Happenings at TWC
Meet Some New TWC Faces!
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about how TWC is balancing old and new…maintaining what’s always made us a favorite in the Texas Hill Country while making room for new experiences and adventures. Part of this balance involves welcoming new teammates into our TWC family. Continue »
Sep 8, 2021 at 11:17 AM
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Wine Club Selections for Sept-2021
It has been an unusual summer, milder temperatures and a LOT more rain. Can you remember seeing the Texas Hill Country this green?! Grape growers all over the state have been working hard to control fungal diseases and mildew problems that wet weather and warm temperatures have promoted. Now it’s harvest time and most growers and winemakers are really busy getting the 2021 vintage underway and under control Continue »
Aug 31, 2021 at 2:06 PM
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Magic All Around, Old and New
The past year and half has brought many changes to TWC…with even more coming. We’re busy balancing the old and new and finding fun in both! Continue »
Aug 26, 2021 at 2:07 PM
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Picardan – White Rhône Grape for Texas
Because of the rolling hills and rocky landscape, sandy, gravelly soil types, and hot, dry, windy climate conditions in the southern Rhône Valley of France, grape varieties that thrive there also tend to do quite well in many regions of the Lone Star State. Classic Rhône white varieties like Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier, plus red varieties like Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre are well-known in Texas for producing quality wines. A much less-known white grape variety, Picardan, is now showing up in Texas wine blends. Float Blanc 2020 Texas High Plains is a refreshing white wine blend that contains Picardan, accompanied by Roussanne and Grenache Blanc. It was produced by McPherson Cellars for Texas Wine Collective. This Carl’s Corner post explores Picardan – a bit of history, some characteristics, and potential here in Texas. Continue »
Aug 19, 2021 at 1:30 PM
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TWC Vineyard Grape Harvest
Those of you who have visited or even driven by Texas Wine Collective 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 mostly 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 7, 2021 at 3:24 PM
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Back to School…It’s Coming Soon!
Intro: Here at TWC, we’re all about helping you get back into the swing of school. Read on to find out what we’re up to as the summer begins to wind down. And add your favorite Little Debbie snack in the comments below because, after all, it’s getting to be that time of year when we parents start to sneak our kids’ snacks! Continue »
Jul 29, 2021 at 2:28 PM
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Italian Grape Varieties for Texas
Two sessions of an Italian-origin grape variety wine pairing are scheduled for August 22, 2021 – 12:30 and 2:30 pm. McPherson Cellars Reserve Sangiovese, Brennan Vineyards Super Nero, and Lost Oak Winery Montepulciano will be paired with comparable wines from the appropriate regions in Italy accompanied by tasty Italian food bites. It will be a lot of fun to develop this pairing, and it should be a lot of fun to attend and learn more about these grape varieties. Continue »
Jul 22, 2021 at 10:42 AM
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Join Us at TWC as We Begin Paying It Forward
We’re launching a new program to expand our impact in our local community. We’re excited to do more for others, and we hope you’ll join us! Continue »
Jul 15, 2021 at 1:38 PM
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Sparkling Wines – Ways and Styles
This edition of Carl’s Corner was inspired by McPherson Cellars Sparkling Wine currently available and often enjoyed at the Texas Wine Collective tasting room. Sparkling wines are very popular in the wine world today, including Texas. Making sparkling wines can be technically challenging and time-consuming, but for those who enjoy the final product, it certainly seems worthwhile. There are actually a number of methods used to produce sparkling wines, and this post will explore five (5) primary methods, each providing a level of carbonation and a particular style of wine. Continue »
Jul 7, 2021 at 2:25 PM
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Cinsault – A Blending Specialist
Cinsault (sin-SOH or san-SOH) or Cinsaut (without the “l”) is a common red grape in the Rhône Valley of southern France. Because Cinsault is heat and drought tolerant, it is also important in the southern French region of Languedoc-Roussillon and former French colonies of Algeria and Morocco. The origin of the grape is uncertain, but it likely came from some place along the eastern Mediterranean. Cinsault produces brightly colored red wines with a softer, less tannic character, and is often blended with grapes like Grenache, Carignan (care-in-yawn) and Syrah to impart softness, spicy flavors, and fresh fruit aromas Continue »
Jun 20, 2021 at 11:45 AM
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