Texas Wines for the Fourth
I remember our Bi-Centennial Celebrate in 1976 with the Judgment of Paris rocking the wine world. This blind wine tasting that was set up by a Brit by the name of Steve Spurrier was ironic in that the best French wines were outdone by unknowns from the “Colonies.” This event catapulted California wines into the forefront of wines. That was the year Texas got its first new winery since Prohibition ended in 1933. Llano Estacado showed that Texas could grow and produce great wines also, but it was not on the scale of California.
Let’s fast forward fifty years later. Texas now has almost one thousand wineries and vineyards throughout much of the State. Our Texas Gulf Coast grows the most Blanc du Bois in the world. This light fruity white wine is an easy sipper. The Texas High Plains grows most of the classic grape varietals because of it cool Summer nights dropping on many hot Summer Days into the mid-fifties around dawn along with low humidity levels. The high altitude of the Texas High Plains around 3500 feet above sea level makes this area a great location for grape growing. Texas is finding its identity in what grapes grow best in our State. We tried to copy what California did and did just an average job. However, Texas is growing some outstanding grapes like varietals with the names of Sangiovese and Sagrantino from Italy or Tempranillo and Albarino from Spain or Viognier, Syrah, and Mouvedere from south France.
Texas wineries are making outstanding red wines, roses, and white wines as “still wines” with some outstanding “sparkling wines” to choose. When I say outstanding, I am speaking of award-winning wines from Texas wineries that you should purchase from the winery itself. Wines in stores like HEB Grocery or Total Wines require lots in the amount of 15,000 cases or more. Texas is increasing the amounts of its great wines, but that takes time and lenders willing to do that. Lenders in Texas are seeing the great financial track records of wineries like Messina Hof, Llano Estacado, Becker, Haak, Fall Creek, and other older, well-established Texas wineries and are loaning money to newer wineries because of these pioneers in the Texas wine industry.
For this hot Fourth, I am recommending the following Texas wines that are available from HEB:
• William Chris Sauvignon Blanc
• Becker Vineyards Chardonnay or Viognier or Sauvignon Blanc
• McPherson Viognier
• Haak Blanc du Bois (dry or semi-sweet)
• Pedernales Albarino
• Llano Estacado Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Signature White, Chenin Blanc, or Riesling
• Messina Hof Riesling (sweet) or Chardonnay
• Fall Creek Sauvignon Blanc
Suggested Texas rose’ wines from HEB include:
• McPherson Les Copains
• C. L. Butaud Papa Cinsualt Rose
• Messina Hof Mama Rosa Rose’ or Rose’ by the can
• Becker Saigner Rose’
For red wines, consider a chilled red wine or blended red wine. As a “general rule of thumb,” those red wines in bottles with sloping shoulders are light and don’t have a big structure. These wines could be served slightly chilled such as:
• Messina Hof Beau
• McPherson Red Blend
• Becker GSM which is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mouvedere
• Llano Estacado Sangria
If you wanted, slice fruit such as oranges, apples, and tangerines to add to these red wines to make them into a chilled Sangria with ice. In addition, consider a sparkling wine from Messina Hof added to your orange juice to start off the morning as a cold Mimosa. Heath Sparkling wines which are only available at the winery near Fredericksburg can provide you with a great wine to raise of toast to the America250! These wines are generally great wines to sip in the Summer, but the best wines to sip are generally purchased at the winery. Enjoy your Fourth with a refreshing Texas wine!