Warming up with Washington Wine

January 29, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

It has been unusually cold here this winter. For Austin, that is. While mentioning temps in the 20s and 30s might elicit a guffaw from my friends up north, we are not as equipped here in Texas. We’ve burned a lot of firewood, busted out the scarves, and opened up some big, red wine. Two […]

A Vastly Different Holiday-Don Melchor

January 17, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

{The wine was sent as media sample. I received no other compensation. Thoughts, opinions are my own.} The tree was trimmed while Harry Connick crooned. The stockings were hung, the nativity set in place. But this year there were a few major changes. For one, my children had asked THE question. They’ve been surmising for […]

Delayed Plans-Wines of Alsace

January 8, 2018.Reading time 4 minutes.

Wines were provided as media samples. I received no other compensation, thoughts and opinions are my own. I had plans for these wines. They arrived when the temperatures were not conducive to the cuisine, but I was patient. I had plans for these wines. I’d taste them all together, a three course meal with friends, […]

A Thrill of Hope

December 24, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

There is a chill in the air, stillness. My children and mom are snug in their beds. The light has yet to break through. “A thrill of hope…” I was awakened with that thought. I remembered this piece I had written six years ago and pulled it up. In it, I refer to 2017 being […]

Two wines, two countries, one region

December 20, 2017.Reading time 2 minutes.

These wines were provided as media samples. I received no other compensation. Thoughts and opinions are my own. The temps in Texas were still in the 80s in November. In fact, they hit 80 again last week…a few days before it snowed. The lesson being you always need to have a variety of jackets and […]

2017 Gobble Gobble Give-#Austin

November 17, 2017.Reading time 7 minutes.

We are now in our 7th 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. […]

NY girl in TX…#TXwine in NY-Wedding Oak Winery

November 9, 2017.Reading time 4 minutes.

Last month marked a milestone for me. I have officially spent more of my life in Texas than in NY. I moved here 22 years ago at the age of 22. It was supposed to be a two month adventure. I love sharing New York with my Texas friends, Texas with my New York friends. […]

“No, not ‘Red Rum,’ Red WINE!”

October 30, 2017.Reading time 5 minutes.

Can you imagine the terror? You are just settled in with a bowl of popcorn and a few fun-size and you ask your son to get you the bottle of red wine from the kitchen. There is a long pause. A cackle. He comes around the corner, glazed eyes carrying a bottle you don’t recognize. […]

RE: An Appropriate (pre)FIX for #WineCountry

October 23, 2017.Reading time 2 minutes.

Last week there were three words that I kept typing: Devastating Unbelievable Heartbreaking This week, I am reading updates and I keep thinking three words in RE-sponse. RE-silient RE-bounding RE-opening I am receiving press RE-lease after update after post and the message RE-mains the same: We are opening. We need your support. We are strong. […]