Happenings at TWC
T-Shirts, Tutus, and Tiaras: Anything Goes at the Cellars
I spent this past weekend with a friend in New Orleans. At one point, we found ourselves gawking at a table full of expensive tiaras, surrounded by women trying them on. As we walked out of the store, my friend wondered who in the world needs a tiara…besides, of course, a princess. I had to laugh because I’ve actually seen a surprising number of tiaras in my time at 4.0. But I’ve seen much more than that in our tasting rooms, too. Continue »
Oct 16, 2019 at 11:55 AM
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Come Celebrate Texas Wine Month at the Cellars
October has always been my favorite month. When I was young, I loved it for my birthday and Halloween. As I got older and moved away from Texas for a while, I loved it for the arrival of fall leaves, watching UT football from afar, and celebrating many friends’ birthdays and my wedding anniversary. Now that I’m back home in Texas and living in Fredericksburg, I can add Oktoberfest to the long list of things worth celebrating in October. Continue »
Oct 1, 2019 at 12:11 PM
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Rhône White Grapes in Texas 2019
As I am organizing several wine tastings for Industry meetings that will include several Rhône white grape varieties, it seems appropriate to focus on these grapes that are doing extremely well in the Lone Star State. Texas grape growers and wine makers are planting and vinifying more white grapes that originate in hotter climates, such as the southern regions of France near the Mediterranean Sea coast. The best-known of these grape varieties include Viognier (vee own yay), the key grape in the northern Rhône appellation of Condrieu; Roussanne, an important component of white blends in the southern Rhône appellation of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and Marsanne, a primary grape in white blends from the famed northern Rhône appellation of Hermitage. All three of these grapes have become well-established here in the Lone Star State. Continue »
Sep 26, 2019 at 1:00 PM
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The Texas Cheese and Wine Experience (or Fun in the Board Room!)
I genuinely enjoy many things about my job at 4.0: getting to know new customers, chatting with club members, working alongside my colleagues (many of whom I call “friend”), serving at special events, and learning about and tasting a wide assortment of Texas wines. But one of my favorite “tasks” at 4.0 is leading cheese and wine pairings. While Carl leads most of these pairings on Saturdays, I (and the other Leads) get to step into that role on weekdays and when Carl is away. And let me tell you, there’s rarely a dull moment during a pairing. Continue »
Sep 18, 2019 at 12:31 PM
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What to do with Leftover Wine
What is “leftover” wine? For some, it is hard to imagine such a thing. This is a subject that has been addressed previously, but we still often get questions about it from customers at the 4.0 Cellars tasting room. So, here is my take on Leftover Wine. Continue »
Sep 11, 2019 at 1:22 PM
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When Leaders and Wine Collide
For those of you involved in some way with the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce, the Leadership Gillespie County (LGC) program will be familiar. This annual, community-based program gives citizens of Fredericksburg and Gillespie County a chance to network and learn about, among other things, local industries, schools, government, and non-profits. Since its inception, LGC has graduated over 500 people. At its root, it’s a breeding ground for our future leaders. Continue »
Sep 4, 2019 at 12:05 PM
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Wine Club September, 2019
4.0 Cellars Merlot 2017 TX High Plains (by Lost Oak Winery) R/M • Grape(s): Merlot 100%, Bingham Family Vineyards, Meadow, TX, Terry County • Harvested in Aug-2017; fermented in SS tank; barrel aged 11 mo. in French & American oak; bottled at 14.2% ABV, <0.1% RS (DRY) • Dark ruby color; black cherry & ripe persimmon fruit mingle with vanilla, tobacco, & peppery notes; hints of smoke on the well-balanced finish with sturdy, ripe tannins; pairs well with Texas steaks & most grilled meats Continue »
Aug 28, 2019 at 12:01 PM
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Let the Wining and Dining Begin! (on September 21st)
I love all of our events at 4.0: Wine Club Sundays, Brunch and Learn, Wine and Dine Showcase, Howl-o-Ween and Wine, Wags and Wine…we’ve got lots. But there’s one event in particular that I insist on working each year: our annual Wine Club Winemaker Dinner. Continue »
Aug 21, 2019 at 12:53 PM
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4.0 Cellars Grape Harvest 2019
Those of you who have visited or even driven by 4.0 Cellars probably noticed grape vines growing near Hwy 290, in front of the three Logo tanks at the entrance to the tasting room and patio area. These are Black Spanish, or Lenoir, vines, a hybrid grape that grows well in the hot, more humid climates of Texas. The vines were planted in 2013 by folks from Lost Oak Winery, one of our partner/owners, and were intended to be a “show” vineyard, a garden really, so that visitors could see and appreciate grapevines. Continue »
Aug 15, 2019 at 12:09 PM
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Summer's End at the Cellar
While August is a busy time for many, you might be surprised to learn that it’s a relatively calm time in our tasting room. But really, it’s the calm before the storm…also known as fall here in the Texas wine country, our busiest time of year. Continue »
Aug 7, 2019 at 1:05 PM
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