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.

A Bit More From Biltmore

October 27, 2012.Reading time 2 minutes.

When a wine contains your two of your favorite grapes, you expect to love it. So when I saw the Biltmore Century Red Wine contained Sangiovese and Merlot, I was on board, expecting great things. Although it suggests pairing with Prime Rib or Barbeque Ribs, I chose to play on the Sangiovese and pair it with Bilinski’s […]

My Favorite Kind of Evening

October 19, 2012.Reading time 3 minutes.

If you have littles, you know how hard it can be to make plans ahead of time. The best laid plans are easily derailed by a runny nose or a meltdown brought on by a missed nap. My good friends understand this, so we are all fans of the last-minute plans. One example, that is quickly […]

Discoveries from Columbus Weekend

October 10, 2012.Reading time 6 minutes.

Although some would question the political correctness of celebrating Columbus Day, few would argue about the long weekend. And a long weekend means more time to drink wine, especially enjoyable when you have been doing (mostly)dry weeks. We packed this weekend with equal parts productivity and revelry. Here are some fun discoveries. On Wednesday, I […]

I Heart NY, Even More

October 3, 2012.Reading time 6 minutes.

In February, I was first introduced to the fabulous Rieslings in the Finger Lakes region when I visited Lamoreaux Landing. In July, the quality was confirmed with a sampling of eight Rieslings which were sent to me by the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance. Last week, I had the opportunity to, once again, participate in a virtual tasting with eight […]

A Blind Date-Gusto Tastings

September 27, 2012.Reading time 4 minutes.

A cool, rainy Sunday can feel a little like Christmas here in Central Texas, especially at the Summer’s end. Settling in at home with a cup of tea is about as good as it gets. Unless you can be at Barley Swine enjoying a Blind Tasting with Gusto Tastings. That is even better. Each month, […]

This Wine Costs What?- A Great Piece from Talk-A-Vino

September 18, 2012.Reading time 10 minutes.

If you are lucky enough to live near a Trader Joe’s, Talk-A-Vino has some great wine values for you. His follow up to this post, with even more suggestions, can be found here. If you aren’t already following him, check out his site. Enjoy! This Wine Costs What? If you follow the wine discussions in the social […]

An Icon on, and in, a Bottle

September 14, 2012.Reading time 5 minutes.

Earlier in the summer I received two lovely bottles of wine. And I am not just referring to what was in the bottle. Biltmore Wines have created a simple, subtle bottle with an etching of an American icon, the Biltmore House. The appearance is sleek, the blends irresistible. Biltmore Century White is a beautifully balanced […]

Grief and Gratitude (Originally posted 9/11/12)

September 11, 2012.Reading time 8 minutes.

The light here begins to change in September. It softens a bit, reflecting off the leaves. The fauna seems to let out a collective sigh of relief from the harsh Texas summer. And yet, for me, it now comes with a heaviness that wasn’t there eleven years ago. A mixture of grief and gratitude. For […]

A Friend Indeed

September 4, 2012.Reading time 4 minutes.

On our way to Colorado, we stopped at McPherson Winery in Lubbock, Texas and loaded up. Truly. Our truck was p-a-c-k-e-d and yet I still found room for over a case of wine. Priorities, right? Before visiting, I had tried the Tre Colore and the Viognier, both of which I really enjoyed. I knew I would like his wine, I […]