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

by Andrew Chalk One of my earliest encounters with Pedernales Cellars  was on June 11th, 2016 when I organised a ‘mega-tasting’ of 19 Texas Viognier . Pedernales Cellars 2012 Viognier Reserve, Texas High Plains  emerged the winner. Later that year, at another mega tasting, but of Texas tempranillo , Pedernales Cellars 2011 Tempranillo, Reserve, Texas  beat out 22 other contenders to win the top prize. In both cases the judges were sommeliers, educated palates, and they tasted

by Andrew Chalk If you like a good-value Pinot Noir then Cedar_Salmon is an Oregon producer that is always worth a look. This release is widely available now in time for holiday celebrations. Expect it to pair with a wide range of food. DETAILED TASTING NOTES NAME: Cedar+Salmon, 2023 Pinot Noir, Willamette Vallley, OR COMMENTS APPEARANCE Clarity clear Intensity Medium Color Ruby NOSE Condition clean Intensity Medium-plus Aroma Characteristics Raspberry, savory notes, forest f

by Andrew Chalk On a long weekend trip to the Hill Country last week I stopped in at the spectacular building that houses Michael Ros Winery  at the invitation of Tasting Room manager Ron Moore. Winemaker Tim Drake was taking a cruise, after a tough harvest season but he has just released two interesting wines that were not available on my May trip. The Envisage 2022  is their Bordeaux blend. Cabernet Sauvignon 36%, Merlot 43%, and Malbec 21%. Full-bodied with stout tannins,

FROM THE WIRES... Imagine this scene: friends and family gathered, laughter filling the air, and the delicate bubbles of  Campo Viejo Cava Brut   (SRP $13) dancing in their glasses. In Europe, Cava is more than a celebratory toast; it's a versatile partner, elegantly savored from the initial refreshing aperitivo through dinner and festive lunches. Its vibrant acidity and lively fruit notes make it an excellent pairing for a wide range of cuisine. As the holiday season draws

Seasonal Crudo FROM THE WIRES... Downtown Dallas’ sky-high dining destination introduces autumn flavors, indulgent brunch favorites, and a reimagined Afternoon Tea DALLAS, TEXAS  (October 23, 2025) – Mirador , perched above Forty Five Ten with sweeping views of downtown Dallas, is celebrating the flavors of fall with refreshed weekday lunch , indulgent Saturday brunch,  and a reimagined Modern Afternoon Tea . Highlights include chef-driven seasonal dishes, a prix fixe lunch m

FROM THE WIRES... Oregon Named 2026 Featured Region at the Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition   Oregon Wine Board celebrates 211 award-winning Oregon wines honored at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (HLSR)   Portland, Ore. — (November 24, 2025) —  The Oregon Wine Board (OWB) , the statewide organization supporting Oregon’s wine community, is proud to announce that Oregon has been selected as the 2026 featured region for the Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Co

2025 wines made with optically-sorted grapes ready to sniff by Andrew Chalk The great thing about visiting Inwood Estates Vineyards  is that owner/winemaker Dan Gatlin is a factory of innovative ideas around the quest to make better wine out of Texas grapes. These  innovations have included him adopting high altitude vineyards in the Texas High Plains. Being one of the first wineries in the United States to order new cabernet sauvignon and merlot clones out of Bordeaux Univer

by Andrew Chalk This family Piedmonte producer has created a solid example of Barolo with this wine. Producer notes are: TASTING NOTES NAME: Josetta Saffirio 2020 Barolo, DOCG Del Commune Di Monforte D'Alba COMMENTS APPEARANCE Clarity clear Intensity Medium Color Garnet NOSE Condition clean Intensity Medium Aroma Characteristics Cooked red fruit (strawberry), leather, violets, black pepper. PALATE Sweetness dry Acidity Medium plus Tannin medium, green, coarse Alcohol medium B

by Andrew Chalk The town square in the picturesque North Texas town of Gainesville  was turned into a wine festival this last Saturday. North Texas Wine Country , the organisation of wineries in the north of our state took over with 16 member wineries setting up booths on three sides of the square from noon to six to serve tastings of some of their best wines.  By the time I arrived at 3pm it was truly hopping with lines at every booth, food vendors serving barbeque and other

by Andrew Chalk I have tasted many wines out of the Rodney Strong stable over the past few years but I say conclusively that this is the one that I have enjoyed the most. It takes the prodigious cabernet sauvignon grape and vinifies it into a wine that has everything going on but nothing out of control. Some would use the word balanced. I would say that all the edges have been honed smooth so the final edifice has a definite form, but not an incongruous one.  TASTING IMPRESSI