Episodes

Michael McClendon is partner and winemaker in Sage's Vintage Custom Crush Winery in Nacogdoches. He's my first guest from east Texas! Michael has a drive toward excellence and a growth mindset that is inspiring. Plus, a new report on 2020 Texas Wine Grape Varieties details some dramatic changes in …

On episode 24, I'm sharing an interview with PR pros Denise Clarke and Matt McGinnis and author Dr. Russ Kane. They've been drinking, writing about, and promoting Texas wine for many years. Expect a fun trip down Texas wine memory lane! PLUS a summary of the lawsuit brought by 57 Texas High Plains …

This episode features an interview with Mike McHenry, founder of Wedding Oak Winery, and Seth Urbanek, winemaker at Wedding Oak. I’m sharing my tasting notes and a bit more information about the two wines that won the Judges' Selection, the top Texas wine prize at the recent TEXSOM International W…

On this episode, I interview Susan Johnson of Texas Heritage Vineyard in Fredericksburg. I’ve also got the scoop on how Texas wineries fared in the 2021 TEXSOM International Wine Awards, one of the toughest wine competitions in the world. There's a new segment called Demerits and Gold Stars. Plus,…

On this episode, you’ll get to hear from Randy Hester of CL Butaud winery. He's got an interesting history that goes from Texas to California, then back to Texas again. His new tasting room, shared with Rae Wilson's Wine for the People brands, is turning heads. There's also lots of Texas wine count…

Jeff Cope founded Texas Wine Lover website in 2011, and this year he celebrates 10 years. Hear the origin story of the website and Jeff's top 5 moments in Texas wine. Plus, I've got two book recommendations for you: Texas Wine Pioneers by Gretchen Glasscock and Goodbye, Lark Lovejoy by Kris Clink. …

Wondering about the new winery being constructed next to Lewis Wines on 290? Barbara Lecuona is my guest, and she explains the who, what, and why behind Siboney Cellars. Plus lots of Texas wine news including the proposed wine labeling laws that the state legislature is considering, medal winners f…

Episode 18 is all about the winter weather that just walloped Texas. What are vineyard managers and winery owners saying about the 2021 harvest after a long, deep freeze? I'll review which grapes are considered most cold hardy and what signs of hope are evident in the vineyard.

My guest John Rivenburgh is the new president of the Texas Hill Country Wineries association. I’ll talk to John about his history in the Texas wine industry, the wine incubator he’s running at Kerrville Hills Winery, his passion for the Tannat grape, and more. I’ve also got a rundown of everything …

Happy New Year! In this episode, I’ll share what we might expect in the Texas wine industry in 2021. I’ve got Texas wine new year’s resolutions to share, and several wineries join me in sharing their Texas wine-related goals, plans and predictions for the new year. Cheers!

William Chris Vineyards and Lost Draw Cellars announced a plan to merge in October of this year. Today you’ll hear from the founders of those two wineries about the new William Chris Wine Company and its plans for the future. Plus, I’ve also got a round-up of the 23 biggest Texas wine stories of th…

We are a week out from Thanksgiving, a time of year when we’re thinking about family. Today I’m talking to David and Julie Kuhlken, the dynamic brother/sister duo that co-owns and runs Pedernales Cellars. We had a great conversation about the history of their family winery, what’s going on in the T…

What happens in the vineyard when the weather turns cold? How cold is too cold for Texas vineyards? My guest is Daniel Pate of Apical Texas, and he breaks down cold weather viticulture in Texas. I’m drinking the 2018 Dead Flowers rosé from the Texas High Plains. It’s produced and bottled by Texoir.

Happy Texas Wine Month! I’m continuing my month-long celebration of Texas wine. On this episode, I’ve got an interview with Jessica Dupuy about her impressive new book The Wines of the Southwest: A guide to New Mexico, Texas, Arizona and Colorado. Jessica lets her wine opinions be known! PREACH! An…

October is Texas Wine Month! I’ve got the scoop on how to mark the occasion in 2020. I'll share the history of Texas Wine Month, and you’ll find out how some familiar names in Texas wine are celebrating. I’m drinking the inaugural release from Cheramie Wine, the 2019 Riesling.

Episode 10: I’m talking with Jason Hisaw, the Texas Wine Ambassador and Texas Portfolio manager at RNDC. He’s busy promoting Texas wine across the state. Jason talks about his deep love for Texas BBQ and why he thinks wine is a worthy beverage for this traditional Texas delicacy. We share our exci…

Chuck Tordiglione, owner of Bull Lion Ranch & Vineyard, is the president of the Cross Timbers Wine & Vineyard Association. Cross Timbers has big plans including publishing another glossy wine and travel magazine, new wine, food and art events planned for 2021, and new partnerships with local chefs.…

In the News: Chris Brundrett of William Chris Vineyards and Yes We Can Wine named a Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker for 2020, Landon Winery will open a new tasting room in Grapevine, and Texas Hill Country and Carter Creek Resort & Spa make 10Best lists. I interview Roxanne Myers of Lost Oak…

Ever wonder how wine gets from the Texas winery to a wine shop or restaurant? And who decides which wines appear on the store shelf? In this episode, I interview Derek Rogers from Serendipity Wines and Eric Sigmund from Reddy Vineyards to get perspectives on distribution from a wine distributor and…

On today’s episode, I’m looking for Texas wine in Grapevine and talking about the 2020 harvest that's getting underway in the Texas High Plains. There's news about a harvest investor opportunity at Kerrville Hills Winery, award winning Texas wines from the Finger Lake International Wine Competition…

On today’s episode, I’m giving advice to people who are just getting started on their Texas wine journey. I've got a plan for shopping for your first case of Texas wine. There's news about the wine department at H-E-B, the highest elevation vineyard in Texas, GrapeFest, and Kim McPherson's appearan…

Episode Summary: On today’s episode, I’ll review the latest news about winery tasting room closures, a Texas Senator who’s hosting wine tasting fundraisers with a California winery, and a cruise for Texas wine lovers. Then, I'll share my list of 12 of the most important wines ever made in Texas. A…

On today’s podcast, we’ll cover the latest Texas wine news including Lescalo, the new Fall Creek Vineyards wine with fewer calories. I’ll share the top 10 tips for planning a wine trip to the Texas Hill Country, focusing on the area between Johnson City and Fredericksburg along the 290 wine road. I…

Give me 10 minutes, and I'll give you a thorough overview of Texas wine. Then you'll want to go drink some. Verasion is happening in the Hill Country. In the education segment, we'll learn what that is. But first, we'll hit the highlights in Texas wine news. To wrap up, I'm drinking a red blend fro…