Here are a few wines that we suggest you pick up to pair with your Memorial Day outdoor fun.

Looking to quench your thirst while the grill warms up?  Chill a bottle of 2011 Chateau de Berne Impatience Rose ($20.99) and enjoy the best of Provence in your own backyard.  This wine is very delicate with subtle red fruits and very nice acidity.  It’s a winner at just above $20 and is one of our favorite patio wines for the summer.  Texas really should be the Rose Capital of America – Join in the movement!

If you are looking for the ultimate pairing for the meat lover, we would recommend buying a bottle of the 2010 Three Wine Company Carignane - Lucchesi Vineyard ($27.99).  Made by Matt Cline with 93% Carignan from 100 year old vines in the Contra Costa area of California, this dense red wine shows black cherry and spice and finishes with a touch of smokiness.  It is the perfect complement to smoked brisket and other grilled meats. 

Or, maybe you are more of the Pescatarian type and enjoy a fresh cut of Copper River Salmon on the grill?  We suggest you grab and slightly chill a bottle of 2011 Talbott Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay ($39.99).  This Central Coast Chardonnay, with its buttery flavor and creamy texture, will pair well with grilled salmon and most rich butter cream sauces.

Whatever you prefer, make sure you get out and have fun this weekend and celebrate with great food & wine

All wines are available at online or onsite at: www.WinePoste.com

In addition to the wine, the property owner, Manuel Pires, will be on hand to tell us all about the wine and many other stories.  Ive been told he is a bit of a character so we are in for a real treat!

This wine sold out last year in a matter of days, so please take the time to stop in and try to allocate yourself a bottle or two -

Wednesday May 1st – Gandona Wines of Napa Valley (with Winemaker Manuel Pires)

Please join us as we welcome Manuel Pires to the Wine Poste for a once in a lifetime tasting for the much anticipated premier release of Gandona Wines out of Napa California.

Manuel Pires, Vintner  
 
Growing up in Portugal, Manuel Pires spent summers on his grandfather’s Quinta in the famed wine region of Douro. There, he made a promise to one day live life working the land. In 2006, Manuel and his wife, Cristina, purchased an estate on Pritchard Hill and began development of what would become Gandona Estate. Together with winemaker, Philippe Melka, and viticulturalist, Jim Barbour, they dedicate themselves to producing world-class wines.

The Wines:

2010 Gandona Cabernet Sauvignon

2010 Gandona Cabernet Sauvignon is a celebration of fine craftsmanship and a wine capturing the spirit of its artisans and inspiring piece of land.  The 2010 vintage culminated with an early October harvest of the "Old Block" at sunrise.

Although youthful at its release, the 2010 Gandona Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine revealing the ingredients of a grand vin with intense flavors of black currant, black cherry, tobacco, cigar box, licorice and minerals.  The mouth feel is a harmonious combination of lush and sweet characters with finely grained tannins and lively fruit.  The flavors follow through its generous and lengthy finish, a joyous conclusion to this wine of great depth and character.  200 Cases Produced

2010 Encosta Cabernet Sauvignon

Encosta ("slope") Cabernet Sauvignon originates from the steeply terraced hillsides of Gandona Estate and its terra cotta-colored, volcanic soil.  The 2010 vintage is a wine celebrating the very soul of hillside fruit capturing the essence of the vine's interaction with earth and sun.

It opens with aromas of bright red cherry and cranberry with underlying notes of cassis and tobacco.  On the palate, the wine shows a juicy, full mouth feel reminiscent of fresh black and ripe cherries.  Rounding out the mid-palate are finely grained, sweet mountain tannins that reveal a beautiful marriage between them and well integrated oak.  The lingering finish is laced with nuances of rich cocoa powder and supported by a strong acid backbone demonstrating a wine worthy of aging.  400 Cases Produced

More Info on Gandona Wines:  www.Gandona.com

Wednesday May 1^st – 6-9pm @ Wine Poste Dallas - $25

Remember to sign up for our upcoming wine tastings in Dallas at the Wine Poste by submitting your info to our newsletter - www.WinePoste.com

2011 Anthill Farms Pinot Noir Tasting

Friday, April 12, 2013 / 6:00 – 10:00 pm

Taste the new 2011 releases from one of our favorite California Pinot Noir producers, Anthill Farms. This new producer has burst on the scene with startling good Pinot Noirs made from purchased grapes. Three young Pinot lovers, Anthony Filiberti, David Low and Webster Marquez met while working for the well-known Pinot specialist, Williams Selyem and sold their first wine under their new label in 2004.

The trio’s goal is to craft Pinot Noirs that “express the growing site and the characteristics of the vintage, and above all else, taste good.” They disdain the riper style of Pinot Noir, looking more for freshness of flavor and acidity. Some whole clusters are included in the winemaking. New oak is limited to about 30%. Racking, fining and filtering are avoided.

The annual production of 1,400 cases is quickly snapped up by a mailing list which leaves very little that ever makes its way into the normal distribution channels. We feel very fortunate to be able to offer four of their new releases for sale and tasting! 

Here is the lineup…

• 2011 Sonoma Coast
• 2011 Peters Vineyard
• 2011 Campbell Ranch Vineyard
• 2011 Tina Marie Vineyard

Come, Enjoy, Buy and Enjoy Some More!

www.WinePoste.com

The Wine Poste Team is happy to announce that we received our TABC permit today! We will be publishing the site shortly so our friends can join our wine clubs and start shopping for their favorite wines!

We can't wait to host all of you in our beautifully designed space within the Design District of Dallas, TX!

Thanks again for all of your support during this long process!

-The Wine Poste
www.WinePoste.com

Please like us on FB to see updates on our upcoming tastings!

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Au Bon Climat

Au Bon Climat (which means"a well exposed vineyard") was founded in 1982 by owner and winemaker Jim Clendenen, producing an array of highly acclaimed Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc from their vineyards located in and around Santa Barbara county. We will be offering six of their current releases for tasting.

While tasting these delicious offerings we invite you to peruse the work of local artist and fellow wine industry member Michael Needleman and sculptor Eric Garcia. Don't miss this opportunity to get your aesthetic groove on!

***Complimentary***

Friday, February 8, 2013 - 5:00 - 9:00 pm

The Wine Therapist

1810 Skillman at Live Oak

Dallas, TX 75206

RSVP to james@dallaswinecompany.com

This blog post is just a heads up regarding the upcoming launch of my newest venture -

The Wine Poste / www.WinePoste.com is almost here and open for business! 

We are nearly all the way through the TABC and are getting close to completion of our warehouse at 2001 Irving Blvd in the Design District of Dallas, TX.  We will begin scheduling and sharing the dates of our upcoming regular wine tastings, winemaker events, wine dinners, and taking reservations for our newly renovated warehouse space for event rentals.

Please check back here for official announcements and  updates.  We will be holding an opening weekend grand opening and will release details in the coming weeks.

We look forward to treating you to the best wine experience around and hope that you will come along for the ride!

Construction Pics:

Over the weekend I was lucky enough to try q few wines that I hadnt yet come across. 

One that stood out was a magnum of the 2009 Vineyard 7 & 8 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Spring Mountain AVA in Napa County.  This wine was beautifully structured with a backbone of rich silky tannins and red fruit flavors.  Definitely a nice representation from Spring Mountain.  I would definitely be on the lookout for a bottle near you. 

More info on Wineyard 7 & 8 can be found here:   www.vineyard7and8.com

This wine will be available at our online shop when we open by the end of the month.  It will be available for shipping throughout the state of Texas or for instore pickup if you are looking to buuy wine in the Dallas & Ft Worth area. 

Please check our inventory levels at:  www.WinePoste.com

FT33, the new Design District restaurant by Matt McCallister, will be hosting 3 very exciting wine dinners in the coming months featuring some very bright minds.  Each dinner will feature a member of The Court of Master Sommeliers for one-of-a-kind evenings in October, November, and December. These exclusive events mark the first time in Dallas for a restaurant to welcome members of The Court of Master Sommeliers. 

COST:  $125 per person, excluding tax and gratuity for a five-course menu with wine pairings   

Monday, October 29, 2012 – Melissa Monosoff MS, Irving, TX – Award-winning sommelier and James Beard nominee for "Outstanding Wine Service"

Monday, November 19, 2012 – Craig Collins MS, Austin, TX – South Central Regional Manager for Italian wine importer Dalla Terra and board member of TEXSOM

Monday, December 10, 2012 – Guy Stout MS, Houston, TX – Certified Wine Educator, Certified Spirits Specialist, and member of the Executive Board of Directors of the Society of Wine Educators

Each evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a welcome reception, followed by a formal dinner at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE:         FT33

                      1617 Hi Line Drive

                      Suite 250

                      Dallas, Texas 75207

                      214.741.2629

                      www.FT33Dallas.com

RSVP: Guests can RSVP by calling FT33 at 214.741.2629 or by sending an email to ryan@ft33dallas.com.

Count me in!  See you there!

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Dallas Wine Company

“Taste Often – Drink Well”

Invites you to a special wine tasting experience featuring..

European Cellars

Eric Solomon Selections

Eric Solomon founded European Cellars in 1989 and it very quickly became recognized as one the best importers of fine wine to the United States. They focus on wines from France and Spain, representing over 80 properties. Solomon's wines are intense expressions of terroir, and are frequently bottled unfined and unfiltered. The quality of his selections is remarkable and also a fine source of outstanding wine values. We have chosen 5 wines (all priced under $20) to showcase for you.

Featured wines...

- 2011 Michel Gassier Costieres de Nimes Nostre Pais - An amazing blend of 90% Grenache Blanc, 5% Roussanne and 5% Viognier from the Languedoc Roussillon region of France. 93 point rating by The Wine Advocate. 

- 2010 Michel Gassier Nostre Pais Costieres de Nimes  - The red version, a blend of 35% Grenache, 25% Carignan, 20% Mourvedre, 15% Cinsault and 5% Syrah also from the Languedoc Roussillon region of France. 90 point rating by The Wine Advocate.

- 2011 Michel Gassier Cotes du Rhone Villages Visan Cercius- Another Gassier offering, this time from the Southern Rhone  region of France. The 2011 Cercius Rouge Vieilles Vignes is a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah. 89 point rating by The Wine Advocate.

- 2010 Chateau Puech- Haut Coteaux du Languedoc Prestige - An absurd value and a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, and 5% Carignan from the Languedoc Roussillon region of France. 94 point rating by The Rhone Report.

- 2010 Espelt Viticultors Old Vine Garnacha - This one is 100% old vine Garnacha from Catalonia, Spain. 92 point rating by The Wine Advocate.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012  5:00 - 8:00 pm

The Wine Therapist

1810 Skillman at Live Oak

Dallas, TX 75206

$5.00

RSVP to james@dallaswinecompany.com

Great news and congratulations! 

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RUDD WINERY SELECTS MASTER SOMMELIER DREW HENDRICKS
TO SERVE AS VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING AND SALES

Oakville, CA - Rudd Winery, Leslie Rudd’s esteemed vineyards set in Oakville, Napa Valley, announced today that it has selected Master Sommelier Drew Hendricks as Vice President of Marketing and Sales. In this new role, Hendricks will serve as the company’s brand ambassador, sharing the Rudd story with fellow sommeliers at top restaurants and wine bars across the country, distributors, retailers and other industry partners.

“Drew embodies the entrepreneurial spirit and Midwestern values that are at the core of everything we do at Rudd,” said Leslie Rudd. “He’s a humble, down-to-earth guy with a passion for, and deep knowledge of wine. We are excited to have Drew on our team, playing a critical role in our continued efforts to build a world-class, multi-generational, estate winery.“

One of the most well-respected sommeliers in the country, Hendricks has been one of the wine industry’s rising stars and brings with him a rich and diverse set of experiences. A Master Sommelier since 2008, he most recently was the Wine Director at Pappas Restaurants, where his efforts in their flagship steakhouses in Houston and Dallas earned two Wine Spectator Grand Awards. Hendricks also served as Wine Director at Charlie Palmer in Dallas.  In addition to his experience as sommelier, he worked on the distributor side for several years with Glazer’s and Prestige Wine Cellars of Texas.

“With its classic structure and sense of place, Rudd Wines are among the most beautiful I've tasted and a true representation of the Oakville appellation," said Drew Hendricks. "I am honored to be joining this extraordinary team of people led by Leslie Rudd, a visionary whose support of the sommelier community and dedication to wine education has been second to none."

Hendricks has amassed an impressive list of accolades in a short time, including second place at the National Chaine des Rotisseurs Young Sommelier Finals competition, and first place at the 2007 International Chaine des Rotisseurs Young Sommelier Competition. In 2005, Wine and Spirits magazine named Hendricks a “Best New Sommelier.” Recognizing the challenges facing young people interested in wine, he is also the co-founder and a board member of the Texas Sommelier Association, which hosts the annual Texas Sommelier Conference to promote wine education throughout the South. Hendricks also currently serves on the board of Directors for both the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Guild of Sommeliers.

Rudd Winery is founded upon a deep respect for the land, love of great wines and the desire to build a multi-generational winery with a legacy of excellence for present and future generations. From vineyard to glass, Rudd is driven by an unwavering commitment to excellence in every detail of its winemaking. The 55-acre estate is nestled on an appellation known for outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends; the red, rocky soils are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Merlot. A 12-acre Mt. Veeder property at 1600 ft elevation complements the valley floor estate and is planted to white varietals including Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Sauvignon Gris and Sauvignon Vert.  Over the years, Rudd wines have received critical acclaim from the industry’s most renowned critics, including 99 Pts from Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, and 94 Pts from Wine Spectator for the Rudd Oakville Estate Red 2008.