Austin TX entertainment, events, food, movies, music

The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Events

Suggest an event

• 10 From Across Texas
• 10 Under $10
• Wine Gadgets
• Pairing Wine & Food
• Great Grape Reads
• Wine Tours
• Holiday Tastings
• Wine Trail Map
• Wine Guide Main Page

10 From Across Texas

Like all Lone Star natives, these wines proudly proclaim where they're from

By Dale Rice
American-Statesman Restaurant Critic
November 12, 2003

Wine tells a story of the land. It captures the soil and the sun, the winds and the rain, imparting climate and earth into each glass. Now, that essence of Texas is being bottled, sipped and savored, and the results are as pleasing as vintages corked half a world away.

Some Lone Star vintners have taken grapes they weren't supposed to be able to grow here and developed wine that surprised even the French with its quality. Others are planting the fruits of comparable hot-weather climates and bringing us a bounty far sooner than we expected.

All sides of the vineyard are represented in my 10 favorite wines of Texas. Whether produced from grapes grown on the High Plains, in the Hill Country or near the shores of the Highland Lakes, these wines all have one thing in common: Their bottled tale is one worth drinking.

Alamosa Tio Pancho Ranch Sangiovese Riserva 2000 This winery launched by Jim Johnson has dedicated its efforts to warm-weather grapes, such as the sangiovese of Italy and the tempranillo of Spain, and the results are impressive.

The Sangiovese, with its underpinnings of berries and vanilla, pairs nicely with beef tenderloin, lamb chops, pasta with tomato sauce or practically anything with prosciutto. Price: $18.49

Becker Claret A blend of the five classic Bordeaux wines (cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot), this red is a high-quality product from Becker Vineyards, which earned a mention this month in Food & Wine magazine.

The claret is a full-bodied, multilayered wine that contains vibrant flavors: dried fruit, black cherry, green tea, cocoa and spice. It is best paired with hearty dishes such as beef and lamb. Price: $15.49

Becker Viognier This is the wine that brought raves from Robert Mondavi, one of the great American vintners, who was so impressed with his first tastes of it at the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival that later in the evening he bought a double-magnum of it at a charity auction.

The wine, produced by Richard and Bunny Becker, is a lovely accompaniment to seafood and pasta with a cream sauce. Price: $15.49

Fall Creek Chardonnay For an oak-heavy version, choose the Fall Creek Reserve Chardonnay. For a lighter, more fruit-forward approach, the basic chardonnay is the choice.

With 30 percent of the wine aged in oak for four months, it strikes a balance between wood and fruit that is closer to a Burgundian style chardonnay than one from California. It pairs well with a wide variety of dishes, including fish and shellfish. Price: $11.29

Fall Creek Meritus 1999 One of the best wines ever produced in Texas (and served last week when Mexico President Vicente Fox dined at the governor's mansion), this once-every-few-years red blend is a big, bold bottle of pleasure from Ed and Susan Auler of Austin.

In the Meritus, which is 92 percent cabernet sauvignon, these pioneers of Texas wine show how far the Lone Star State has come in the last two decades, proving that Hill Country vintages can stand alongside the best. It can stare down even the heartiest meats. Price: $31.99

Messina Hof Papa Paulo Private Reserve Port In an unconventional approach to port wine, owner-winemaker Paul Bonarrigo developed a six-month fermentation process that allows him to make the world's only full-bodied port without fortification.

The marvelous result is a sweet wine infused with the essence of chocolate and cherries. Drink it alone after dinner or -- as Bonarrigo suggests, and I heartily concur -- pour it over Blue Bell vanilla ice cream for a special treat. Price: $14.79

Sister Creek Vineyards Cabernet Blend Winemaker Danny Hernandez is producing a more subtle kind of cabernet sauvignon in this French-style blend from Sister Creek.

Tamed by 14 months on oak, it has distinct blackberry and black cherry flavors. Serve it with lamb or beef tenderloin, avoiding meats that are heavy with spice and smoke. Price: $14.79

Spicewood Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc The sauvignon blanc from Ed and Madeleine Manigold is a consistently good wine. The 2000 vintage, for example, garnered an 81 rating from Wine Spectator.

The crisp, fruity wine, which was fermented entirely in stainless steel, has small amounts of semillon and muscat that enhance its complexity. Sip it alone in summer or pair it with shrimp. Price: $9.99

Texas Hills Merlot Estate 2001 A classy wine, this merlot comes from the hardiest grapes in Gary and Kathy Gilstrap's vineyard. Consequently, it is the winery's heaviest product, one that compares more closely to cabernets from the West Coast.

With its plum flavors and spiciness, the smooth, complex Texas Hills Merlot can hold up to heavier meats, such as a grilled steak, as well as Asian food with ginger. Price. $18.99

Travis Peak Select Muscato D'Arancia Part of a select line of wines from Flat Creek Estate (with the grapes hand-selected by Australian native winemaker Craig Parker), this High Plains orange muscat walks a tightrope: It's not really sweet, and it's not really dry. It's just plain good.

With its heavy orange peel character, this multidimensional dessert wine goes well with cheeses, such as cheddar, or a rich flan. It could even stand up to a stir-fry with orange sauce. Price: $13.99

drice@statesman.com; 445-3859

Now Playing in Central Texas Search for movies playing at theaters across Central Texas, purchase tickets, read reviews from our team of critics and leave your own review.

CENTRAL TEXAS BARS AND RESTAURANTS Find a new bar or restaurant to try tonight. Search by cuisine type, distance, location and price range. Then be sure to come back and leave a review.