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

FROM THE WIRES... News provided by Suntory Global Spirits Oct 28, 2025, 09:00 ET Each barrel was hand-selected for its distinctive flavor and balance, resulting in a bourbon as rare and bold in character as it is in age CLERMONT, Ky., Oct. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the James B. Beam Distilling Co., home of the The Small Batch Bourbon Collection™, marks a historic moment with the release of Knob Creek ® 21 Year Old, the oldest expression to be released from the distiller

A Line of Premium of Zero-Proof Spirits For the Occasion FROM THE WIRES... October 20, 2025 – Dallas, TX : Dynasty Spirits , a leading independent spirits company, is thrilled to announce the official launch of Teaspoon , the brand’s first line of non-alcoholic beverages. Debuting with four expressions: Whiskey, Tequila, Gin and Italian Spritz, Teaspoon enters the zero proof, high impact beverage space as a new standard for today’s modern drinker.   Founded by Devin Odell,

by Andrew Chalk What does a winemaker want to do after planting a vineyard from scratch and building a winery? For many, it is to write about the most strenuous, extenuating and ambitious venture of their life. For Dan McLaughlin, winemaker, grower and principal of Robert Clay Vineyards  it was to collaborate with his son, Blake, and Google’s AI assistant, Gemini  to actually write music, a song named No Eagle’s Shadow , to capture their experience.  And you won’t find the st

FROM THE WIRES... For holiday gift guide and seasonal coverage consideration, introducing you to Tequila Centinela , a line of authentic, additive-free luxury Añejo tequilas. Celebrated as a ‘Guardian of True Tequila’ since 1904, Tequila Centinela offers a rare taste of Mexico with its renowned aged expressions, traditionally crafted in one of the world’s largest tequila barrel-aging cellars For a thoughtful present, crafted with the same care it’s gifted with, try Centinela

by Andrew Chalk Here is something reassuring: Assess yuor recipients this holiday season and then choose how much you should spend on a bottle of Tequila. There is likely a product out there to suit you. Let's go through the list from expressions suitable for a distant acquaintance up to one that is suitable to gift to ( e.g.) me. Dulce Vida Organic Blanco Tequila  – This 100% organic Blue Weber agave spirit from Dulce Vida Tequila offers a bright citrus aroma balanced with

FROM THE WIRES... HEALDSBURG, CA – November 4 th , 2025 – This holiday season, Rodney Strong Vineyards is spreading cheer with an exciting new promotion: the chance to win a trip to the Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience in May 2026. Wine lovers across the country are invited to enter for their opportunity to attend this world-class celebration of Sonoma County’s rich culinary and winemaking heritage. Three grand prize winners will each receive an unforgettable trip, valued

by Andrew Chalk Fogo de Chao corporate must be reducing the quality of the meat they buy. Tonight, at the Dallas McKinney Avenue location, the top sirloin (alcatra) and the garlic steak were both like Kevlar. Either the kitchen did not test and reject them, or they just didn’t care. The picanha (top sirloin) was not as resistant to the South Atlantic weather, but it was too chewy for how it is supposed to be. Likewise, the filet mignon was tough, sub-Choice grade. And this is

FROM THE WIRES... DALLAS/FORT WORTH, Texas (October 29, 2025) –  As Texas temperatures cool off, participating DQ® restaurants in Texas are serving up the ultimate comfort meal with the return of Chicken & Dumplings. This hearty classic combines tender chicken, savory gravy, and soft, fluffy dumplings for a meal filled with nostalgic flavors that feel like home. Perfect for crisp fall days, it's a delicious way to warm up and embrace the Lone Star State's cold-weather traditi

FROM THE WIRES... 158-year-old heritage brand refines visual identity, preserves iconic elements reflecting global leadership in premium olive oil LYNDHURST, N.J. – Oct. 9, 2025 – Filippo Berio, the internationally renowned olive oil brand with 158 years of heritage, has launched a comprehensive redesign across its entire line of legacy olive oils with a new premium look. The enhanced visual identity represents a natural evolution in the brand's packaging, with a design that

FROM THE WIRES... Anderson Valley completes harvest for the 2025 “Winemaker’s Vintage” Anderson Valley, CA — October 17, 2025 –  The Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association (AVWA) has officially concluded its 2025 harvest and published the “2025 Winemaker’s Vintage Harvest Report” , making the Mendocino County appellation among the first in California to bring in the last of its fruit this season. Despite a cool, slow-moving year that tested patience and timing, growers and w

Tens of thousands of finance-sector workers are moving to Dallas. by Andrew Chalk Hospitality was the worst hit sector by COVID. Since then, it has come back but the chef or family-owned sector has clearly lagged the better capitalized corporate sector. That may all be about to change. Wall Street, the New York City financial sector, is moving almost wholesale to Texas, and Dallas is getting more of it than the rest of Texas put together. The jobs are across the scale but dis

By Andrew Chalk Any lovers of sparkling wine, especially of Champagne and other sparkling wines made in the same style (known as Metodo Classico in Italain) will find this wine an interesting, approachable change of taste. Recommended. FROM THE WIRES Ventiventi Rosé , made from Lambrusco di Sorbara , is a tribute to finesse: its delicate aromas of flowers and red fruits meet a bold savoriness, delivering a dynamic, food-friendly sip. Ventiventi, founded by the Razzaboni fam

FROM THE WIRES... WOODFORD RESERVE ELEVATES HOLIDAY SEASON  WITH BOTTLE DESIGNED BY FASHION BRAND MARKARIAN A perfect gift for the season October 15, 2025 (VERSAILLES, KY) — Woodford Reserve is elevating the holiday season with the release of its 2025 holiday bottle, featuring artwork created by fashion designer Alexandra O’Neill, founder of the luxury brand Markarian.  The design captures Markarian’s signature aesthetic while embracing the festive spirit of the season—effort

FROM THE WIRES... "There's nothing quite like a backyard BBQ to capture the season's easygoing spirit. Grilling brings people together, sparks conversation, and pairs beautifully with great wine," said Kathleen Murphy, Vice President of Marketing, Raeburn Winery. Sourced from exceptional Sonoma County vineyards, every bottle of Raeburn reflects the region's warmth and natural beauty, bringing bold flavors and laid-back sophistication to late summer gatherings. The bright Sono