LIOCO Wine Dinner

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For full details please visit 

http://www.texacaliwine.com/whowhenwhere.cfm

Summertime... in Texas!

So far so FABULOUS this summer when it comes to sales of the TexaCali Wine Co. producers in Texas.  Honestly,  the hot months of our Texas summer is my least favorite time to do-what-I-do.  It takes extreme planning to keep the wines chilled all day and superpowers to keep motivated. Getting in and out of the car all day is a beating, trying to look your best while sweat dribbles down your back with a smile on your face walking into restaurants and retails with a bag (or 2) of wine to show is far from GLAMOROUS.  Yesterday  I "Tweeted" that the inside of my car looked like an Ice Cream truck! Coolers, dry ice, road-rage in parking lots over shaded spaces...whew.  BUT - the wines are "selling like crazy" this summer and I'm loving it! 

So far rounding up the end of June, the following wines are getting the MOST movement this summer (please ask your favorite wine shop for a few!). 

La Spinetta Vermentino $19

Handley Cellars Pinot Gris $15

Pellegrini Unoaked Chardonnay - Russian River $14

LIOCO Sonoma County Chardonnay $19

Teira Sauvignon Blanc - Dry Creek $15

Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon $19

Cheers to a AC filled weekend - Ali (PS, I took the sunset photo from my blackberry traveling West on HWY 71 to Austin Thursday night).

What wine blogs do you read?

Calling all TexaCali Wine Trail readers this week...I need your help.  As you know, most blogs list other blogs that are similar in subject, fun to read and/or of interest to the author.  Honestly, I just haven't taken the time over the years to list the gazillion suitable links on this site.   However, now's the time and I've been working on a short list.

Vinography: A Wine Blog,  founded by Alder Yarrow was one of the first "Blog Rolls" the "TexaCali Wine Trail" was linked to  (and still is).  At the time - May 2005 my blog was the first in Texas!  Alder's blog boosted traffic to my new site back then,  I still read his blog almost daily. 

What blogs to you want listed on the TexaCali Wine Trail and why do you read them?  I'd love to support other wine bloggers & blogs that make our world a little more interesting.  Please send me your Top 10 recommendations this week.  Thanks in advance for your help!   Changes and updates coming soon...Cheers - Ali

The 2007 Olivet Lane Pinot Noir...Wine of the Week!

2007 Olivet Lane Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

91 points Wine Enthusiast: "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."

DID YOU KNOW? 

The Olivet Lane Vineyard was one of the first Pinot Noir plantings in the Russian River Valley, preceded a few years by only a handful of others including the Bacigalupi Vineyard (on Westside Road in the Middle Reach in 1964), Rochioli Vineyard (East Block planted in 1968, also on Westside Road), and Joseph Swan’s vineyard (first planted in 1969 in the Laguna Ridges and now named the Trenton Estate Vineyard). The Olivet Lane Vineyard was uniquely planted to both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 

The Pellegrinis began producing an Olivet Lane Pinot Noir in the 1980s. Over the years, grapes were sold to Brogan Cellars, Gary Farrell, Kosta Browne, Merry Edwards, Williams Selyem and WesMar wineries. Today, Merry Edwards is the only producer receiving significant amounts of fruit, the rest being retained for the Olivet Lane Estate Pinot Noir annual production of 2,500 to 3,000 cases. 

The Olivet Lane Vineyard wines are sold primarily through the tasting room, retail wine stores and restaurants. The wines are also available online at www.pellegrinisonoma.com. (published by The PinotFile Volume 8, Issue 2)

Around $25 a bottle in Texas, a perfect gift for Father's Day too! Cheers - Ali

The Spirit of The Barley House

Many of my faithful TexaCali Wine Trail readers in Dallas were also my faithful "Barley House" friends on Henderson St. post-college days.  Many fun memories created over cold beers and song at the Barley House. Elvis Costello on the jukebox blaring "Alison...my aim is true" over and over (yeah the later it got the more quarters were thrown in).  Many local bands played in the corner, caught a few early Old 97's shows too.

I'll never forget the time I totally bit-it, I mean a complete 5'9" fall on my face due to my fancy new high-heels walking in one night. However, I gracefully stood up and pretended it was my very best SNL skit impression and laughed it off all night long! Most nights I spent hours discussing boyfriends with the girls, played a few hundred rounds of pool, but I'll never forget the time I picked up my cell phone (seems so long ago) around 2002 to hear that my brother was detained at the American Airlines Center on opening night for "breaking into a private suite".  In his defense "it was so crowded trying to get out, we all just ducked into a suite to check it out".  Yeah opening bottles of booze and logging onto a flat screen TV/Computer in someone's private suite didn't cut it.  Nice one little brother - I was mortified.  Anyways...

So now the Barley House has moved to a location closer to SMU and "The Porch" now sits on this sacred spot on Henderson St, just a few steps away from Central Expressway.  A smile comes across my face every single time I walk into The Porch for lunch or dinner.  Its wine list has always been a friend to me, always listing a few TexaCali wines. A few years ago Milla Handley and I stood behind the bar one afternoon for a little server training...her advice of "my Anderson Valley Pinot Noir is more like a long-term relationship than a one-night stand" went over very well that day!

This week I got the exciting news from Avante Beverages that my very favorite California Cabernet is now being poured by-the-glass at The Porch.  The 2006 Pellegrini Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon from their Estate Vineyards in Alexander Valley will rock the menu at The Porch all summer long. A perfect friend to their delicious chopped brisket sliders!   Sing it Mr. Costello!  Cheers to The old Barley House and The Porch! - Ali

What a week!

Visit Indigenous Selections!  Please ask your favorite Texas wine shop about their new selection of wines from Indigenous...

Ahh, a wee bit late posting this, I had to power-down for a few days last week from online activities - much to follow-up on after Giorgio's visit.  Giorgio's presence in the state was bigger than Texas.  We sold wine faster than the Avante warehouse guys could organize the new Indigenous Selections shipments coming in from New Jersey. So fun to sell good wine!

Thanks to all who attended our trade and customer events, the 2. 5 days in the market where filled with admiration, knowledge and magnificent enthusiasm!  Most of all I want to Thank Giorgio Rivetti for his time visiting Texas.  It's not often enough that a true gentlemen like Giorgio spends time in Texas.  It was a true honor to learn from Giorgio. We certainly have the same taste in wine! He was extremly kind and presented me with a bottle of  1999 Bollinger "Grande Année" Brut Champagne for my birthday last Tuesday. I think it was the very last bottle at Pogo's in Dallas too! 

A few photos are now posted on http://www.texacaliwine.com/tcwcphotos.cfm

Hard to say what wines "stood-out" for me, they all had their special place in my mind and heart.  Outstanding Barolo and fantastic Brunello all day long with Giorgio!! However,  I'm very excited about the new wines from La Spinetta's Tuscan property, they are completely new to me and to Texas!

http://www.la-spinetta.com/Winery/Page%201%20normal%20LA%20SPINETTA%20Casanova%20ing.htm

Stay tuned...

I'm very excited to write-up my time with Giorgio Rivetti for all to read!  I learned so much from Giorgio, about his family, his vineyards, his love of fine wine and of course the business of Indigenous Selections and La Spinetta.   More tomorrow  - I'm on the road the rest of the day! 

Here's a sweet-photo, a group of Texas wine collections and one of Texas most loved Sommeliers' D'Lynn Proctor huddled around Giorgio below at Grailey's last night in Dallas.  Cheers - Ali

Thanks!!

So nice to meet all the new fans and loyal friends of Pellegrini Family Vineyards who stopped by The Austin Wine Merchant yesterday.  It was fun to taste the Unoaked and Olivet Lane Chardonnay's side-by-side and even more fun to learn from many of you that Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet is your favorite California Cabernet. Thank you for spreading the word about these beauties to all your wine-loving friends too!

Keep your eyes out for Pellegrini wines at your favorite restaurants around town, they have a new Texas distributor who's making certain Pellegrini wines are listed on the finest wine lists throughout Texas.  Cheers to seeing you again and sipping the beautiful wines of Pellegrini!   - Ali

Historical Texas Ties for Pellegrini Family Vineyards

A few weeks ago, I had a fun and interesting conversation via Facebook with Susan-Williams Pellegrini, the wife of Robert Pellegrini. This is the story where Luca, Italy meets the Texas Hill Country. 

"My family (Weirich) first settled in Fredericksburg in 1850. My Oma's family (Hilker), born in Germany, immigrated in 1896 to avoid the on going wars. During the depression my Opa moved the family to Johnson City. My Uncle George, now 96, still lives there. He has been active in city affairs including the school board and bank. Many of my cousins have moved back to Fredericksburg in the last 20 years. Beautiful town. 

Our last family reunion in 2009 was at the original homestead. The Weirichs are related to the Nimitz clan by marriage. My mother married and moved to California after WWII. She is the only sibling (youngest) of seven to leave Texas. I originally had 22 first cousins. 

My fondest memories of childhood are those long summer visits. The heavy August air, wild flowers, red ants and doodle bugs....coupled with the many embraces and laughter of my mother's family. After meeting Robert my Uncle Albert decided he was good ole boy but I had picked up some aires.

 

At first Uncle Albert wasn't too sure about Robert. He said with a dry humor "Why, Yur the first "I"talian I've ever met."   I think they connected during the deep pit BBQ the morning before the reunion that year...1979. "  -  Susan Williams - Pellegrini.  

www.pellegrinisonoma.com

East End Wines Presents...

Come out to the shop Monday, May 24, from 6 pm to 8 pm and taste the wines of La Spinetta with the owner and winemaker, Giorgio Rivetti!

Giorgio is part of a family-owned initiative at La Spinetta that believes in "making wines with a passion."  The Rivettis and their vineyard family have gained international fame for quality and style using strict vineyard management, low yields, no chemical products, and are currently 75% bio-dynamic.  Spinetta produces wines both from Piedmonte and Tuscany, from which we will have six bottlings to taste this Monday evening, including the 2006 La Spinetta Barbaresco Bordini.  Light snackage will be provided.

Hope to see you there!

Cheers,

Matt and Sam

Special New Release Tasting in Austin this Saturday

The Austin Wine Merchant  is celebrating the fine wines of Pellegrini - just in time to fill your cellars for summer sipping!  Please stop by for a special Pellegrini Family Vineyards tasting this Saturday afternoon, 12-3pm.  The following Pellegrini wines will be featured:

-2008 Pellegrini Family Unoaked Russian River Chardonnay

-2007 Olivet Lane Russian River Chardonnay

-2007 Olivet Lane Russian River Pinot Noir

-2006 Cloverdale Ranch Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

-2008 Pellegrini Family "Eight Cousin's" Russian River Zinfandel

www.theaustinwinemerchant.com

512 West 6th Street

Austin, TX 78701-2806

(512) 499-0512

Please feel free to forward this post along to your wine-loving friends and co-workers, a tasting not-to-be-missed!

See you Saturday,  "TexaCali Ali"

The Pearl is in the River - 2009 LIOCO Sonoma County Chardonnay has Arrived

It's here, we've been awaiting the new vintage for months now all over America. Tis' the Season to  go fill your wine coffers and load up on the new release! 

Chardonnay “Sonoma County” 09
After four successive vintages with this wine, we are finally achieving what we set out to do. Omitting fruit sources that haven’t performed and refining those that have, has left us with what may be the most “complete” So-Co to date.

The 2009 is a blend of Stuhlmuller Vineyard (Alexander Valley), Mazzera Vineyard (Dry Creek), Ricci Vineyard (Carneros), and Valentine Vineyard (Mendocino). The wine features a core of citrus (mostly lemons) and chalky minerality. Adding complexity are notes of orchard fruit and miso paste. This is drier and taughter wine that was the 2008. $20 (Distributed by Avante Beverages)

Also...the new LIOCO Indica is back in stock - oh yeah!  Cheers - Ali

2008 LIOCO SONOMA COAST PINOT NOIR

I cracked open a beautiful bottle of the 2008 LIOCO Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir tonight with my family.  We are celebrating many new beginnings together and toasting to the past gifts given. Today in Dallas was unusually cold, a few sips of this red wine not only warmed my bones, but provided warmth and friendship with each pour.  I fall in love with certain wines for numerous reasons,  all I can say about this LIOCO Pinot Noir...it was love at first sight and sip. I'm all yours!  - Cheers, Ali

2008 LIOCO Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

90 points from Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Bright red. Enticing tangy aromas of raspberry, bitter cherry, Asian spices and game. Then suave and creamy in the mouth but with excellent energy and spicy lift toward the back thanks to tangy minerality. Mounts impressively, without giving any impression of weight. The fine-grained tannins contribute to an impression of finesse. Twenty percent whole clusters were used here, according to O'Connor." (May/Jun '10) A selection of sites in Sonoma County compose this wine. The goal is to clearly express the character of the region, which is strongly influenced by maritime variations. Warm days and cool nights, tempered by consistent oceanic fog, yield full and rich Pinot Noir balanced by brisk acidity and tannin. 

Approx: $35 a bottle retail. (Click on the label to read winemakers notes)

PS: I walked through the warehouse of LIOCO's Texas Distributor "Avante Beverages" today.  It's always a true pleasure to see a tiny amount of wine left on the warehouse floor when I take a peek into inventory knowing Texas is soaring in sales for the independent and family owned wineries I assist.  I've been (and so has all of Texas) waiting for months now for the new vintage of LIOCO Sonoma County Chardonnay to arrive   - this Monday people (fingers crossed). Read up on LIOCO

I'll take the Filet Mignon with my Pinot Noir please...

Spotlighting Oregon's Freedom Hill Vineyard today. Over the past few years in Texas, I've spent majority of my time pulling corks of Lange Estate Freedom Hill Pinot Noir for staff-training sessions in Texas' best steakhouses. The Chardonnay from this vineyard is quite honestly my very favorite Chardonnay from Oregon.

Under 400 cases of each varietal produced, the wines are in stock at Avante Beverages, so just ask your favorite wine shop for Lange Estate Freedom Hill wines...Cheers - Ali

Freedom Hill Vineyard

"Lange Wineryhas sourced fruit from the Freedom Hill Vineyard since 1990 and began making its namesake single-vineyard Pinot Noir in 1996. Typically, Pinot Noir from this site shows dark, brooding fruitand significant tannin structure. Freedom Hill fruit provides the masculine frame that allows for an ultimately age-worthy wine. The perfect Pinot Noir for a Texas steakhouse!

2004 marked the first vintage of Lange's Freedom Hill Vineyard Chardonnay which showcases Dijon clone 76 as well as Freedom Hill's capacity to produce premium,cool-climate fruit. Warm days and cool nights allow for complete fruit ripening while maintaining essential acid balance. This premier Oregon vineyard delivers exceptional fruit year after year and continues to be an important contributor to the Lange winery portfolio."

Musical Winemaker

The laws won't allow you to receive a wine club shipment - well, how about a few of Don Lange's CD's?!

Meet Don Lange, Owner and Winemaker of Lange Vineyards.
Lange's winemaker, Don Lange, graduated from the University of Iowa's Writer Workshop with a Master of Fine Arts degree and then pursued a career as a songwriter/recording artist, winning a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and recording three albums. His career in wine started with the 1980 vintage and continued in earnest in 1987 when he and his wife Wendy moved to the Red Hills of Dundee and founded Lange Winery.

Known for his even hand, Winemaker Don Lange crafts beautifully balanced wines from fruit grown on the Winery Estate, located in the heart of the prestigious Dundee Hillls appellation. To further supplement their 14,000 case production, the Langes purchase additional fruit from the best vineyards in the surrounding area. Long-standing relationships with these talented and dedicated growers have helped the winery establish a well-deserved reputation for consistency and complexity in the wines.

Currently, Don bottles six different Pinot Noirs, paying meticulous attention to each lot of wine. While guiding its journey through a careful barrel regime, he blends as he sees fit or bottles his favorites as single-vineyard offerings. Don is joined by his son, Jesse, in these endeavors, thus the Lange Estate legacy continues with Jesse's enthusiastic contributions in both the cellar and the vineyard.

Please look for Lange at your favorite wine shop around Texas. If you are lucky enough to eat at Olivia in Austin, Texas, be sure to ask for a glass of the Lange 2008 Pinot Gris - perfect with their mussels on the menu! Cheers - Ali

Winery of the Week!

LANGE ESTATE, DISTRIBUTED BY AVANTE BEVERAGES IN TEXAS

2008 Pinot Gris "Willamette Valley" Lange Estate Winery has built a reputation for producing some of the state's best examples of this popular Oregon varietal. Exceptional fruit, expert blending, and stainless steel fermentation produce a balanced wine with hints of orange blossom, Meyer lemon, mango, and nectarine. This is a wine that appeals to the masses, and it's a natural match for hors d'oeuvres and seafood -- think grilled prawn skewers, seared scallops, and sashimi. Attractive pricing makes it perfect for your by-the-glass program. TASTING NOTES, SHELF TALKER

New Release 2008 Pinot Noirs "Value Pinot Noir" may seem like an oxymoron, but the 2008 Pinot Noir "Willamette Valley" proves you can eat your cake and have it, too. Its wonderful quality-price ratio gives it big-time cred in the bin, on the shelf, or as a glass pour. TASTING NOTES, SHELF TALKER 2008 Pinot Noir "Reserve" Lange Pinot Noir "Reserve" is the result of extensive and dedicated barrel tasting by winemakers, Don Lange and Jesse Lange. Comprised of only the most complex and delicious wines in the cellar, this multi-vineyard Pinot noir is consistently crafted for lush fruit character, seamless balance, and elegance. Its affinity for food makes it the perfect companion to dishes like cedar plank salmon, wild mushroom risotto, and beef bourguignon. TASTING NOTES

A little steak with that wine?

I'm so looking forward to tomorrow - a big day lined up seeing wine pros around town with Pellegrini Family Vineyards open! Here's a great recipe from Robert Pellegrini I posted a few years ago - still goes perfectly well with the new 2006 Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet! Cheers - Ali

http://texacaliwinetrail.blogspot.com/2006/12/for-all-cloverdale-ranch-cabernet.html

Getting Schooled on Corked Wine

This is a must read post by Mulan today on her blog. Corked wine questions come up many times throughout the week. Here in Texas heat plays a big role in messing up wine if improperly stored, but the worldwide problem is TCA...thanks for breaking it down for us Professor MuMu!

http://mumulesvignes.com/2010/05/07/wine-101-help-is-my-bottle-of-wine-corked/

A Texas Woman

“There is such a thing as a Texas woman. She is a very particular and recognizable type: independent and courageous, possessed of both frontier survival skill and urban sophistication, fun-loving, forward-thinking, rich in spirit. Such a person may not exist elsewhere. She’s been with us as long as Texas has.” – Evan Smith in Texas Monthly on Texas Women.

A friend who is also a big inspiration and "Shepard" to me in the Texas wine business passed this quote along today...to good to keep to myself. Right on!

In Honor of Mom

Meet "Mom". My Mother taught elementary school for 30 years, retired then within months had a shoulder replaced and a heart attack. I'm so grateful she is here on this planet!

Her Mom & my Grandmother "Theda Jackson" pictured with my Papa here...Grandmother Jackson never spent a day where she wasn't helping others. She was a CPA by day, but had the doors open of her farmhouse in Maypearl, Texas 24/7.

Grandmother made a mean enchilada and always welcomed anyone around to sit down and have a meal with the family. I miss her and wish I knew her in my adult life, I'm pretty sure the tenacity in my soul comes from Grandmother, boy I could use her wise words of wisdom these days.

Even though Mom doesn't drink (oh she's had a few sips), she often helps customers at her local Central Market select the "right bottle of wine" while strolling through the wine department. So Davis Family, Pellegrini and Handley sales are pretty solid there! Mom always asks me about my family wineries and how their business is doing in Texas. Mom cares and is always here for me and my little brother (sometime whether we like it or not). I love you MOM!

One of the great pleasures of helping wineries owned by "real humans" is hearing all about their kids along the way. There are many hours in our week to discuss how the family is doing.

My favorite stories almost always come from Milla Handley of Handley Cellars.

Milla and my Mom have lived very different lives, but they both speak of their kids the same. Proud, excited, bragging a bit, concerned they are making the right choices...all that Mom stuff. Even though she's not the winemaker, Susan Pellegrini recently reached out to me with some solid "mom advice" for this new bride.

Moms are our rock.

So, next time you pick up a bottle of wine, you just might be honoring a Mom. Families are the reason we have wine in this world and families are counting on us to keep their business moving forward.

Thank you Mom and thanks to all the fans of TexaCali Wine Co. producers for making mindful choices this Mother's Day. I'll be in Austin helping promote Handley Cellars and Lange Estate especially. Happy Mother's Day to all! Cheers - Ali