My Cup Runneth Over

November 20, 2015.Reading time 4 minutes.

It is a Biblical saying meaning that I have more than enough for my needs. It is appropriate imagery for wine writing, is it not? At this time of year if feels especially poignant. As we enter into Thanksgiving week, as we are bombarded by imagery of those in unthinkable situations, we are reminded of […]

Gobble Gobble Give- Potluck with a Purpose

November 17, 2015.Reading time 6 minutes.

We are now in our 5th year here in Austin. If you’ve participated before, thank you. If you are in any of the cities we have Gobble, Gobble, Give, consider volunteering. This year we are returning to straight potluck (we had started buying meals) which means we can’t do it without you, without each other. […]

WWJD (What Would Julie Drink?)-Peter Zemmer

November 11, 2015.Reading time 2 minutes.

The iconic opening of The Sound of Music begins with Julie Andrews twirling through the alpine meadows. Her hair and voice like sunshine, the snow-capped cragged mountain sides looming in the background. The range which towers above her extends west through Northern Italy’s Alto Adige so it wasn’t surprising when I was transported to this […]

Meeting of the Minds-Indaba Wines

November 9, 2015.Reading time 3 minutes.

In most places the season is wrapping up, in South Africa it is just beginning and here in Central Texas it never ends: grilling season. Although it may look different, the spirit is the same. And though many of the current celebrity BBQ kings hail from Texas, South Africa boasts the oldest archeological evidence of the […]

Holy Halloween Party, Batman!

November 3, 2015.Reading time 3 minutes.

From the moment they opened their eyes, my children were ablaze. Crackling with expectation for the evening’s festivities, feeding off of one another, they ran with their neighborhood friends until I could rein them in, briefly to transform. I wasn’t far off. Wielding a hot glue gun and green fabric, I channeled Batman’s villains to […]

Giving Back, Coming Home, Going out #SHAREANNA

October 16, 2015.Reading time 12 minutes.

When we think of wineries, we think of festive gatherings. Wine conjures the idea of celebration, warm-hearted revelry. Behind the scenes there is more: back-breaking labor, heartbreak, and trying days. What you may not initially think of is philanthropy. It was not until I began writing about wine and receiving press releases about the programs sponsored or lives […]

Re(de)fining Texas Wine- #Thesip

October 1, 2015.Reading time 5 minutes.

Refine (v) : to remove the unwanted substances in (something) : to improve (something) by making small changes Define (v) : to explain the meaning of (a word, phrase, etc.) : to show or describe (someone or something) clearly and completely Last night was about defining, refining, and redefining Texas wine. It was about what we’ve learned in […]

Fake it Till You Make It-Fall Recipes and Wines

September 28, 2015.Reading time 5 minutes.

This is the time of the year when I most miss my childhood home. Glossed and changing leaves, tips curled, blanket the path and create a quilt of color. The air, sweetened and chilled, hangs with a bit more weight. Bins of Macintosh line the path to the pumpkin patch and cider doughnuts punctuate most […]

Savory and Sassy-Texas Tuesday

September 15, 2015.Reading time 3 minutes.

I have a tendency to hold on to things. A letter (ok, 20) from high school, jeans that MIGHT fit again (cough, cough), and wine. In some circumstances it can be a good thing. After all, the fashion from middle school is coming back around. In others, well, what can I say…I’m sentimental. When it comes to […]