Wine Life - Houston

Master Sommelier Geoff Kruth hosted a GuildSomm Beaujolais Masterclass in Houston last month where he  discussed the wine region of Beaujolais, the crus and presented tastes of what he considers to be some of the best wines from the region. Beaujolais is located north of Lyon in eastern France. It is known for its granitic-based soils and fruity red wines made from the Gamay grape. It has ten crus that run from north to south. The Wines: Beaujolais-Villages Blanc, Dufaitre 2015 - The only white wine of the day, this dry Chardonnay-based wine had an interesting oxidized nuance with a slightly savory finish. Beaujolais Dupeuble 2015 - Kruth called this red "a good, straight basic Beaujolais" made in the classic style with some structure and typical fruity and floral aromas with a banana leaf nuance. Chiroubles Daniel Bouland 2015 - This red wine showed strawberry aromas and flavors and was a bit more tannic than is typical which Kruth said was vintage driven.

Wine production is believed to have begun in this region over 7,000 years ago. There are over 500 indigenous grape varieties in the country grown across ten major viticultural areas. The industry is dominated by small, artisanal winemakers. The wines: NIKI ANTADZE, Rkatsiteli 2014 - This dry, white wine is made from organic Rkatsiteli grapes fermented in qvevri with no skin contact. It is yeasty with a Belgian beer nuance; it has a creamy texture from lees contact and good acidity. NIKI ANTADZE, Rkatsiteli 2014 - This dry, white wine is made from organic Rkatsiteli grapes with some left in whole bunch clusters which were then fermented in qvevri with six months skin contact. This wine has a richer texture, it is more mouth-filling with aromas and flavors of dried fruits and walnuts with a light black tea note. OUR WINE, Tsarapi Rkatsiteli 2013 - This dry, white wine was made from biodynamically- farmed Rkatsiteli grapes fermented in qvevri for six month. This wine has a very

Mumm Napa Brut Rosé  is a sparkling wine from California made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes in the traditional method. It   has aromas of mixed berries with yeasty notes, fresh acidity and a clean finish. Recommended at approximately $18. I have found this  affordable pink sparkler   to be a guaranteed  crowd pleaser for many years. It makes an excellent party wine and will work with a wide array of menus. It's easy to find, always consistent and perfect for the holiday season.

As seen in the November issue of  Galveston Monthly magazine A recent trip to the Livermore Valley wine region in California inspired this month's feature.

Astoria Prosecco DOC Treviso*  has  light fruity aromas and flavors of peach and pear with a    touch of sweetness in the  fresh citrusy finish.  This traditionally made Extra Dry Prosecco comes from a four generation wine-making family. This wine is recommended and is a bargain at approximately $14. *Media Sample

Willi Klinger, Managing Director of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, was recently at Camarata at Paulie's to teach a seminar on the 7 Elements of Uniqueness in regards to Austrian wine. He said the wines of Austria are defined by an aromatic freshness combined with full physiological ripenesss. David Keck, M.S. was integral part of the discussion and shared his thoughts on the wines as well. The unique elements that help make Austria an exceptional producer of wine are:  1) The cool climate which helps to create the crisp, aromatic style. 2) The land which sits at the same latitude as Burgundy and has, in addition to the typical river valley and hillside growing areas, vineyards in the capital city of Vienna. They also boast a diverse range of soils to suit the array of grapes. 3) A signature grape, Grüner Veltliner, which has become a by-the-glass restaurant favorite. In addition to this, they have a number of other grapes, both indigenous and international, that can be m