Happenings at TWC
Wine Club Selections for April 2020
All of us at 4.0 Cellars hope you are safe, in good health, and somehow coping with the craziness brought on by the Coronavirus. Yes, the tasting room is closed, but wine sales continue via curbside delivery. Check the website for details (www.fourpointwine.com). And, although the Wine Club Pickup Events have been cancelled, you can still pickup your April wine club selections via curb service. We sincerely appreciate our wine club members, and wish to do everything we can to keep you safe, and amply supplied with wine from our owner-partners: Brennan Vineyards, Lost Oak Winery, and McPherson Cellars. Stay tuned as future notices will let you know when things begin to return to “normal” and we can once again open the beautiful facilities at 4.0 Cellars to wine club members and the general public. Continue »
Mar 25, 2020 at 11:23 AM
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Popular Wine Myths Debunked – Part 1
In the 4.0 Cellars tasting room, one often hears comments about wine from customers that tend to fall into the categories of myths, misconceptions, and sometimes just plain quackery. Because wine can be a technically challenging topic, and sometimes downright confusing, a recent article in WineMaker magazine prompted me to address some of these myths. This is Part 1. Part 2 will follow. Continue »
Feb 27, 2020 at 10:31 AM
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Vine Pruning, February, 2020
Now that the new year has arrived, it is time to plan the vineyard pruning effort as spring approaches. Along US 290, one can see that pruning has started in many vineyards. And, there are posts and videos on FaceBook and Utube addressing the subject of vine pruning. But, I wanted to approach this subject in my own way for this Carl’s Corner post. Starting my 17th season of vine pruning, I’ve decided to share my approach in this updated Carl’s Corner post. During your next visit to 4.0 Cellars, you are invited to wander out to the 4.0 Cellars “Pet Vineyard” to take a look at the Black Spanish vines either before or after pruning starts. Continue »
Feb 11, 2020 at 2:35 PM
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Wine Club Selections for Feb-2020
Happy New Year! Can you believe we are 20 years into the 21st Century? As is typical for this time of the year, Texas weather is weird. One day it is spring, the next is winter, always bringing some confusion as to how to dress for any given activity. Well, there are several activities on the horizon at 4.0 Cellars as February Wine Club Release parties are scheduled for Sundays 2-Feb, 9-Feb, and 16-Feb. If you, as a Wine Club Member, would like to join the party and share time with lots of other club members, check the website (www.fourpointwine.com) and make your reservations. We would love to share your company, and remember, not only can you register and bring guests, you can enjoy the 30% discount on wine purchases on-site on Club Sundays or online during the week-days in between. Here are the February 2020 Wine Club Release Selections. Continue »
Jan 29, 2020 at 9:32 AM
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Acidity in Wine – Part 2 in the Winery
Acidity is very important to the taste, color, and stability of wines. Too little acidity produces flat & uninteresting wines, while too much acidity leads to harsh, tart wines. Acidity not only influences the taste of wine, but also the fermentation process, stability of color and proteins, and resistance to spoilage mechanisms. Part 1 on acidity focused on acid compounds as they are created in the vineyard, migrate to the grapes, and are impacted by various degradation mechanisms that reduce acidity as grapes ripen and are harvested. This Part 2 edition will focus on acidity as it impacts fermentation, aging, and quality in the finished wine. Continue »
Jan 16, 2020 at 12:36 PM
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Acidity in Wine – Part 1 in the Vineyard
First of all, Happy New Year to all of you. I’ve just been sitting here thinking about topics for 2020, and decided to start off with a post on how important acidity is in wines. This was a key topic for a presentation and tasting at the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association Grape Camp last November in Fredericksburg. Acidity is very important to the taste, color, and stability of wines. Too little acidity produces flat & uninteresting wines, while too much acidity leads to harsh, tart wines. Acidity not only influences the taste of wine, but also the fermentation process, stability of color and proteins, and enhances stability against spoilage mechanisms. This Part 1 edition of Carl’s Corner will focus on acid compounds as they are created in the vineyard, and migrate to the grapes that will eventually be harvested and become wine. A Part 2 edition will focus on acidity in the winery as it impacts fermentation, aging, and the finished wine. Continue »
Jan 4, 2020 at 11:35 AM
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End of the Year 2019
This will be the last Carl’s Corner for this year, and I would like to reflect on the topics covered during 2019. In January, a post on Port Style Wines highlighted the various types of Port wines and the newly released 4.0 Cellars Portejas, This delicious wine was produced from Black Spanish grapes grown in the show vineyard in front of the tasting room, coupled with Ruby Cabernet wine from Brennan Vineyards. The second post in January covered the use and impact of Oak Barrels & Oak Alternatives on the wines that we enjoy. The Texas Hill Country Wineries Annual Symposium and Trade Show was held in January at Horseshoe Bay Resort near Marble Falls. What a fun event filled with friends, fun, learning, and, of course, good Texas wine. Continue »
Dec 18, 2019 at 1:01 PM
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Wine Labels – What They Do or Don’t Tell You
A recent article in Wine Enthusiast magazine caught my attention and prompted this Carl’s Corner edition. One of my favorite wine writers, Paul Gregutt, wrote about The Dos and Don’ts of Wine Labels with a focus on what makes a good wine label. I have borrowed liberally from his article with the focus on what is required on a wine label, what would be useful to consumers, and what wineries rarely tell us. So, pour yourself a glass of good Texas wine and grab a few wine bottles to look over their labels as you read further. Continue »
Dec 4, 2019 at 3:19 PM
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Holiday Wines for the Festive Table
Gathering with family and friends at Thanksgiving is one of the most treasured and time-honored traditions we have in the United States of America. A big part of my Thanksgiving tradition is lots of wonderful food accompanied with good wine. There are a number of excellent holiday wine choices available at 4.0 Cellars – see the list below. Continue »
Nov 20, 2019 at 1:06 PM
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Wine Club November, 2019
Well, the weather has finally given some indication that summer is over and fall is on the way to the Texas Hill Country as temperatures have cooled, some rain has fallen, and the grape harvest is finally nearing completion. It is time to start thinking about the upcoming fall and winter holidays, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Attending a November Wine Club Pickup Party would be a good way to get in the mood, and learn about some delicious wines to select for the holiday parties and dinners. Join other 4.0 Cellars Wine Club members for the November 4.0 Wine Club Release parties scheduled on Sundays, 3-Nov, 10-Nov, and 17-Nov. If you would like to join the party and share time with lots of other club members, check the website (www.fourpointwine.com) and make your reservations. We would love to share your company, and remember that you can enjoy the 30% discount on wine purchases on-site on Club Sundays or online during the week-days in between. Continue »
Nov 6, 2019 at 1:48 PM
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