Wine Life - Houston

Guy Stout M.S. taught an informative and delicious class on Chablis to a full house of Houston wine professionals earlier this month. The focus was the terroir of the region and how the wines are influenced by it.  Grapevines have been cultivated and wines have been made in the area since the first century when the Romans came through France. Vineyards improved in the 11th century when Cistercian monks arrived from the Loire Valley. They planted the first Chardonnay vines that would eventually spread as the white grape of choice throughout Burgundy. The region as we know it now was officially established in 1938 with the birth of the Chablis AOC. Currently, there are about 7,500 acres under vine in Burgundy's northernmost region. The current generation of winemakers has improved their production methods to bring the quality standard up from a quality slump in the mid-20th century. The goal is to create a pure expression of Chardonnay through the use of concrete or fiberglass ...

As originally seen in the May edition of  Galveston Monthly magazine  

One of the highlights of this trip to Napa Valley was the opportunity to meet Mrs. Robert Mondavi, the Vice President of Cultural Affairs at the winery that bears her husband's name. I was introduced to her at the dedication of their newest art addition. The piece was placed in front of the main entrance to honor the mind that had originally imagined and then overseen all that each visitor views upon their approach. Margrit Biever Mondavi was instrumental in the selection of this bust of Robert Mondavi, a fittingly larger-than-life rendition of the head of the man whose mind had long ago envisioned the Napa that we see today. She discussed with me the initial difficulty in choosing the right piece of art to honor her husband as the founder of the winery. She had originally considered a life-sized depiction of him standing with a glass of wine in his hand welcoming all who came, a memory that all who knew him would have certainly cherished. She ultimately decided that his vi...

I was fortunate to be able to tour the famous To Kalon Vineyard by bike with Peter Alig, Wine Education Coordinator at Robert Mondavi Winery, along with some other journalists, during my most recent stay in Napa Valley.  I had a lot of fun and I learned a lot about the vineyard and the wines that come from this special place along the way.  That is the bike tour guide in my photo on the left.  Peter is on the video. You can set up your own bike tour through the same group that we used, Napa Valley Bike Tours  during your next trip to Napa Valley.   Here is a quicktake tour of what I saw along our ride.  Edit- Video is no longer available.

"A Taste of Oakville" Master Class was held last Monday at Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley. Wine professionals came from around the country to learn more about the terroir of the Oakville AVA and to taste how that environment  affects the wines which come the vines that grow here. Giles De Chambure, M.S. began the introduction of the 5,275 acre region where Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant grape. It shares space with all the Bordeaux varieties and numerous others as well. Oakville was granted its appellation status in 1993 though grapes were grown here long before then. The region's mid-valley location is the home to many of Napa Valley's most distinguished brands. Graeme MacDonald, 4th generation grower, took to the floor to discuss the history of the region with a focus on the long growing vineyard area, To Kalon. The name is of Greek origin and translates to "highest beauty". Hamilton Crabb, known as the "wine king of the Pacific Slope...