A world of wine can now be found on Houston's west side. Newly opened VinSanto is located in Memorial Green at 12525 Memorial Drive and brings to the area a wine shop, wine bar, and a bistro menu. Whether a bottle to go is in order or a place to relax with friends to share a meal and a few glasses of vino, VinSanto has it covered. The vibe is casual but a wealth of wine knowledge can be found behind the counter. VinSanto is inspired by the European joie de vivre of Certified Sommelier and owner Riccardo Guerrieri, with a focus on making the exploration of the world of wine fun and easy with his co-owner partners, Giorgio Caflisch an Italian Wine Educator and Stephanie Kukutschka, also a Certified Sommelier. Newcomers to wine can find any needed guidance while connoisseurs can enjoy a higher level discourse about the many offerings that VinSanto carries. VinSanto features exclusively curated selections with something for everyone, including fortified wines, vermouth, sake, beer
Chimney Rock is located in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley. It was originally established in 1980 by Hack and Stella Wilson on the site of a 185 acre golf course. Currently, t he winery focuses on intelligent and sustainable grape farming combined with a soft touch in the cellar from winemaker, Elizabeth Vianna. I had the opportunity to taste with Elizabeth Vianna earlier this week at a private event hosted by another Houston wine writer, Jeff Kralik, who writes under the name of The Drunken Cyclist . Vianna's goal is to allow the unique Stags Leap District soil and the fruit it produces to be showcased in distinctive wines that display a true sense of place. The Stag's Leap AVA is a smaller and cooler appellation within Napa Valley that is known for creating Cabernet Sauvignon wines that combine both power and grace in the glass. The wines come from estate grown grapes which are hand harvested before being vinified in small lots from the forty distinct vineyard bl