Hey, long time no see! How have you been? Look at you, you haven’t aged a single day since I last saw you. Me? Oh, I’ve been well, thanks for asking! I’ve been around, I just didn’t have much new to say lately. Recently I posted on Facebook about how easy it is to make sourdough starter. The response to it surprised me. A lot of people didn’t know what a simple thing it is […]
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2009 Stark Viognier, Damiano Vineyard, Sierra Foothills
We, like many people we know ‘cellar’ our red wines. I say “cellar” because Houston homes do not have basements so any wine aging room is often custom designed to mimic the temperature and humidity found in a European cellar or a California cave. We do not have that luxury, so our wines aged for several years in a chilled storage facility. After multiple hurricanes and flooding that spared our neighborhood more than it did […]
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Golf, Wine create Safety Net for At-Risk Students
Sounds rather provocative does it not: wine as a benefit for school-aged children at risk of dropping out of their studies? But for students in the Clear Creek Independent and Dickinson area schools, it is just that — thanks to the fine folks at Communities in Schools – Bay Area. Each year Communities in Schools – Bay Area a 501(c)(3) non-profit hosts ‘Raise Your Glass to CIS’ a wine tasting event during the day-long Keep […]
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Soils make a Difference: The Zoning Project of DO Montsant
Why do we need to know about the soil? I asked, when I was first learning about wine. Because the composition of the soil can determine which grape grows best in the vineyard. The type of soil also helps decide the irrigation method needed in the vineyard. For example limestone, or calcareous soils are somewhat compact. Their origin from the erosion and sedimentation of rivers, these soils are rich in calcium carbonate, and provide excellent […]
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Two Days in Dublin, Ireland: Day 1
Have a trip planned to Spain? Aer Lingus has some of the best air fares from the United States to Europe! If you plan your flights just right, you can turn an extended layover into a short visit to Dublin. This gives you just enough time to get a flavor for Ireland — and guarantee you will want to return again for a longer stay. Getting the Best Deal on Air Fares I am one […]
Continue readingPhotos of Spain – Monstant
Recently Amy and I participated in a press trip to Catalan. We visited the wine region of Monsant, an area that surrounds Priorat. It is truly one of the most beautiful places on the planet, a fact I was reminded of this morning when I started looking through my photos for ideas. So many gorgeous sites, delicious meals, and amazing wines. I chose a fairly random selection here to share that I think help convey […]
Continue readingDO Montsant on the Precipice: Vinyes Domènech
As I stand on the path that leads from the tasting room through the vineyard to the edge of a precipice at Vinyes Domènech the Latin phrase in situ comes to mind. Literally, the phrase translates to “on-site.” To the archeologist, an artifact in situ is one that he or she unearths and records at the original site of the culture that created it. When discovered not in situ, the artifact is considered out of […]
Continue readingMake Your Own King Cake for Mardi Gras or Visit Limoux!
King Cake with wine? Mon Dieu, you say! Not so fast. Mardi Gras means King Cake, and we have just the recipe and wine recommendation to enjoy your own Fat Tuesday celebration! (Note: Part of this article originally appeared last year, we’ve updated it to include the 2018 dates for Mardi Gras in the United States and Limoux Carnival, in the Pyrenees-Mediterranean region of Limoux.) In the United States’ Christian traditions, Mardi Gras ( Shrove […]
Continue readingRaw Milk Does a Body Good: Healthyway Dairy
“It’s real milk, from a cow.” Jacob looks at me in disbelief and I realize that sounds crazy. “I mean straight from the cow, instead of the grocery store,” I say. It tastes different. Better. Thus becomes my love affair with raw milk and Healthyway Dairy farm in Santa Fe, Texas. Why a Dairy Farm? It started when my friend, Jerry, with whom we play Ingress, sent me on a mission. He told me to […]
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