Davis Family Vineyards Winemaker Dinner

This Friday night in Austin...please click on photo to read the details! A dinner that is not to be missed if you are into drinking extremely well made wine and eating great food together. See you there - Ali

Chefs Under Fire

Take a break from your turkey leftovers and join us for an exciting competition - CHEFS UNDER FIRE, Monday, November 30th at the AT&T Conference Center in Austin.

Enjoy wine & small bites while watching our finalists pull out all stops for our three IRON CHEF judges.

How could it get any better? Each ticket purchase comes with a one year subscription to the PLATE & VINE online interactive cookbook featuring recipes from the Iron Chefs as well as other Celebrity Chefs throughout Texas.

Iron Chef America judges include Chef David Bull (of Bolla at the Stoneleigh Hotel & Spa), Chef Tyson Cole (of UCHI), and Chef Kent Rathbun (of Jasper's & Abacus).

Each chef has personally selected one of his Plate & Vine Interactive Cookbook recipes for finalists to cook and be judged by the celebrity chefs.

Experience the thrill of meeting Iron Chef Challengers and witness the ruthless competition. A few seats are still available, come join the Monday night fun in Austin. Please click the pic above for more event details or visit www.keepercollection.com. See you there - Ali

Best of the Year 2009 Editors Choice!

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More to be thankful for...

More Great Press for TexaCali Wine Co. Fans! December's Wine Enthusiast Magazine gave the following high scores to Pellegrini Family Vineyards of Sonoma! Cheers - Ali

91 Pellegrini 2007 Olivet Lane Vineyard Estate Bottled Chardonnay (Russian River Valley); $24. The vintage was great, the vineyard is in a great part of the valley, and the wine is wonderful. It's ultrarich in tropical fruit, buttered toast, buttercream and spice flavors, but perfectly balanced with acidity and minerals.

91 Pellegrini 2007 Olivet Lane Vineyard Estate Bottled Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley); $35. A gorgeous, lush Pinot Noir, simply irresistible for drinking now, but ageable. Shows rich, ripe cherry, raspberry, currant, chocolate and anise flavors, accented with spicy sandalwood. A bit primary and fresh in its youth, and should develop bottle nuances through 2013.

90 Pellegrini 2006 Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley); $28. Where the winery's Merlot is lovely now, this '06 Cab needs a few years in the cellar. It's tannic, giving an astringent tug to the blackberries, cherries, red currants, cocoa and herbs. Should soften by 2011, but if you drink it now, give it a good airing.

90 Pellegrini 2006 Cloverdale Ranch Merlot (Alexander Valley); $24. Great job in a soft, fruity, dry Merlot from this veteran producer. Shows an elegance in the finely ground tannins and deft integration of oak. With complex flavors of herbs, blackberries, violets, spices and wood char, it's just lovely now.

90 Pellegrini 2006 Milestone (Sonoma County); $45. A Bordeaux blend, it's quite shut down in tannins now, and not showing its best despite impressively ripe, rich blackberries, black cherries, currants and touches of chocolate, dried herbs and tobacco. Needs time. Give it through 2010, and it could blossom impressively beyond that.

90 Pellegrini 2007 Eight Cousins Vineyard Zinfandel (Russian River Valley); $26. A lovely Zinfandel, mainly for its beautiful texture. Shows classic flavors of peppery spices, wild berries, currants, tobacco, bacon and tobacco, but it's those fine tannins, lively acids and deft touch of oak that make it so balanced. Now-2013.

(Picture 1. Olivet Lane Display at Whole Foods Plano in 2007, Picture 2. While driving South on Olivet Lane 2 weeks ago, Pinot Noir Vineyard on the right, Olive trees and 8 Cousins Vineyard on the far left.)

Thankful for these Wines

...and you will be thankful too after pulling corks on the following American wineries we LOVE to drink over the Thanksgiving Holidays with our family and friends. Cheers to safe travels and good times this Thanksgiving season, these wines are hanging out waiting for you in wine shops all over Texas.

2008 Teira Sauvignon Blanc: A great start to the holiday weekend...from the Wine Spectator "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." $15


2007 Handley Cellars Anderson Valley Estate Chardonnay: an organic vineyard on the Handley property that produces chardonnay fruit with a distinct baked apple pie flavor. Need I say more? Well, you should pick up more than a bottle. $20


2006 Storrs Christie Vineyard Chardonnay: Forget big name Chardonnay you can find in any gas station and discount store these days that rhymes with "fake". Here's your truly rich and complex hand-harvest and family made wine from the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. I always say this is a "cabernet lovers chardonnay" and am right on. Big layers of baking spice, sassy asian pears and full-bodied to please anyone. $29


2008 LIOCO Rose of Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast): Ahh, uncork this one while you are standing in the kitchen all day. A very full-bodied rose that will wake-up your taste buds and even make your turkey leftovers a special meal. We love this wine all of the time! $15


2006 Pellegrini Olivet Lane Pinot Noir: Elegant, refined and sexy. Good reason to hog the bottle. Tuck this one out of reach of relatives who don't get what good wine is all about and pour an extra glass or two for yourself. $38


2007 Lange Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Noir: The party-pinot for sure. Whole Foods has it on sale for $20 this week! The Lange family has been making wine in the Dundee Hills of Oregon for over 30 years now, beautiful wines and beautiful people both inside and out! Buy a case and share the fun.

2004 Medlock Ames RED: 50/50 Cabernet-Merlot Organic blend from the very top of Alexander Valley. This is one to open for all the cowboys in your life this weekend that love full-bodied red wines. $25

2007 Davis Family Vineyards Riesling: The Riesling just landed in Texas for us. Made from the oldest Riesling Vineyard in California, Guy Davis has hit another home-run with this one. Only 21 cases available in the entire state - ask your favorite wine shop for this special bottle. "I have wanted to make a Riesling for a very long time…but I only wanted to do so if it could be made in a delicious, crisp “old world” style…completely dry, without any sweetness…but still deliver the richness that we all love in our wines. " Guy Davis. $20 (read all about it here)

Turkey time - uh yeah.

Tis' the Season. This is the time of year that wine suppliers and distributor management show up in accounts acting like they do this all year. Creepy really. Back in 2004 as a buyer in Texas, I actually had to ask them all to please get out of the customers way - clogging up the aisles with there shiny shoes and cheery holiday sweaters. Blah. I'm in accounts all year (along with a handful of the cool suppliers and good distributors). You know when it's 110 degrees out and nobody wants to drink anything in Texas but water with LOTS OF ICE and cold beer in a pool??? Exactly when retail accounts need us the most. If wine brands need Texas, Texas accounts need help with tastings, staff trainings and deals all year long too. Sales are up this year in Texas for TexaCali brands - somehow I found a few extra hours a week to be there to help the sell-through. Nice. But now I can't leave early to spend time with my family & new in-laws b/c of all the shiny-shoe types standing around. Bunch of turkeys. Gobble Gobble. Ali

Houston Livestock & Rodeo Wine Competition Winner!

Ten Gallon Hats Off to Guy Davis and his 2005 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon for winning the Grand Champion award at the Houston Rodeo International Wine Competition! I've been preaching the Davis Family Vineyards gospel for years now folks, glad to see the fever catching on in Texas for the beautiful wines of Davis Family Vineyards.


Please check out the Who, When and Where page on www.texacaliwine.com to RSVP seats for Davis Family Winemaker dinners with Guy around Texas. Dec. 3, 4 & 5. Seriously Good Wine. You can read more about the wine competition here on the Houston Chronicle website. Cheers - Ali

Off to the Russian River

SOOOOOO much to tell you all, where do I begin? Well, as I'm playing a little catch up tonight, I'll at least fill you on where I'm headed tomorrow. Pellegrini Family Vineyards, bringing in lunch (oh yeah TexaCali King Ranch!) and tasting all the new vintages with the Pellegrini team. I'm so excited - check out all the awards from one of the most serious wine competitions in the USA. Cheers - Ali

PELLEGRINI FAMILY VINEYARDS RECIEVES TOP ACCOLADES AT 2009 SONOMA COUNTY HARVEST FAIR Award-winning Russian River Valley Winery Takes Home Double Gold Honors

Pellegrini Family Vineyards, an award-winning producer of handcrafted Sonoma County estate wines, took home a total of ten awards—including a Double Gold Honors —at the 2009 Sonoma County Fair Professional Wine Competition, one of the wine industry’s most prestigious contests and the premier competition in Sonoma.

In a review of more than 1,214 Sonoma County wines, 20 wine experts – comprised of wine writers, critics, sommeliers, restaurateurs, merchants and educators from across the U.S. – tasted and scored thousands glasses of wine over the three-day competition.

Pellegrini Family Vineyards took a Double Gold Medal honors for its 2006 Cloverdale Ranch Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($28), a newly bottled vintage that is now released. The winery also took home a Gold Medal for its 2006 Olivet Lane Russian River Valley Chardonnay Reserve ($40), which was released in January 2009. These wines are available in the tasting room at the Pellegrini’s Olivet Lane Estate winery, 4055 West Olivet Road, Santa Rosa, CA and online at pellegrinisonoma.com.

In addition, Pellegrini Family Vineyards was honored with medals for the following vintages:

Silver – 2008 Pellegrini Chardonnay – Russian River Valley

Silver – 2007 Pellegrini Chardonnay (Unoaked) – Russian River Valley

Silver – 2008 Pellegrini Dry Rosé - Russian River Valley

Silver – 2007 Olivet Lane Pinot Noir – Russian River Valley

Silver – 2006 Pinot Noir Reserve – Russian River Valley

Silver - 2007 Pellegrini Zinfandel – Russian River Valley

“We are thrilled that our wines have once again received top honors at this premier Sonoma County wine competition,” said Pellegrini Family Vineyards CEO Gary Hawke. “The Pellegrini family has been growing grapes and making wine in Sonoma County for four generations, and we are honored to be recognized by the industry for our sustained efforts in quality winemaking.”

This is the second year in a row that Pellegrini has taken home Double Gold honors.

About Pellegrini Family Vineyards
Pellegrini Family Vineyards produces eight Sonoma County varietals from grapes grown on the family’s 65-acre Olivet Lane Estate in the Russian River Valley and the 55-acre Cloverdale Ranch vineyard in the Alexander Valley. The winery is located 10 minutes off Highway 101 in the Russian River Valley and is open daily for tours and tastings between 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. For more information please call (800) 891-0244 or (707) 545-8680

Quote of the Day

"The older we get, the more we must follow our passions for work, or just become bored out of our skulls", fellow wine blogger Jo Diaz. Well said. LOVE IT AND LIVE IT!

Ahh, Alexander Valley in November...enjoy the view. - Ali

Pellegrini Family Vineyards

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www.pellegrinisonoma.com

Results...

Here are the results of the Blind Hallowine Tasting in Austin. In order from favorite to least...Cheers - Ali

White - Only White wine of the night, everyone LOVED.

2006 Pellegrini Family “Olivet Lane” Chardonnay: Winemaker’s Notes: The 2006 Olivet Lane Estate Chardonnay has classic Burgundian notes of mineral, flint and wet stones evolving into hints of toasted bread crust. The mouth is rich and full-bodied with firm acidity, and the lingering finish is long and seamless. Retail $24

Blind Reds

1. 2004 Pellegrini Family Cloverdale Ranch Merlot. Nobody guessed this was primarily Merlot - the nose seduced everyone. This is a blend of (76% Merlot and 24% Cabernet) 2 grape varietals. This bottle delivers notes of toasty oak and cedar from the oak barrel aging, along with concentrated fruit flavors of strawberry, red cherry, and raspberry. This traditional blend and style shines from Bordueax, California, Chile, and Washington State. Retail $25

2. 2006 Pellegrini Family Olivet Lane Pinot Noir, Russian River region, Sonoma, California. The Pinot Lovers sounded loudly that this was a phenonminal bottle. The Merlot lovers didn't care for this grape, but the Pinot Noir lovers went back for 2nd and 3rd glasses of this throughout the night. This grape is known for its elegance. This wine exhibits unmistakable characteristics typified by brilliant color, silky texture, delicate mouthfeel, and upfront flavors of framboise, cherries and spice. Burgundy, Oregon, California, New Zealand are leading the way in production of this fine wine. Retail $38

3. 2005 Bodegas Mustiguillo “Mestizaje”: This was the surprise hit of the night, nobody heard of the Bobal grape, the price was the most pleasing to all. Composed of 70% Bobal with the balance equal parts Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit comes from vines planted on chalk and limestone at high altitude. Purple in color, the wine offers aromas of pain grille, damp earth, vanilla, black cherry, and black currant. Thick and chewy on the palate, the wine has excellent depth and concentration leading to a tannic finish. You will only find this main varietal in the heart of Spain. Retail $15

4. 2005 Davis Family Vineyards “Barn D’Or”. Made by Guy Davis, a rising star in the wine world, this is a blend of Sonoma Cabernet and his Russian River estate Syrah. These varietals are traditionally found in Bordeaux, France, Australia, California and Washington State. This blend shows the nice structure and aromas of “first varietal” up front, and then the more you drink it, the plump, fruit-packed “ second varietal” flavors come welling up from underneath. The firm grip and structure makes it a perfect match to hearty foods and juicy red meats. Retail $25

5. 2007 Mendel Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina. A wine with “Altitude”. The grape was sourced from a 45-acre parcel of 80-year-old vines at an average elevation of 3300 ft. above sea level and aged for 12 months in French oak. Purple-colored, it displays an alluring bouquet of cedar, spice box, violets, and black cherry. Medium-bodied and elegant on the palate, it has plenty of savory fruit, cinnamon and allspice notes, excellent depth and concentration, and a fruit-filled finish. Retail $27

Not so spooky night

Tonight after the sun sets and the "trick-or-treating" is all done, a group of 30 will be sipping "blindly" on a few wines from around the world in Austin. My old college friends Shane and Lisa are hosting this gathering for their friends and neighbors and have invited me to lead the night away. Here's the lineup... please play along if you like! Cheers - Ali

Blind Reds:

1. This grape is known for its elegance. This wine exhibits unmistakable characteristics typified by brilliant color, silky texture, delicate mouthfeel, and upfront flavors of framboise, cherries and spice. Burgundy, Oregon, California, New Zealand are leading the way in production of this fine wine. Retail $38

Name the Grape: ___________________________________

2. A wine “Altitude”. The grape was sourced from a 45-acre parcel of 80-year-old vines at an average elevation of 3300 ft. above sea level and aged for 12 months in French oak. Purple-colored, it displays an alluring bouquet of cedar, spice box, violets, and black cherry. Medium-bodied and elegant on the palate, it has plenty of savory fruit, cinnamon and allspice notes, excellent depth and concentration, and a fruit-filled finish. Retail $27

Name the Grape:___________________________________

3. This is a blend of (76% and 24%) 2 grape varietals. This bottle delivers notes of toasty oak and cedar from the oak barrel aging, along with concentrated fruit flavors of strawberry, red cherry, and raspberry. This traditional blend and style shines from Bordueax, California, Chile, and Washington State. Retail $25

Name the Grapes:_________________________________

4. Made by a rising star in the wine world, this is a blend of 2 grapes traditionally found in Bordeaux, France, Australia, California and Washington State. This blend shows the nice structure and aromas of “first varietal” up front, and then the more you drink it, the plump, fruit-packed “ second varietal” flavors come welling up from underneath. The firm grip and structure makes it a perfect match to hearty foods and juicy red meats. Retail $25

Name the Grapes:__________________________________

5. Composed of 70% “name the grape” with the balance equal parts Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit comes from vines planted on chalk and limestone at high altitude. Purple in color, the wine offers aromas of pain grille, damp earth, vanilla, black cherry, and black currant. Thick and chewy on the palate, the wine has excellent depth and concentration leading to a tannic finish. You will only find this main varietal in the heart of Spain. Retail $15

Name the Grapes:_______________________________

News from Davis Family Vineyards...

If you've been following the TexaCali Wine Trail over the past 4 years or just became a recent fan, you know how much I enjoy drinking (and selling) the beautiful wines made by Guy Davis and his son Cole of Davis Family Vineyards in the Russian River Region of Sonoma. Guy is a HUGE fan of Texas and is dedicated to making sure we get a fair amount of his wine here too. Thank you Guy!

If you live near Fredricksburg, Austin or College Station - you're in for a real treat on Dec.3, 4, and 5 - Guy's leading winemaker dinners in all 3 places. So excited to have him here to kick-off the December Holidays!

This just in from Davis Family Vineyards: We are thrilled to announce that Davis Family Vineyards won FIVE gold medals and a Best of Class at the Sonoma County Harvest Gala! Only one other winery received more golds than we did with over 1200 wines entered in this competition; from Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Valley and our very own Russian River Valley. Vineyards known all over the world for wine excellence. It is the largest and, in our
opinion, the most prestigious regional wine competition in the United States.

Whooo-hooo! We are celebrating!

There is no doubt we are going to run out of all these wines very quickly.

GOLD and BEST OF CLASS (beating out 78 other Pinots and a runner-up for
the Sweepstakes Red): 2007 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

GOLD: 2007 Russian River Syrah

GOLD: 2006 Barn D'Or Cab/Syrah Blend

Read more about his wines & Guy on his website here. Oh and of course - please look for or ask for Davis Family Vineyards at your favorite place to buy wine in Texas! Cheers - Ali

Patience, Passion and Hustle.

Last Wednesday I spent a few hours with Gary Vaynerchuk while he was visiting Austin for his book tour of Crush It! Boy, I needed that shot in the arm, Gary led an inspiring chat after the book signing for anyone who is or wants to be an entrepreneur. After growing his family's wine retail business from 4 to 60 million dollars in a handful of years, he's going for it - he wants to own the NY Jets one day (and I bet he reaches this goal). Gary's big picture is driven by passion for business, while urging all of us to "stop doing things you hate" and start living your passion.

When did I decide to take control of my career and turn my passion into a living? Year 2002 - While sitting in a cubicle facing out a window with a beautiful view of a red-brick wall while working for CNET Networks in San Francisco. I remember telling all my co-workers and managers that I was leaving to go work in the wine business and suddenly became everyone's hero at the office. I did it. It certainly hasn't been the easiest road, but thank God for my DNA (which Gary talks about having in Crush It!) of Patience, Passion and Hustle.

TexaCali Wine Co. turns 5 years old in 2010, Patience, Passion and Hustle are abundant! Take a few minutes to watch Gary speak at the Web 2.0 Expo in NYC last month. See ya on the TexaCali Wine Trail soon! Cheers - Ali

White Hat Trick for Texas this Fall

Handley Cellars - an Anderson Valley Legend...

My day did not go as planned, ended up running around town more than I scheduled. I was suppose to talk to Handley Cellars today (among others), so their wines where top of mind and a fun topic discussed throughout the day. I've had a long love affair with Handley Cellars - from their Brut Rose (only sold at the winery) to their pretty Syrah - I love them all. For now I'm very excited about the 3 whites that are in stock in Texas this fall, you will fall in love like I did - I promise.

2007 Handley Anderson Valley Chardonnay:
Each component of this Estate Chardonnay adds another layer of flavor. It offers aromas of fresh pear and apple compote with a hint of nutmeg. Clean and bright flavors of ripe apple are nuanced by lemon cream and vanilla. This wine is nicely balanced with a graceful texture and lasting finish. It is perfectly suited for food pairing. Excellent matches might include herb roasted chicken, shrimp risotto, sautéed scallops, or mushroom lasagna.

2007 Handley Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc: The 2007 Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc offers aromas of daffodil and lemon zest with forward fruit, tropical flavors, and a creamy finish.This is an ideal wine to serve with a goat chevre. The tangy acidity of the cheese complements the balanced acidity of the wine; the chevre’s creamy texture lengthens the wine’s presence on the palate. approx. $14

*2008 Handley Gewurztraminer: Most of the fruit for this Gewürztraminer blend comes from the Boonville end of Anderson Valley, where the warmer weather tends to encourage tropical fruit and floral aromas as well as ripe tannins for this "spicy" grape. This vintage offers enticing aromas of rose petals, honeysuckle, peaches, and orange zest, which are complemented by the balanced palate, with flavors of pears, melon, lychee, and a hint of nutmeg on the finish. Our 2008 Gewürztraminer is balanced and fresh enough to be served as an aperitif or with many dishes. It has a rich texture that pairs well with a variety of cheeses, Thai curries, or Chinese food. approx. $18

3 Cheers for Anderson Valley's Handley Cellars! - Ali *for all you "sweet wine" lovers - go for this one!

2009 Top 100

Hats Off to Spain's Gramona and LIOCO from California for being honored by Wine & Spirits Magazine this year!

If you haven't picked up a bottle or a case of these beautiful wines yet - head straight to your favorite wine shop this weekend - they are selling like crazy in Texas so collect them while you can and drink up! Cheers - Ali

News from Block 7 Wine Co. in Houston

This week's Saturday Tasting...Sake to me

Join Block 7 every Saturday from 2-5pm for a free tasting in our retail store. This week, get educated on Japan's historical beverage from sake expert, Alison Smith ("TexaCali Ali" or @texacaliali on twitter). Taste through 4 different styles of sake and learn the history and production techniques of this great drink.

Sake included in the tasting are:

Takasago Ginga Shizuku, “Divine Droplets”, Junmai Daiginjo
300 ml - Bottle Price $34.99 / Case Price $31.39

Sato No Homari, “Pride of the Village”, Junmai Ginjo
300 ml - Bottle Price $25.99 / Case Price $23.99

Rihaku, “Wandering Poet”, Junmai Ginjo
300ml - Bottle Price $17.99 / Case Price $16.19

Tozai, “Snow Maiden”, Junmai Nigori
300ml - Bottle Price $12.99 / Case Price $11.59

Wanna brush up on your sake education before the tasting? Check out some tips on Vine Connections Japanese Sake Education Center.

*Any 12 bottles at Block 7 can be purchased at the case price. We encourage you to expand your palate and mix and match.

Salute!

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Hunting Season

Another early morning for TexaCali Ali. Off to work with Ana Lopez of Gramona in Houston over the next 48 hours then talk Ginjo Sake at Houston's newest and most hip wine bar and boutique retail shop. I don't know why I'm up so early, it's a ponytail day, no need for the hour of washing and blowing-out the hair today - the weather channel tells me the humidity is 84% and already 82 degrees at 5am. "It will feel like 103 today folks", BLAH.

What's coming out of the woods this season? It's been a interesting year so far, the ridiculous & unreasonable humans have far outweighed the sane and happy humans in month 10 of 2009. This week I've had the living daylight knocked out of my spirit, the joy of what I am so blessed to do each day sucked away like the strength of an airplane door opening in mid-flight.

What a difference a few days make, last Thursday I was humbly honored to hear unsolicited praises and encouragement from one of the most important humans in the Texas wine business. He concluded his kind words by calling me an old-soul, I'll take that, I've lived through a few more lifetimes than anyone could ever know. From the West Coast of California to the eastern hills of Spain, I thank God for the gray-haired wine warriors who 1) have taken notice of this new girl in town with the utmost respect 2) have set a fine example of how to treat others and run their business. Their time & support given to me over the last few year is priceless. I've learned so much from them and continue to thrive on their enthusiasm and inspiration. My eyes are on the staffs of the wisest shepherds who've invited me to join their flock. The wolves in sheep's clothing will always lurk from afar.

After a dinner-less evening, I fell into bed last night with tears of fear, anger and exhaustion in my eyes. I'm on meeting 40-something by 11am today for the month and mile 1500. You know what though? I'm in it to win it, TexaCali Wine Co. is my life, it's my family's future and this wine-loving girl is Catching a Ride on a Smile today. The wine-making families I am so honored to represent here in Texas are counting on me...one day at a time. Cheers - Ali

Only $65

Next Tuesday night in Dallas - please join me for a fantastic evening of culinary delights! I'm leading a Pellegrini Family Vineyards of Sonoma Wine Dinner at Steele...check out the menu and call Steele to RSVP 214.219.9908

Steel Restaurant & Lounge

Pellegrini Family Winery Dinner

Tuesday October 13^th, 2009

Reception

Clear Dashi Wild Mushroom Soup “Shooters”

Eel, Salmon, Hamachi and Tuna Sushi

Spicy Tuna Roll and Shrimp Tempura Maki Rolls

Pellegrini Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County

1^st Course

Seared Jumbo Sea Scallop with Jade Sauce

Pellegrini Unoaked Chardonnay, Russian River

2^nd Course

Roasted “Hacked” Pheasant Finished with Cognac, Served with Soba Noodles

Olivet Lane Chardonnay, Russian River

3^rd Course

Grilled Salmon with Dried Cherry Genevoise and Braised Baby Bok Choy

Olivet Lane Pinot Noir, Russian River

4^th Course

Vietnamese “Shaken” Beef

Wok Sautéed Tender Pieces of Beef Tenderloin

Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

Dessert

Asian Rice Pudding

Tozai, Snow Maiden, Nigori Sake

Next...Holiday Bubbles!

Whew - made it through last week, just barely though during my last hour of driving yesterday to train the fine staff of MIZU in west Austin. Cheers to Matt Licklider of LIOCO for his time in Texas last week as well as Luis and Santiago from Argentina to blow through Austin for us last Tuesday.
Resting a bit this morning - well finally working on my wedding video from July and Thank You cards. I've managed to shove off all my personal things to do for over 2 months now. Tonight I'm heading out to see Bon Iver at the Paramount in Austin. 2 tickets for me and Eric given by our close friends Carson & Jen, I've been looking forward to this show so much!

This week, a very special guest will be visiting Austin, Dallas and Houston from Spain. I've been sipping on this beautiful aged Cava for years. From the Solomon website " Gramona’s history is long and storied and the property has been a quality reference point in the zone for decades. As far back as 1816 a member of the family has been making wine in the Penedes. 1921 marks the year when the Gramona name began to be put on bottles of “Cava Champagne”. Today, the house is one of the few remaining family-owned estates in the region, with many having been bought by large companies.

At Gramona, time is never an issue. The wines receive perhaps the longest average ageing than any other cava and are never released until they are pristine. 70% of the cavas produced in the zone are released after 9 months. Gramona ages a minimum of 18 months, and an average of 4 years.

Gramona is, unfortunately, one of the last remaining family-owned cava houses of the Penedes. Here, elderly ladies from the village carefully wrap each bottle before being packed for transport and the entire operation is carried out by people who love the family and the estate."

Visit the website here: www.gramona.com Cheers - Ali