Happenings at TWC

Alicante Bouschet - A Really Red Grape
Alicante Bouschet (“alla kahn tay boo shea”) is one of only a very few varieties of teinturier grapes of the Vitis vinifera species that have both red flesh and red skin. This grape originated in France as a cross between Petit Bouschet (also a teinturier grape) and the better-known Grenache or Garnacha as it is called in Spain. The grape is named after Henri Bouschet the Frenchman who first generated the cross in 1866. Continue »

Texas Wine Collective Wine Club Release – Apr-2023
It is time for the Texas Wine Collective April Wine Club Release. Spring is definitely here with warmer weather, some threatening thunderstorms, prolific wildflower blossoms, and oak pollen that drives some folks’ allergies crazy. To go along with all of that, the TWC pickup events are scheduled on Sundays, April 16 and April 23. There will be two sessions each Sunday, Session One – 11:00 am-1:30 pm or Session Two - 2:30 pm-5:00 pm, with opportunities to taste all the wines from this release and enjoy several small food bites to enhance the experience. There will also be live music for your enjoyment. Check the website – www.texaswinecollective.com - to make reservations. Four adults per wine club membership are allowed to join the fun. Continue »

Taste of Texas: Pizza Series
Pizza and Wine – A Great Pairing The next pairing in the Texas Wine Collective Texas Tasting Series is something new – Pizza and Wine! On Sunday afternoon, April 2, Carl Hudson will host this event featuring 3 different types of pizza paired with 6 wines from our TWC partners – Brennan Vineyards, Lost Oak Winery, and McPherson Cellars. While tasting the pizzas prepared by Operations Manager and Chef Amber Saidler, a history of the origins of pizza will be presented along with tasting notes for each of the wines. Please join us for this fun pairing. Reservations and advance ticket purchase are required – see the TexasWineCollective.com website. Continue »

Texas Wine and Grape Growers Conference, Feb-2023
The Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association represents the interests of member grape growers and wineries throughout the Lone Star State. The operating slogan is “From Grape Cultivation to Business Innovation.” Each year the association holds an annual conference and trade show with a varied program to appeal to growers, winemakers, wineries, marketers, and consumer advocates. This year the conference was held in San Marcos, TX, at the Embassy Suites Convention Center, Feb-21-23. Continue »

Wine Club Release – Feb-2023
The subject today is the February Wine Club Release with pickup events scheduled on Sundays, February 19 and February 26. As in recent years, there will be two sessions each Sunday with opportunities to taste all the wines from this release and enjoy several small food bites to enhance the experience. Check the website – www.texaswinecollective.com to make reservations. Four adults per wine club membership are allowed to join the fun. Continue »

Texas Tasting Series - Texas vs France -
This event offers attendees the opportunity to compare and contrast wines made from similar grape varieties and produced in Texas versus France. Chef Amber Saidler, Texas Wine Collective Director of Operations, has prepared delicious small food bites to accompany the wines. Note: The Texas wines from our Texas Wine Collective partners will be offered in a 3-pk at a special discounted price. Continue »

Texas Wine Collective Texas Tasting Series
South Africa has a long and storied wine history dating back to 1659. Grape growing and wine production is concentrated around Cape Town and the areas along and just inland from the southern coastline. European settlers were key pioneers in developing the South African wine industry, so the grape varieties planted and the delimitation of wine regions are similar to those in central Europe. A Wine of Origin system was begun in 1973 and currently defines about 60 appellations, like Constantia, Paarl, Stellenbosch, Breede River, and Robertson. This WO system is very similar to the Appellation of Origin (AOC or AOP) system used throughout Europe and is designed to help define the origin of grapes, and in some cases even define allowed grape varieties. Wines may be produced from a single grape variety or from blends of two or more varieties. Continue »

Carl’s Corner Annual Summary for 2022 –
It is always fun, and sometimes surprising, to look back at all of last year’s Carl’s Corner blog posts. There is usually a relatively wide range of topics besides the regular Wine Club Release announcements. In 2022, the major theme was the 10-part series on American Viticultural Areas, AVAs, specifically the eight AVAs in Texas. And a newer topic, the Texas Tasting Series events. that compared wines of a specific type or grape variety from various wine regions with similar versions from the Texas Wine Collective winery partners, Brennan Vineyards, Lost Oak Winery, and McPherson Cellars. Enjoy this review of Carl’s Corner Memories from 2022 and remember that you can always go to the TexasWineCollective.com website to read or re-read any of these posts. May your holidays be truly “wine-derful.” Continue »

Blended Wines – Why and How?
The production of blended wines, those produced by mixing different grape varieties together in the final wine, goes back thousands of years. One of the key reasons for blending, then and to a large extent now, is to avoid loss of fruit due to calamities – weather, diseases and pests. The goal has always been to have a successful grape harvest to make the final product - wine! Continue »

Holiday Wine Selections
It’s the middle of November and Thanksgiving week is rapidly approaching. Christmas and the New Year are just a few weeks further on. It’s been a crazy, fast-paced year for Texas Wine Collective, and we’ve had opportunities to enjoy and share a lot of good times with you in 2022 featuring a number of delicious wines from our partners, Brennan Vineyards in Comanche, Lost Oak Winery in Burleson, and McPherson Cellars in Lubbock. Now it’s time to consider wines that will accompany your special dinners and fun gatherings with family and friends. Here are some suggestions from the Texas Wine Collective portfolio that should brighten and enhance your holidays. Continue »