What’s up y’all? This is one of my favorite times of the year – despite all the pollen and allergy flare ups! March is the month of Spring, great college hoops, our annual family spring break trip (we’re off to Tahoe this year!), and the Rodeo here in Houston. It’s the one time of year you’ll see my in cowboy boots and a hat! And it’s also a time that I can see the end of the school year coming!!!!! And yes, there’s lots of fun stuff happening in Texas Wine Country, so let’s get to it!
Bending Branch Gets Into the Bourbon Business
If y’all know me, then you know bourbon is my second love after wine. So I was thrilled when I saw that Bending Branch was getting into the bourbon business. The winery, known for its Tannat, just launched two new bourbon brands – Bending Branch 1840 and ChickenDuck. The Bending Branch 1840 brand features premium Kentucky straight bourbon and high rye bourbon whiskeys, aged for a minimum of four years in new American charred oak barrels. ChickenDuck, named after two of the original chickens and ducks that roamed the vineyard, is serious bourbon that is purposefully crafted differently. Continuing some of Bending Branch Winery’s expertise in innovative techniques, the ChickenDuck bourbons use an advanced extraction technology that give them the qualities of bourbons that are aged for multiple years.
Flights of four tastings are available daily at the Bending Branch tasting room. And coming up on April 1, Bending Branch is featuring a Bourbon and Bites Sensory Experience. Tickets are available at here: https://bit.ly/bourbonbites.
Texas Wine School in Houston
OK, so this one isn’t in Wine Country, but when they bring wine country to me, I gotta share. Texas Fine Wine will lead a Texas wine class and tasting at the Texas Wine School in Houston. The Texas Fine Wine group is made up of Bending Branch Winery, Duchman Family Winery, Pedernales Cellars and Spicewood Vineyards – four of the state’s premier winemakers. The experience will feature a two-hour class on the Texas wine industry as well as a tasting of the members’ wines. The class takes place on Tuesday, March 28, from 7 to 9pm and tickets are $65.
Texas Wine Collective’s Girl Scout Cookies and Wine Pairing
Join Texas Wine Collective for a special pairing featuring Girl Scout cookies. As I’ve previously mentioned they do some really fun pairing events that are super laid back and approachable. Tasting are held in their Board Room where the host for the pairing will thoroughly explain each wine and how they pair their wines and food items. There are 4 sessions available – 11:00 am, 1:00, 2:30, and 4:00 pm (only 10 seats per session). The cookie crumbles (I crack myself up!) Saturday, March 11 and tickets are $45.
Kuhlman Cellars’ Blessing of the Vines: A Celebration of the Kuhlman Cellars Estate!
Join Kuhlman Cellars as they celebrate spring and the awakening of the estate vines and wildflowers from their winter slumber! They will also be celebrating the release their first ever Estate Mourvèdre! And if you’ve heard the “debates” about Texas’ signature red, you know this will be a good thing. Visit rise will enjoy tours and informal discussions of the estate, live music, a tasty bite of Mourvèdre Braised Beef Ribs, and some new wines! At 3PM a special, they will do an official blessing of the vines. Sounds like a perfect way to enjoy a Texas Hill Country Spring day. The event takes place March 26, 2023 and tickets are $22.50
I also saw that Kuhlman recently rolled out their new Wine & Food Tasting menu ($45 for a 5-course pairing experience) which I have so enjoyed on past visits. They really do a creative (and delicious job)! The new menu includes:
- Chawanmushi (Japanese Egg Custard) with tamari preserved mushrooms and galangal crunch paired with Kuhlman Cellars’ 2021 Estate Roussanne
- Kuhlman Bistro Bite: Housemade roasted beet hummus with orange zest and sea salt crackers paired with Kuhlman Cellars’ 2021 Estate Rosé
- Kuhlman Cellars’ signature Herbed Almonds paired with Kuhlman Cellars’ 2019 Alluvé
- Delicata Squash Tapenade with honey ricotta on focaccia paired with Kuhlman Cellars’ 2019 Estate Red
- Roast beef on polenta cracker with spinach butter paired with Kuhlman Cellars’ 2017 Ignis
Spring in Texas with Wedding Oak Winery
The folks at Wedding Oak are embracing Spring and featuring a super fun cupcake and wine pairing at their Burnet tasting room. It’s such a beautiful spot and I had a great time visiting them last summer. They are partnering with Sooo Yummy Bakery so tasters will be in for a treat. They will feature four cupcake and wine pairings and will also have a presentation on wine and food pairing hosted by winemaker, Seth Urbank. Cupcakes go down March 19 from 1-3pm and tickets are $30. (Pic from 2/9/18)
Wedding Oak Wine Train
Speaking of Wedding Oak, the Wedding Oak Wine Train is rolling out again on March 26. I rode with them last summer and had a fantastic time. Check out my video recap as well as my blog post. Then gather some friends and head on out.
William Chris Vineyards Spring Concert
William Chris is excited to invite you to their 2023 Spring Concert! The fun takes place under the stars on Saturday, March 25th. The night will feature crawfish, a live music concert, and William Chris wines of course! Tickets are $65. To enhance your experience, why not reserve a VIP table. It includes dedicated service staff, food served family style on the table, and 4 bottles of wine from our current menu. Limited to 8 people per table, preferred seating.
Texas Hill Country Wineries Wine & Wildflower Journey
Tickets are now on sale for Texas Hill Country Wineries spring self-guided passport event, the Wine & Wildflower Journey, which is happening from March 27th – April 21st. Passport holders can sip award-winning wines at 40+ unique Hill Country wineries during the course of the event. Participants can visit up to four wineries per day and receive a 15% discount on three bottle purchases.
Ticket prices are $100 per couple (any two people) or $65 per individual. The average winery tasting fee is $25/person, making the total value of each passport over $950! Click here for a list of participating wineries, tickets and more information.
Pedernales Cellars Wine and Wildflower Dinner
It’s time for Pedernales Cellars’ annual Wine & Wildflower Dinner. Dinner will feature an exquisite meal paired perfectly with multiple vintages of one of their favorite wines – Valhalla. Some of these vintages go back to 2012! This year they have invited Chef Elena D’Agostino originally form Torina, Italy, to prepare this delicious meal. Co-owner Dr. Julie Kuhlken will guide you through the tasting and pairing at each course. Dinner takes place Saturday, April 1 from 6 to 9pm and tickets are $180.
No Comments