FROM THE WIRES... Formerly Paraduxx, the evolved space welcomes guests to discover expanded tastings and seasonal pairings  created by Culinary Director Dominic Orsini    Napa Valley, CA (December 17, 2025) – A new chapter of hospitality is unfolding at The Duckhorn Collection at Paraduxx. Long known for its relaxed beauty and inviting atmosphere, the destination has been reimagined to offer guests the chance to explore an expanded range of Napa Valley wines. With the debut o

Texas' most awarded vineyard, Newsom Vineyard, Plains, Texas by Andrew Chalk On November 21, 2025, James Suckling’s eponymous wine-review website published a report on Texas wines. The tastings were conducted by Jim Gordon, Editor-at-Large, and Brian Freedman, Staff Writer and Critic (hereafter collectively referred to as “Suckling”). According to the article, they visited wineries in the Texas Hill Country and noted that they also spent time in the Texas High Plains. In tota

by Andrew Chalk

by Andrew Chalk

Chicken Paillard (Photo: Dan Padgett) FROM THE WIRES... Downtown destination offers mindful lunches, wellness-forward dishes, and zero-proof cocktails for a post-holiday reset DALLAS, TX  (December 18, 2025) -   As Dallasites step into the new year, Mirador  invites guests to reset and recharge with vibrant, health-forward dining  in the heart of downtown. Whether returning to office life, leaning into January wellness goals, or simply seeking a scenic setting to reconnect wi

by Andrew Chalk Big news. Cured was one of the first national-quality restaurants in San Antonio and set a standard for others to follow. FROM THE WIRES... Cured: A Pearl District Icon Closes After 13 Remarkable Years After 13 extraordinary years at the center of San Antonio's Pearl District, Chef Steve McHugh announces that Cured will not be continuing its lease and will close its doors, January 4, 2026. Since opening in December 2013, the restaurant has been a fitting cent

by Andrew Chalk Many Texas winemakers are held in high esteem, but Texas winedrinkers have a special place for Bill Blackmon.

FROM THE WIRES... Award Winning Reposado Tequila Gift Set The perfect set to say ¡Salud! with. Inside you’ll find our iconic Reposado bottle plus four tequila glasses hand-blown from the very same glass used to craft the bottle itself. Made from 100% Blue Weber agave, double distilled, and aged four months at Hacienda Corralejo - this set turns any gathering into a special occasion. Color: Light straw Aroma: Sweet vanilla, honey, spice, hints of oak. Tast: Lemon-lime, pepperc

Concept courtesy Boom Supersonic By Andrew Chalk Boom Supersonic, the startup that has promised a Mach-1.7 successor to the Concorde since 2014, recently issued a press release that was a masterclass in corporate "misdirection." On the surface, the news looked like a victory lap: Boom secured $300 million in fresh funding (at a $1.5 billion valuation) and inked a massive $1.25 billion deal to sell stationary turbines to Crusoe, a data center startup. CEO Blake Scholl painted

FROM THE WIRES... With the clock ticking down to the holidays, many are scrambling for perfect gifts at the last minute, and we know food lovers are often the hardest to shop for. That’s why America’s Test Kitchen is a holiday gift goldmine this season, offering everything from cookbook collections and cooking kits to memberships and kitchen gear — many available for quick shipping or digital delivery, making it perfect for the last minute. A few ideas for some top last-minu

FROM THE WIRES... J Vineyards 2022 Russian River Valley Chardonnay ( SRP: $40 ): Made from the cool climate of the Russian River Valley, this Chardonnay is the perfect cozy white, with appealing aromas of citrus, toasted hazelnut, and gingersnap. Your readers’ palates will be pleasantly surprised with the smooth pineapple and pear flavors that transition to a crisp finish, making it a go-to white wine.  Sample.

by Andrew Chalk This year saw the arrival of two national wine scoring publications in Texas. James Suckling  and Decanter  magazine (the former has actually done some coverage before). Supporters of Texas wine could hardly have asked for a more uplifting set of scores. Both rating services gave the top wines scores in the mid 90s, equivalent to a global-platform Gold Medal in Decanter’s case, or “ 95-99 points: An extraordinary ‘must buy’ wine that you would want to drink t

FROM THE WIRES... Bedford, Texas (December 17, 2025) – DQ restaurants in Texas are ringing in the holiday season by celebrating National Ugly Sweater Day across the Lone Star State. On Friday, December 19 , guests who show up wearing an ugly sweater can enjoy a FREE mini Blizzard Treat , at participating DQ restaurants in Texas. This one-day offer is available exclusively through the DQ app and must be redeemed in person.   There is no better time to bundle up in your favorit

FROM THE WIRES... Following on from our review of their chardonnay... Carmel Valley Estate Outpaces National Wine Trends With Strong Velocity and Category Gains CARMEL VALLEY, Calif. (December XX, 2025) — Bernardus Winery is proud to report exceptional national performance, significantly outperforming key U.S. wine category trends in the latest Nielsen XAOC 52-week period ending October 4, 2025. Total U.S. sales reached 19% increase in volume representing a 15.6% increase in

by Andrew Chalk Regarding the misrepresentation of this wine as a Texas wine. A complaint has been filed with the Office of The Attorney General, State of Texas. TCP-020991 Mano's Wine Spanish below - Español abajo ANDREW CHALK , Thank you for filing your complaint with the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Texas Attorney General. Your complaint number is TCP-020991. The Consumer Protection Division will review your complaint and may contact you if additiona

by Andrew Chalk Auteur is celebrating the season this year with a limited-edition Holiday Gift Box, ’The Wild Coast Auteur Collection’  honoring the bounty of the Russian River Valley. The keepsake holiday gift box includes:  - Auteur 2023 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay and Auteur 2023 Russian River Pinot Noir - Locally grown Chandler walnuts from certified-organic Double A Walnuts, which nods towards the Russian River Valley's agricultural roots - An heirloom nutcracker  - A house

An ideal Champagne for the holiday season by Andew Chalk Champagne Pommery may be the ideal style and price point for Champgne this holiday season. It has breed, balance, complexity and refinement. The distinctive blue label can be found all over Texas. Enjoy! TASTING NOTES NAME: Champagne Pommery, Brut Apanage COMMENTS APPEARANCE Clarity clear Intensity medium Color lemon NOSE Condition clean Intensity medium ;plus Aroma Characteristics Yeast, meyer lemon, pear,   PALATE Swe

This Wine, found at Costco, is named after Texas but contains no Texas grapes. by Andrew Chalk This Wine, found at a Costco in Texas, is named after Texas but contains no Texas grapes. This misleads the consumer, steals sales from Texas winegrowers, and lowers Texas farm incomes. Costco should refuse to go along with this "legalized fraud" and Texas attorney general Ken Paxton should file charges against the producer for deceptive trade practices.

P:hoto cfredit: Jenna Vanzant Collective FROM THE WIRES... DALLAS, TEXAS (November 17, 2025) – Perched atop the beautiful Dallas skyline, Mirador  invites guests to celebrate the season with its Modern Holiday Tea , offered on select dates throughout November and December. This festive tradition pairs panoramic city views with a curated three-course tea experience, seasonal cocktails, elegant flights , and Mirador’s signature   caviar service. “We’re thrilled to welcome guest

by Andrew Chalk A recent visit to the Texas Hill Country gave me a chance to try some of the latest releases in their ever-expanding vineyard-designated lineup. With Jon Gruenhagen of their tasting staff leading the way, treating the occasion like an oenological jam session, improving without fear, I and an anonymous winemaker (known simply by his numeronym “r8y”) worked our way through some of their latest releases. Some general observations: The winery now produces six bran

FROM THE WIRES... As we head into the season of cozy gatherings and golden-hour dinners, Bernardus Winery has something truly special to share, a Carmel Valley grown Chardonnay that captures the essence of autumn, paired with a dish that makes it shine. Introducing the 2023 Ingrid’s Vineyard Chardonnay (SRP $55) , a limited-edition bottling from the estate vineyard planted directly in front of the Bernardus Lodge (the winery and lodge are separate entities, but share this s

Inside the Hidden Cellar at TWC. Password? by Andrew Chalk With a 250-mile journey to Fredericksburg from Dallas it is no-brainer for me to sign up for the elevated tastings to try to make the most of the journey. The latest was the Hidden Pour  at the Texas Wine Collective (TWC). The TWC describes this (paraphrasing) as “...a special, reservation-only tasting experience at the Texas Wine Collective, where guests enter through a secret door for an intimate session with rare p

Maple-glazed Pork Osso Bucco FROM THE WIRES... Husband-and-Wife Team Chris & Bonnie Borges’ Mid-City Neighborhood Restaurant  On Saturday, November 22, 2025, husband-and-wife culinary and hospitality veterans Chris and Bonnie Borges opened Charmant , the latest addition to Mid-City’s dining scene that channels the easy elegance of a European bistro through a distinctly New Orleans lens. Located at 514 City Park Avenue , Charmant showcases modern European flavors, a robust wi

by Andrew Chalk TL;DR : Harmonious, complex, richly flavored pinot noir from Anaba Wines with just enough structure to position this wine for pairing with a multiplicity of food options. Try with duck, pork, and sauced pasta dishes. One of the best pinot noirs I have tasted this year, a year of lots of strong contenders. BACKGROUND FROM THE WINERY TASTING NOTES NAME: Anaba 2022 Pinot Noir, Felix Hunter Vineyard, Sonoma Coast, CA COMMENTS APPEARANCE Clarity clear Intensity Me