by Andrew John Chalk
by Andrew ChalkKiepersol Estates, the remarkable winery that grows some 14 vinifera grapes in the east Texas region where it is axiomatic that vinifera grapes are killed in the crib by Pierce’s disease, has done it again. They have just released Dirk’s Vodka, sourced from grape juice from their own vines. Kiepersol founder, Pierre de Wet, named the vodka in honor of his his father who, he says, “lived life well”. Making a vodka from distilled grape juice is as iconoclastic as growing those grapes in east Texas. Little wonder that they coined the slogan “Going Against The Grain” to refer to their differences from most vodka, which is sourced from corn. Last weekend they held a release party at the distillery where I got the chance to try the vodka both straight, and as part of ...
by Linda Perrins Ress Foxworth
“Nueve Messes de Invierno, Tres Messes de Inferno,” is how Javier Alfonso describes the climate of both his home of origin, Ribera del Duero, Spain and his adopted home, Woodinville, Washington. Javier is the owner of Pomum Winery in Woodinville. He serves on TAPAS, which stands for Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society. Their mission is to cultivate Spain’s famous grape, Tempranillo in the Great Pacific Northwest of the United States, and to educate as they go. What do the Great Pacific Northwest of the United States and North Central Spain have in common? A lot, according to the members of TAPAS. As Javier Alfonso points out in the above Spanish saying that he brought with him from home, both regions have a climate that can be described as ‘Nine Months of Winter, Th...
by John Kerr With Gina Trippi
By John Kerr with Gina TrippiSparkle and Pop! It’s a shame that we save champagne for special occasions. Many of us keep the sparkling locked up, only to let it out of the basement for weddings and New Year’s Eve. Not so in the rest of the wine producing countries where folks look for any excuse to roll out the bubbly. Is there hope for the USA? Happily, our restrictive tradition is showing a few cracks. You’ll see this in some fine restaurants, where sommeliers are serving champagne as their secret food pairing.So, what do they know that we don’t? Champagne is arguably the most versatile food wine out there. Champagne contains a high level of acidity and a small amount of sugar. These two extremes complement just about any food other than possibly steak and the sweetest of...
by Andrew John Chalk
Last year, late frosts in the Texas High Plains devastated the wine grape crop by around 90%. The event was so unusual that the U.S. Weather Service estimated that it was likely to happen less than once in every 100 years. How has the disaster affected grape growers views of the high plains as a grape growing area? Are they picking up sticks and planting other crops? I asked growers attending the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Annual Conference last week in Frisco. It may come as a surprise that, far from being deterred, growers are doubling down. Based only on the plantings that I was able to discover, and based only on plantings in the the High Plains, Texas’ grape growers will increase the state’s area under vine by over 13% this year. Specifically, they are planting at least 600 ne...
by Roman Payne
On the Creation of Wine Labels for Modern AppreciationPART ONE – THE SOUL OF THE GRAPHIC DESIGNER IN THE 21st CENTURYA word to professional graphic artists in this second decade of our 21st Century… (and likewise to you who are novices in apprenticeage to become graphic artists come the day when a patron realizes your talent and skill)… I truly hope that in reading my treatise you will come to understand, with some degree of shock, to which degree this terrain upon which you have wandered and placed your hopes of a life’s vocation, is a place both highly honorable, and highly ridiculous.The title of ‘Graphic Artist’ in this century can be looked upon as a permit to stroll unencumbered through a rather strange garden—a place that will enchant you with all the delights of Eden,...
by Jean Larsen
A visit to Bordeaux is a delightful way to spend your time and your travel dollars. Bordeaux is beautiful. If "Wine Tourism" is on your agenda, this is one of the world's top destinationsBordeaux has history, culture, art, and offers quality-of-life. Known as the culinary center of France, Bordeaux offers amazing French cuisine. Each plate is made with freshly grown local ingredients, and of course served with world-class wine - both red and white. Bordeaux sometimes called "Petite Paris", is an 18th century city full of French culture and charm. The city was deemed in 2007 as a UNESCO world heritage site. Sprawled along the banks of the Garonne river, Bordeaux is an elegant city. The city is full of architecture, palaces, and fountains, with a quietly unhurried feel. Take a relaxing day...
by Andrew John Chalk
If you work in the hospitality industry you serve humanity. You are bound to come across all types of people and accumulate some funny anecdotes over the years. I surveyed Dallas sommeliers about the soft underbelly of wine service.Anthony Martinez at The Gaylord Texan handles thousands of wine orders a week. He still remembers the time that a table asked for straws and drank their wine from a straw. Another time, a guest tasted the wine straight from the bottle. Jennifer Jaco recalls an episode when she was at Del Frisco’s “I once had a guest ask me to take his bottle of wine, decant half and put the other in a blender for 5 seconds . Then asked me to pour the wine into two glasses to see if I could tell the difference. It was a really nice bottle so I couldn’t bring myself to o...
by Ron Kapon
Kentucky has a hearty appetite for the food and beverage industry. More than 270 food and beverage operations employ nearly 43,000 people in Kentucky, and the past five years have seen almost 150 food and beverage operations move into the state or expand. 14% of Kentucky’s manufacturing is related to the food and beverage industry. In Northern Kentucky alone food manufacturers have created $250 million in capital investment since 1987.“Kentucky Proud is the trademarked brand for Kentucky’s agricultural products that are grown and produced in our Commonwealth. The label tells consumers they are supporting our local farmers and they are buying the very best.” Kentucky ranks fourth in the country for number of farms, with over 85,000 and nearly 14 million acres of farmland. Farm sales...
by Jennifer Martin
I had the privilege to meet the owner of Castello di Cacchiano, Baron Giovanni Ricasoli-Firidolfi. The winery is located in Gaiole in the province of Siena within the region of Tuscany. This is the heart of the Chianti Classico territory. Castello di Cacchiano is one of the most historic estates in Tuscany housing one of the most noble families and oldest wine producers. The theme of their website is “Identity, Engagement Heart”, and after meeting with Giovanni hearing the history and tasting his wines I can see why. Giovanni states that identity is not only determined by the soil, climate and the environment, but also the work that goes into the wine producing. Engagement is those of the past, present and future of making wine at Castello di Cacchiano. Lastly, the love and desire of w...
by Ron Kapon
I was invited to participate in the 4-day festival known as Culinaria on behalf of the San Antonio CVB. This may have been the best-organized press trip I have ever attended. Great hotel, meals, on-time departures and arrivals and enough free time to allow me to swim, use the Jacuzzi, fitness center and rest. I like very early flights out of New York. It is easy to get to the airport; the crew and plane are already there and the airport is not crowded. Each of my 4 flights- LaGuardia to Dallas & Dallas to San Antonio- left and arrived early. It was the same for my return trip. I had several free hours before the opening event. The weather was perfect- mid-80’s and sunny. The only problem was American Airlines broke my bag and claimed non-responsibility because it was the wheels that th...
