Texas WineMonth- Austin Quote

“Nature seemed to have intended Texas for a vineyard to supply America with vines.” Stephen F. Austin. I love this quote. The exact wording and context the Founding Father of Texas said it in is not as important to me as the mindset and experience these words reveal. Mr. Austin and his contemporaries won Texas' independence and were "hacking their living out of the wilderness with their own two hands, burying their children along the way!" (to quote Hawkeye in The Last of the Mohicans. (Great movie!)) Many of them were new immigrants from the Old World; Germany, France, Spain, Italy and other homelands. Some were from places just as hot and dry as Texas, and they had grown vines and made wine in the Old World! They looked around the Texas landscape and could easily imagine vast vineyards here too. Prior to Prohibition, Texas had almost fifty commercial wineries! This was the beginning of what would have been a great industry for our state. Prohibition closed all but one winery; Val Verde in Del Rio.

In the years immediately after Prohibition the California wine industry grew exponentially. They have done a incredible job; growing grapes, vinifying wine and marketing their wine and state. Today they make ninety percent of the wine in the U.S.A. Most wine drinkers in North America who think about wine are really thinking about California wine. Because of this many think that wine country has to be as cool and as wet like California. This is NOT TRUE, there are other regions in the world hot and dry like Texas and they make world class wines. I encourage you to look for Texas wines that are taking their inspiration from these other regions. You might have to go outside your comfort zone and drink a wine other than Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet or Merlot. But, you will be okay and you might even find a Viognier, Roussanne, Blanc du Bois, Trebbianno, Picpoul Blanc, Syrah, Tempranillo, Malbec, Sangiovese, Lenoir (a.k.a. Black Spanish) or Aglianico grown in Texas that you love even more than those California wines! And, who knows, maybe someday Texas wineries will make enough wine to begin shipping them to the other states in our union and other countries! Achieving that elusive dream that started back when Texas was a brand new state (country.)

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Tour de France: Viognier, CINQUANTE-CINQ, Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc, France, 2012

The grape vine flourishes in the Mediterranean climate of Languedoc, with more acres planted to the vine than any other winegrowing region in the world!   Thirty miles southwest of Montpellier,  in Alignan du Vent, the producer of Cinquante Cinq is the largest family-owned and operated coop in France, with a long history of farming and managing the same family-owned vineyards.  Working with the microclimates created by the coastal Mediterranean influence, on sites with optimal exposure to the sun and its prevailing North wind, Aligan du Vent is home to a variety of soils, including siliceous gravel, middle terrace areas of clay and gravel, and lower terraces of sand.  Here Cinquante Cinq is making some stunning wines!

• LUXURIOUS
• White Peaches
• Baked Apples
• Citrus Oil 
• White Flower Petals
• Minerals

Made with 100% Viognier from fifteen year-old vines, using Sustainable Farming techniques; no chemicals, no synthetic treatments this is a delicious wine.  Only eight-hundred cases were made making this a wine that will be gone before we know it.  Thanks to the families and farmers that made this wine possible, it is truly remarkable. 

Viognier, BRENNAN, Texas

Viognier has been Brennan Vineyards signature wine since opening in 2005. Their 2009 Viognier won Gold Medals in the 2010 Indy International, the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle and the 2011 Dallas Morning News Wine Competitions.  Previous vintages have garnered Best Texas White Wine in the Lone Star International Wine Competitions, a Double Gold Medal and selected as The Top Texas Wine at the 2008 Houston Rodeo International Wine Competition.  This wine is a winner!  A testament to how well this grape vine grows in Texas.  But do not take my word for it, go to the Vintage Texas blog where Dr. Kane reports the dramatic results of a recent blind tasting: Vintage Texas Blog.

• LUXURIOUS
• White Peaches
• Apricot 
• Honeysuckle
• Citrus
• Floral

The winery is located almost midway between Texas’ most acclaimed wine grape regions (the legendary Hill Country and the Texas High Plains) on Texas Highway 16 in the small town of Comanche.  The grapes come from their vineyards close to the small town of Newburg, Texas, just few miles away from Comanche. This part of Texas has rolling hills with red sandy loam soil over limestone bedrock, prized conditions for growing grapes for wine making.  For a fun take on how Viognier is the "Chardonnay" of Texas follow this link to the Vintage Texas Blog.

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Viognier, BECKER, Texas

March 2013 at the Lyon International Wine Competition Becker Vineyards received the silver award for this 2012 Viognier!!!  A testament to how well this grape vine grows in Texas.  But do not take my word for it, go to the Vintage Texas blog where Dr. Kane reports the dramatic results of a recent blind tasting: Vintage Texas Blog.

• LUXURIOUS
• Yellow Peaches
• Mango
• Vanilla 
• Creamery Butter
• Rose Petals

The fruit for Becker’s Viognier is sourced from three vineyards, Bingham, Martin, and Reddy. Each of them surrounds the Texas High Plains, an area where the vineyards are typically planted between 3,300 and 3,500 feet elevation.  The Beckers pioneered this wine for Texas.  Andrea Immer Robinson, Master Sommelier, has been a big fan of the Becker Vineyards' Viognier. "One of the best Viogniers made in America, so it's worth the search. Gorgeous white peach and floral scents and tangerine-mango flavors," Andrea said.  And when reviewed by Wine Spectator Magazine, Matthew DeBord said;"Bunny and Richard Becker have raised the bar in Texas by producing wines that have achieved regional character."

BRANNON'S CAFE
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