Just got back from two days of judging at the Lone Star International Wine
competition,
and was quite impressed with the results. I have been a judge for three years, and this was easily some of the best wine I have tasted.
I’ll write more about the state of the Texas wine business in an upcoming magazine, but I wanted to note these wines (which are available from the wineries, and at some retailers for the Becker and Brennan), which were quite impressive:
• Sweet wines: Signature Red Muscadine from Guerra Vineyard in East Texas is an amazing achievement, because muscadines (related to grapes but not grapes) usually make crummy wine. Collina Bianca, from Pleasant Hill Winery in Brenham, is a white blend that is very well made.
• White wines. Brennan Vineyards Viognier is softer than a chardonnay, with some floral touches, but still a dry wine. Two from Becker Vineyards in the Hill Country: a chenin blanc, which was one of my favorites, and a fume blanc, which is a sauvignon blanc and semillion blend. The Beckers are also great buys at $12 or so.
• Red wine. Another Becker, a blend called Prairie Roti. It’s very fruity, dry, and a good hot weather red.
