero and not far from the Portuguese border. Scorched bare by retreating Moors in the tenth century, the region lay fallow for generations. During this period, a wild grape, Verdejo, appeared throughout the district. As Rueda was resettled in the 11th century, the grape was gradually domesticated throughout the district.

In the 1970's, Marques de Riscal initiated a renaissance in Rueda winemaking. Riscal recognized that modern winemaking equipment could produce a fresh and delicious wine from Verdejo, a revelation, since the grape oxidizes very rapidly to produce sherry-like aromas. In addition, the estate introduced other varieties like Viura and Sauvignon Blanc that flourish in Rueda's chalky soils. The resulting wines were completely different from what Spain was used to drinking - totally unlike the heavy and /or oxidized whites the country had produced for generations. To capture the essence of this easily oxidized grape, Ricardo began night-harvesting, putting the delicate fruit into small plastic boxes. Immediately after destemming, the grapes are hit with inert gas (usually nitrogen) to protect them from oxidation. Skin contact is kept to a minimum and overseen carefully. The must settles at a very low temperature (14 degrees C), and the very clean must then ferments for 25 to 30 days, after which Ricardo will stir the fine lees periodically. Bottling takes place after a very light filtration.

I think this is Ricardo's best Con Class yet! Around $10 at Whole Foods in Texas. Cheers - Ali

How three wineries are elevating America's top varietal from punch line to powerhouse...

One of the first things I do on Friday mornings is check the wine section in the San Francisco Chronicle. Usually to read about old friends and wineries that I help out here in Texas. This morning was no exception. LIOCO is in the spotlight. I am so proud of Matt and Kevin for what they set out to accomplish in this wacko world of wine and how they've made it happen for LIOCO. If you haven't picked up a bottle or 12 of LIOCO yet, you better get on it. Their reds are outstanding too!

Here's the article below from the paper today...Cheers - Ali

Matt Licklider and Kevin O'Conner: Mission: To highlight the potential of extraordinary Chardonnay vineyards.

Over time, an overarching question emerged: Rather than dabble in the usual lip service about terroir or Burgundian style, could they make wines in California that reflected the true nature of their origins? How would such wines be made? How would they be different from the endless roster of others' single-vineyard wines?

They settled on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as base material. The two began devising a strategy

that, for Chardonnay at least, would strip away most of the typical artifice and let the grapes' origins emerge. Looking to the crisp white wines of Chablis and the Loire Valley, they left behind wood barrels and casks in favor of steel tanks. Yeasts would be wild.

"What we're trying to do," says Kevin Kelley, Lioco's winemaker, "is remove as much of the winemaking as possible."

So far, none of this was terribly different from other unoaked Chardonnays on the market. But in this case they felt the typical model for wannabe Chablis - clear, lees-free juice and no malolactic fermentation in order to preserve crispness - was its own sort of interventionism. So they agreed to allow a natural malolactic fermentation to take place, and let wines sit on their lees (though never stirred) to bolster texture. It was a hybrid approach, melding the austerity of unoaked wines and the fullness of standard California Chard.

"It wasn't that we had a chip on our shoulder about oaky Chardonnay," Licklider says. "We thought we would go the whole distance with it."

What really mattered, though, were the sites they bartered and begged to get fruit from. They sought out parcels that, Licklider says, hosted vines "at the limits of their viability." That meant rocky, poor soils in the Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley and the Chalone appellation outside Monterey.

Rather than tie themselves to a specific site, they followed the path of many younger vintners and sought out a portfolio of top sources. With the exception of their Sonoma County Chardonnay, a blend of three parcels that provides an introduction to the Lioco style, each of the four vineyard-designated wines (along with Lioco's similarly conceived Pinot Noirs) offers a distinct snapshot of vintage and origins.

And what origins. Lioco's vineyard list intersects with some of the state's best Chardonnay locales: such places as Durell Vineyard, which sources powerhouses like Patz & Hall and Kistler, or the Charles Heintz Vineyard, where wineries like Ted Lemon's Littorai get fruit.

Lioco's wines can shock the uninitiated. Rather than the sharp edges and sometimes barely ripe profiles of unoaked Chardonnay, they burst with earthy aromas and rich fruit flavors, at times more evoking a white Rhone or dry Alsatian wine. Flavors are clean and mouthfilling, not tropical but still exotic. A bit of decanting seems to help bring out the vibrancy.

Stripped of their oak and yeast trappings, each Chardonnay is unmistakably different, though with 2005 as their first vintage, it's a bit soon to know whether each vineyard will maintain its signature every year. But that's the joy of the project. O'Connor and Licklider have called a bluff on the notion that California vineyards are by default worthy of distinction. If they're proven right, they'll have strong evidence that even in the land of oak and butter, Chardonnay terroir is no myth.

LIOCO

2007 Lioco Sonoma County Chardonnay ($20) A blend of fruit from the Stuhlmuller, Diamond Oaks and Mazzera vineyards, this displays Lioco's style, not its preference for single-site wines. Solid, soft apple and melon fruit are balanced by hay and chive highlights. The oak-free texture is firm but ripe, though the alcohol shows a bit, which is one side effect of Lioco's WYSIWYG approach.

2006 Lioco Durell Vineyard Sonoma Valley Chardonnay ($40) From a hilly, gravelly site at the edge of Sonoma Valley, and picked at just over 23 Brix, a measure of sugar. Taut and edgy, with notes of yeast and puffed wheat to open. Then green apple, peach and grapefruit, with a bit of bitter almond on a firm finish. There's momentum to the wine, plenty of body but no moment when it loses focus.

2006 Lioco Charles Heintz Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($45) Probably the most polarizing of Lioco's wines. The fog-shrouded Heintz vineyard, at 1,000 feet elevation outside Occidental, faced a wet September and the threat of rot. There are clear signs of botrytis (noble rot) in what is a completely dry wine. With heavy notes of honey, fresh orange, yellow apple and Anjou pear, and a leesy weight, it's expressive and exotic, with the impression of lemon confit and a remarkably opulent texture even for Chardonnay. Think along the lines of the dry wines of Sauternes.

This article appeared on page F - 4 of the San Francisco Chronicle

BRAVO!!!!!!!

The Wine Spectator highlights the producers of Vine Connections (once again!)...

Here's a selection of new releases that demonstrates what Argentina does best: lots of vivid, ripe fruit flavors with rich but fresh finishes, all with lots of bang for the buck.

All the wines here are under $30, some under $20, and they represent the efforts of some of Argentina's best winemakers. Luis Reginato is one of them—he fashions the wines for both Laura Catena's Luca brand as well as the La Posta del Viñatero label. Roberto de la Mota, undaunted by a car accident that has left him using a wheelchair, has Bodega Mendel already among Argentina's elite wineries in just its third vintage...while Susana Balbo's Dominio del Plata winery produces both the muscular BenMarco styled wines her viticulturalist ex-husband, Pedro Marchevsky, prefers, as well as her more polished, suave eponymous line.

LUCA Syrah Uco Valley Laborde Double Select 2006 Score: 91 | $25

Rich, toasty, ambitious style, with lots of flashy mocha, blueberry compote, blackberry and boysenberry fruit. Lushly textured, with a long, creamy finish that lets the exotic fruit echo. Drink now through 2010. 2,500 cases made.

MAPEMA Malbec Mendoza 2006 Score: 90 | $20

Ripe and forward with dark licorice, fig, currant preserve and chocolate notes riding along round, rich tannins. Rock solid finish. Drink now through 2010. 2,000 cases made.

DOMINIO DEL PLATA Malbec Mendoza Susana Balbo 2007 Score: 90 | $27

Sports an enticing mocha and spice filled nose, along with creamy raspberry and boysenberry fruit flavors that carry through the lengthy, pure finish. Drink now through 2009. 6,000 cases made.—J.M.

LA POSTA DEL VIÑATERO Malbec Mendoza Angel Paulucci Vineyard 2007 Score: 90 | $18

Juicy and ripe, with lots of fig, blackberry, mocha and currant paste notes that pump through the rich, fleshy finish. Solid acidity keeps it honest. Drink now through 2010. 8,000 cases made. —J.M.

Live from Monday Night Football

It's good to be the wine maker for Luca, Tikal, La Posta and Reginato wines from Argentina! Luis is enjoying his first NFL game - what a cool game to see. Go COWBOYS! Cheers - ALI

Cooled off in Dallas today.

So nice to have seen some old friends and new faces yesterday afternoon at Central Market Fort Worth. My wine makers always say it's the friendliest place they visit. Many bottles of La Posta Pizzella Malbec, La Posta Cocina and Tikal Patriota were purchased and what a beautiful COOL evening to enjoy them. The temperature has finally dropped here - I woke up to a chill in the air - WHOO HOO! The best time of year to stock up your wine stash at home.

On a more serious note, please keep your thoughts and prayers on James Koonce and family. James is the wine director for Brennan's in Houston - he and his daughter were trapped inside the restaurant when Hurricane Ike hit - Brennan's suffered a huge fire. They are both in critical condition and have been flown to San Antonio. I know events and benefits are currently being organized - stay tuned for details soon. James has always stood out to me as one of the hardest working, incredibly passionate and humble wine buyers in the state, a treasure. He has soo many people pulling for him!

Cheers to a good week ahead and for the Houston area to recover quickly from the Hurricane Ike mess. - Ali

Tuesday Night in Fort Worth

Don't miss out on the chance to meet the winemaker of Luca, Tikal and LaPosta wines. Luis Reginato will be at Lanny's for a gourmet dinner and celebration.

A portfolio wine tasting will precede from 5:30-6:30 with passed hors d’ oeuvres and over 12 different wines to sample. $125per person.

Wines of Argentina

First Course

Reginato, Blanc de Blanc Sparkling

Second Course

Crios, Torrontes

Third Course

Luca Syrah & Luca Chardonnay

Fourth Course

Susana Balbo, “Brioso”

Fifth Course

Virtuoso, Late Harvest Malbec

For Reservations, call (817) 850-9996

Or email reservations@lannyskitchen.com

We Are Austin...

Random Pictures from the last few days around town...click to enlarge.

1. Friday -TCA Asian Pacific Culinary Event featuring Sake from Vine Connections.
2. Henley stalking the mailman on Saturday.
3. Sunday morning greetings from this bright green lizard on the porch.
4. "Curly Suicide Fan' at a Hell Cats Roller Derby Match.
5. And of course, a Pig lover parked at the Post Office yesterday.
6. 

No problem with Austinites keeping things weird. Cheers - Ali

More Amazing Scores!

Great news! Vine Connections recently received outstanding Wine Spectator reviews for the current release of Luca Malbec 2007 and for several other much-anticipated, upcoming releases. Check them out below...oh yeah!

LUCA - Shipping Now!
Malbec 2007
93 points | $35 | 1,700 cases

LUCA - Est. Release Date: November 1st
Nico 2005
94 points | $125 | 100 cases

NOSOTROS - Est. Release Date: November 1st
Malbec 2006
94 points | $100 | 200 cases

BENMARCO - Est. Release Date: January 1st
Expresivo 2006
92 points | $35 | 700 cases

LUCA - Est. Release Date: February 1st
Beso de Dante 2006
93 points | $50 | 200 cases


TIKAL - Est. Release Date: March 1st
Jublio 2006
91 points | $50 | 350 cases

This just in from Eric Solomon...

The Parker reviews came in last night during a heated match of petanque at Chateau Pesquie - and how fitting since Pesquie itself received the highest score in the Rhone report! 2005 Chateau Pesquie Quintessence - 93 Points "Pesquie's top cuvee, the 2005 Quintessence, comes from 80% old vine Syrah and 20% Grenache aged in new French oak for 12 months before being bottled with no fining or filtration. This is an opaque purple-hued, classic, cool climate Syrah from southern France. The higher elevation gives the wine great acidity as well as an extraordinary bouquet of acacia flowers, creme de cassis, blackberries, tar, licorice, and spice. Deep, full-bodied, and layered, this gorgeous offering should drink beautifully for 5-7 years." 2006 Chateau Pesquie Terrasses - 90 Points "The unfined/unfiltered 2006 Les Terrasses Rouge, a custom cuvee made for American importer Eric Solomon, is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. Its deep ruby/purple hue is accompanied by a lovely bouquet of black currants, black cherries, licorice, smoke, roasted herbs, and melted licorice. Deep and full-bodied with velvety tannins, good acidity, and a long finish, this is a heck-of-a wine to drink over the next 4-5 years. "This is the benchmark estate for fabulous wine in the Cotes du Ventoux. Even with the weak American dollar, it can still be purchased for a song."

Other Highlights: FRANCE- 2006 Calvet-Thunevin VDP des Cotes Catalanes Cuvee Constance 91 points 2005 Chateau La Graviere Tirecul Les Pins 90 points 2006 Chateau Pesquie Cotes du Ventoux Cuvee des Terrasses 90 points 2005 Chateau Pesquie Cotes du Ventoux la Quintessence 93 points 2007 Domaine d'Andezon Cotes du Rhone Villages la Granacha Signargues 91 points 2007 Domaine Lafage Cote d'Est 90 points 2006 Domaine Lafage Cote Grenache 90 points 2007 Frederic Giachino Abymes Monfarina 92 points 2006 Philippe Cambie Cotes du Rhone Calendal 90 points 2005 Saint-Jean du Barroux Cotes du Ventoux l'Oligocene 91 points 2006 Domaine de l'Hortus (Jean Orliac) Coteaux du Languedoc Bergerie Classique Rouge 90 points 2005 Domaine du Clos des Fees Cotes Catalanes Blanc 90 points 2007 Domaine la Garrigue Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Romaine 92 points 2007 Domaine de l'Hortus (Jean Orliac) Coteaux du Languedoc Bergerie Classique Blanc 90 points 2006 Domaine de la Janasse Cotes du Rhone les Garrigues (90-92) points 2005 Domaine de la Janasse Cotes du Rhone les Garrigues 92 points 2005 Domaine la Garrigue Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Romaine 91 points 2005 Domaine la Garrigue Vacqueyras 90+ points 2006 Domaine la Garrigue Vacqueyras 91 points 2006 Domaine la Soumade Cotes du Rhone les Violettes 90 points 2005 Domaine la Soumade Cotes du Rhone les Violettes 91 points

SPAIN - 2007 Bodegas Casa Castillo Monastrell 90 points 2006 Bodegas Castano Hecula 90 points 2007 Bodegas Valderroa Valdesil Godello 90 points 2007 Bodegas Mustiguillo Mestizaje 90 points 2006 Creta Creta 91 points 2006 Creta Roble 90+ points 2006 Gramona Cava Grand Cuvee 90 points 2006 Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha 91 points 2006 Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha Vinas Viejas 91 points 2007 Pazo de Senorans Albarino 92 points 2007 Rafael Palacios Louro Do Bolo 90 points 2006 Vinas de El Regejal El Regejal 92 points 2007 Bodegas Jimenez Landi Sotorrondero 90 points

Stay-cation

Well Labor Day weekend this year is all about staying local. Today marks the first official college football watching party - which means TexaCali Ali will be cooking for a handful of rowdy fans. In fact, my guy is a huge OU fan, so this is the first time EVER that I'll be hosting Sooner freakshows. Should be interesting...

I've picked up a case of wines for the weekend - all under $20 and can be found at your favorite fine wine shop - just about anywhere in America. Here are a few wines to copy/paste and print off before you head out of the house today....

Crios Torrontes - always the BEST Torrontes on the market - soo great with spicy King Ranch Caserole during the 1st quarter of the game. $15

Fort Ross Rose of Pinot Noir - darker than Rose from the South of France, and a complete knock-out. This is perfect for those who desire elegance but softness in their wine glass. $17

Las Rocas - this Spanish red has always been a staple for any informal gathering at my place, just big enough and smooth enough to please the entire crowd. $11

Pellegrini Unoaked Chardonnay - Awesome juice from California's Russian River Region. If you hate heavy butter and sweet butter notes in your wine, then this is your bottle. $16

Handley Cellars Gewürztraminer - a tiny bit of sweet with a big swirl of asian spice...this is the wine to break-out for those fans that may just be getting into wine or can appreciate wines created in an Alsatian style. $16

BenMarco Cabernet - Break this puppy out if you are grilling. I refer to this Cab as the "working mans Caymus". Yes - its terrific from Susana Balbo and Pedro Marchevsky down in Mendoza! $19

LaPosta Malbec - I can never get enough of this wine, I open it one minute, turn my head and Whoosh - it's all gone. This is the malbec that goes first at all parties no matter what. A real sipper that just makes the food taste like it was cooked by Bobby Flay himself. LOVE IT. $18

Teira Dry Creek Zinfandel - damn good juice from one of the most enthusiastic wine guys in the business. Big ripe berrys and dark and lushes flavors just attack your tastebuds. One of the best values on the shelves today! $17

Go HORNS! - Ali
(www.texacaliwine.com - go check out "Friends of TCWC")

Living & Drinking in the Moment

...NY TIMES THIS WEEK

From the Wines of the Times...2007 Burgans Albarino

NY Times wine writer Eric Asimov reminded us that despite the fall and winter collections on display in retail stores across the country, there are still plenty of summer sipping days left in the season. Which brought him, natuarally, to Albarino ("consummate summer wine") and a tasting of 25 bottles in the market today. Which brought him, naturally, to Burgans which ranked among the top in the tasting and by far a best buy in the line up.

This is the same wine that the Wine Advocate gave 90 points, saying "in terms of bang for the buck, it has no challenger... a sprightly nose of mineral, spring flowers, and lemon peel. Ripe, balanced, and concentrated, this is an ideal match for flaky fish courses."

Savor the end of summer...and stock up on Burgans!

Read the entire article here

Tomorrow night

ART ATTACK! Live Music and Local Art - Teira Sauv Blanc, Pellegrini Sauv Blanc & Family Blend plus Argentina's Budini Chardonnay and Cabernet are sponsors.

Even with all of the attractions that the city of Austin has to offer, how many people can hook you up with live art complemented by live music and complementary beverages? That is exactly what you will get if you come out to the Austin Art Garage and Do512.com complex this Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. Born out of a desire to help support the local art community, there will be a silent live art auction during band performances including Brazos and Sunset, while patrons watch artists paint live and bid on their creations.

Bids start at $10, and complementary beverages will be provided by Sweetleaf Tea, TexaCali Wines, Lone Star Beer and Bacardi, who will be there teaching you how to make your own Bacardi Mojitos! 21+ w/ ID's ONLY will be admitted

$10 Suggested Donation at the door, only $5 with RSVP!

Bands Playing: BRAZOS, SUNSET, THE EARLY TAPES, Tenlons Fort, SITAR AND TABLA BY AMIE AND SHIV AND QAWWALI MUSIC BY RIYAAZ.

On the deck with Guy Davis

Spent some time with Guy and Judy Davis last week - sipping on some bubbles on their deck overlooking the vines before dinner.

At dinner - he opened his new 2005 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and it BLEW ME AWAY. Take all you can now folks, this bottle of Cabernet is not going to be available very long. Gold Medals, Sweepstakes titles - you name it - the 2005 is just about the best wine I think he's ever made - and Guy's made a lot of great juice over the years!

Here's a quick view of his Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah vineyards located in the heart of the Russian River region in Sonoma. Cheers - Ali

At the movies...

TexaCali Wine Co. begins a new ad campaign in September. Please keep your eye out for this ad at all Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations throughout Texas. The ad is running in their monthly events program - easy to tear out and take with you when shopping for your favorite wines and sake...cheers - Ali