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Texas Hill Country Wineries in the News

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Texas Hill Country Wineries in the News

“Stretching through the heart of Texas between major cities like San Antonio and Austin, this region has become a buzzed-about vacation destination, thanks, in large part, to its growing winery scene.”
Four Texas Hill Country Wineries:  Becker Vineyards, Grape Creek Vineyards,Singing Water Vineyards and Sister Creek Vineyards all brought home medals.  Sister Creek coveted TWO Gold medals for their 2012 Muscat Canelli and 2012 Merlot with Singing Water bringing home a Gold for their 2012 Vintners Reserve Bordeaux Blend.  Come on out and try these wines at the tasting rooms soon!

Join us in Fredericksburg on February 8

for the Wine Lovers Kick-off Tasting
With 6 wineries, great food prepared by Woodrose Winery and
Chef Ross Burtwell of Cabernet Grill (see recipe below), you can’t
go wrong for $25.  This is a great way to enjoy and explore Fredericksburg for the weekend.  Come taste on Friday night,
cuddle in at a local Bed & Breakfast, have a meal or two at some
great local restaurants and take in all the shops downtown all
while visiting the local wineries.  For more information on Fredericksburg check out the Visitors Center.
    Recipe of the Month 

Ibarra Chocolate Panna Cotta

1 envelope unflavored gelatin
2 Tbsp cold water
2 cups heavy cream
3/4 cup half & half
1/4 cup Woodrose Winery Port
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 ounces bittersweet dark chocolate, chopped

1/2 cup Ibarra chocolate, ground

  • In a small bowl put the water and the gelatin and let stand for ten minutes to soften.
  • In a sauce pan over medium high heat, mix cream and half & half together and bring to a boil, then remove from heat immediately.
  • While still hot, stir in port, sugar and chocolates into cream and mix until melted and fully incorporated.
  • Add in softened gelatin and stir to dissolve completely.
  • Spray eight small molds (about 6 ounce) with cooking spray.
  • Divide cream mixture evenly between the molds and set in the refrigerator covered for at least four hours or until firmly set up.
  • Dip a knife in hot water and run around the side off the mold to loosen the panna cotta. Invert on to serving plate. (If the panna cotta does not want to come out of the mold easily, dip the bottom of the mold into hot water for a few seconds and try again.)
Texas Port Macerated Sundried Strawberries

2/3 cup sundried strawberries, chopped
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 cup Texas Port wine
4 grinds fresh black pepper from a pepper mill
  • Place strawberries, sugar and port wine in a small sauce pan and bring mixture to a boil for two minutes.
  • Remove from heat, add in fresh ground black pepper and let set at room temperature for at least four hours.

Come enjoy this special dessert with us at the  

Wine Lovers Kick-off!

_______________________________
Gary Gilstrap
1. What did you do before becoming a winemaker?

Pharmacist, software developer, diabetes educator working with insulin pumps.

2. What is the toughest challenge about winemaker in Texas? 

Consistency, have been making wine in Texas 16 years and have not had two years the same, or even close.

  
3. Is winemaking an art or a science? Or both?

There is certainly a lot of science involved (organic chemistry & biochemistry) and I think that is what attracted me, but there is certainly an art to creating a consistently great glass of wine.

4. What is your favorite food and wine pairing? 

The unexpected find; Sushi with Moscato, PORT with stilton cheese, Sangiovese with a tomato-based pasta, TORO de TEJAS (Tempranillo) with a steak off the grill, and I could go on and on…

5. If you didn’t make wine, what would you do?

Probably still be working with Type I diabetes and insulin pumps.

 

6. What first attracted you to winemaking and how long have you been making wine? 

Drinking wine in Strasbourg, France, where I was the “keynote” speaker for IBM at their Pharmacy Software Conference.  My first exposure to great wine paired with great food, I was “hooked”.  I never even made home wine, just started looking for dirt to grow grapes and built the winery, made first wine in 1997.  Bought property in 1994, planted vineyard in 1995, harvested first fruit and made wine in 1997, opened door to new wine tasting room in 1999 (that was the year we were instrumental in starting Texas Hill Country Wineries, then called Texas Hill Country Wine Trail)

7. What is the most common question you are asked as a winemaker?

“What got you started in the wine business?”

8. After a long day in the winery or vineyard, what do you do?

Sit down with a glass of wine and figure out how NOT to work this hard.

 

9. What’s the greatest part about being a winemaker?

The response of “people” to something that you made, most of the time it’s a good response.

 

10. What is your winemaking philosophy, that is, what are you trying to achieve with your wines? 
I work hard to make “food friendly” wines that people like.  Soft tannins, smooth and pleasant flavor, with no flaws.  I am trying to achieve a reputation for producing consistently GOOD wine.

_____________________________

THCW Concierge
Planning a trip to the Hill Country Wineries?  Looking for more info on lodging, dining and more? The Eat, Sleep, Travel page on the website can help with that.  If you still have questions, email us and we can point you in the right direction…straight to the
Hill Country!

________________


Get your passport brochure stamped at all 32 member
wineries and receive a signed posted by all the winemakers!
 

February Events
February  8-17
 Wine Lovers Trail
Tickets still available!
February 8
Wine Lovers Kick-off Tasting Woodrose Winery, 6-8pmFebruary 9
Wine Tasting Techniques Class
William Chris VineyardsAnnual Merlot & Chocolate Tasting and VIP “Wine Library” Cellar & Barrel Tasting
Becker Vineyards

Valentine’s Dinner
Stone House Vineyard

Valentine Wine & Dine
Flat Creek Estate

Sensory Perception Workshop
Texas Hills Vineyard

Music
Solaro Estate, William Chris, Kerrville Hills Winery, Bell Springs Winery

February 10
Annual Merlot & Chocolate Tasting
Becker Vineyards

Music
Westcave Cellars Winery

February 14
Cherish the Children Art Show
Singing Water Vineyards

Valentines at Solaro Estate

February 15
Friday Wine Down
Texas Legato

Cherish the Children Art Show
Singing Water Vineyards

Valentines at Solaro Estate

February 16
Soup Saturday
Dry Comal Creek Vineyards

14th Annual Wine & Roses Valentines Day Luncheon
Fall Creek Vineyards

Valentine Dinner
Texas Hills Vineyard

Wine Tasting Techniques
William Chris Vineyards

Annual Merlot & Chocolate Tasting and VIP “Wine Library” Tasting
Becker Vineyards

Cherish the Children Art Show & “I Love Lupe” Weekend
Singing Water Vineyards

Valentines at Solaro Estate

Valentine Wine & Dine
Flat Creek Estate

Music
Kerrville Hills Winery,
Solaro Estate, William Chris, Bending Branch Winery,
Bell Springs Winery, Pedernales Cellars

February 17
Red and White Luncheon at Becker Vineyards

Cherish the Children Art Show
Singing Water Vineyards

Valentines at Solaro Estate

Music
Westcave Cellars Winery

February 21
The Vineyard at Gruene
Wine Tasting with
Texas Hills Vineyard

February 23
Wine Tasting Techniques
William Chris Vineyard

Valentine Wine & Dine
Flat Creek Estate

VIP “Wine Library” Tasting
Becker Vineyards

Rajun’ Cajun
Pedernales Cellars

Music
Solaro Estate, William Chris, Kerrville Hills Winery,
Bell Springs Winery

February 24
Music
Westcave Cellars Winery

* Visit WINERY EVENTS for more information on events listed above.

________________

2013 Season PassDon’t miss out on a single event this year!  The 2013 Season Pass includes tickets to ALL FOUR Wine Trails and Kick-off Tastings plus discounts to other THCW events. Available in couples and singles passes. Use yourself or give as a gift.

Phone: 872-216-9463

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Texas Hill Country Wineries | 866-621-9463 | winetrailnews@gmail.com | http://www.texaswinetrail.com
PO Box 96
Johnson City, Tx 78636

For more information about The Texas Hill Country, contact:

Cindi Darragh-Leech

Cindi@AvalarAustin.com

512-715-2695

 

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