Author: SAHMmelier

Being a stay- at-home mom can leave one thirsting for a taste of the outside world, a world in which sentences are composed of more than three words. Being an educator means one is always seeking an opportunity to explore and learn. Being a woman with a need to connect can be a challenge when adult conversations are rare. In wine, I find the marriage of art and science, agriculture and storytelling provides limitless areas to explore. But it is the people that keep me engaged. The tenacity needed to keep the family dream alive, the risk to start anew, the trials and principles. I love the history of the vine, the impact of a season, the sentiment in the bottle. That is why I write. I write to tell their stories, to share a piece of mine. I write to learn as I teach others. I write to connect with new friends, to disconnect from the world. I write to celebrate what makes each of us unique, and that which ties us together.

Something to Celebrate

December 31, 2012.Reading time 2 minutes.

Tonight we will say goodbye to 2012 and hello to 2013. Most of us will celebrate with bubbles and friends. We have been practicing around here. I took a class in sparkling wine recently which was great preparation. Champagne, Prosecco, Domestic, or Cava, there is a bottle for every palate and every price point. I […]

Three “Wines-men”

December 21, 2012.Reading time 4 minutes.

I could tell you about a few of my picks for the holiday season, and I probably will at some point. But I thought it would be a little more interesting to hear from those who know just a little more about Texas wines than I do. I elicited help from three fabulous Texas wine makers to tell you which […]

Lamentations

December 16, 2012.Reading time 4 minutes.

I’ve barely slept this past week. At first, it was because I was sleeping with my son to help him through his pneumonia-induced coughing spells. For the last two nights, I have been so heavy with grief for the families in Newtown that I have not found rest. There is a verse in Romans that […]

A Day Late…But Not a Bit Short

December 13, 2012.Reading time 2 minutes.

Last night was the Texas Wine Twitter chat featuring three lovely wines and Chef Josh Watkins of The Carillon Restaurant here in Austin (see pairings below). I will be making that Celery root and apple soup with Duchman Viognier soon. Because we have been in full combat mode, fighting a nasty respiratory virus, I had […]

East Coast vs. West Coast

December 5, 2012.Reading time 2 minutes.

This week I decided to sample two Chardonnays, back to back, for an East Coast/West Coast showdown. The first Chardonnay was the 2010 Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay from North Carolina and the second was the 2010 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Chardonnay ($20). The Biltmore was very easy to drink. Which was great because we opened it after my son’s […]

Time to Breathe

November 26, 2012.Reading time 2 minutes.

There are some evenings that just require a little more self-care than others. After a tough conversation with your boss, the day your dog ate your favorite boots, the Monday after Thanksgiving. Or any day with a three-year old tornado. This evening, I needed a little something extra. So while my husband has my daughter out for […]

Thanks, Giving, and Connection

November 15, 2012.Reading time 5 minutes.

At this time of year, many of us are rushing around, trying to decide on the perfect appetizer,on table settings and decor, and pairing wines that will fit the budget but still impress our guests. And some are trying to figure out where they will get their next meal. Or how to pay the electric […]

Fond Memories-Robert Mondavi

November 5, 2012.Reading time 3 minutes.

There are some wines that invite an immediate image. One sip and you are transplanted, to a memory or an ideal. Robert Mondavi’s 2010 Napa Valley Pinot Noir conjures images of fallen leaves and cashmere sweaters, blackberry brambles and tartan blankets. It is just what I want from a Pinot Noir. Many years ago, I […]

“Hey Girl…I love SAHMs”

October 29, 2012.Reading time 3 minutes.

Two friends. Two everyday locations. Two sightings of Ryan Gosling in two days. Posted too late for me to stalk. I know, I know. Generally, I am not starstruck. I think about how I would like people to respond to me if I were just trying to grab some breakfast or do some shopping. I […]