Wine Tasting

It’s the Fourth of July Weekend!

Posted on by sophicpursuits
Rushmore
Enjoy the Fourth at Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills of South Dakota

The Fourth of July weekend means that it is time to get outside!  Enjoy parks, family, and fireworks.  But, one challenge this brings is that for many of these locations, glass bottles are banned.  (And, if you are a motorcycle or bicycle tourist, glass bottles are also a problem.)  So, what to do?

You could go get a box.  Or, you could find a vintner who appreciates the problem.  Yes, there are wineries that cater to the picnic crowd and have fun doing it.  Check out the Naked Winery.  They have some great wines – and a line that they call “Outdoor Vino.”  The Outdoor Vino is packaged in a plastic bottle (and these are being more widely accepted).  These are the picnic wines.  The picnic line features the Rambling Red, the Wanderlust White, and Picnic Table Pink.  All are great for sipping on a summer day at the park, the lake or the beach.

at the naked
Inside the establishment in Custer, SD

The Naked Winery is located near Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. There are two locations: one in Hill City, and one in Custer.  The tasting rooms also features Beer from the Sick-N-Twisted brewery, so it makes it a great stop for those in visiting the Black Hills of South Dakota.  These people have a lot of fun with their products.

While some of the names are mundane like the Naked Pinot Noir, or the Naked Pinot Gris.  There are some more intriguing names that go along with the more intriguing wines like the Vixen Syrah, or the Score Sweet White, or the Foreplay Chardonnay.  The Sick-N-Twisted brew names are just as fun: Hop on Top, the Panty Dropper, and Wild Ride.  It is definitely a place to taste, laugh and enjoy.

The Road Less Traveled – TX 174 – Avoiding I-35 from Ft. Worth to Waco

Posted on by sophicpursuits
2015-05-23 10.01.15
Blooming Cactus – May 2015 in the Texas Hill Country. Not a sight you are likely to see along the Interstate.

They say that there are two seasons for Interstates – winter and construction.  The I-35 corridor between the Dallas-Fort Worth area to Waco and points further south are always filled with construction.  So, why not avoid the construction and take the road less traveled and stop at some very pleasant places along the way?

Begin your travels, to the south, by getting off the interstate at Burleson and take TX-174 toward Cleburne.  In Burleson, you can find the Lost Oak Winery.  The tasting room is open on Wednesday through Sunday starting at noon.  They feature a range of wines from a sweet Mascot and Riesling to big bold Tempranillo and their Estate Shiraz.

2015-05-23 10.01.32
And, you definitely won’t get to stop and take a close-up of the local population!

Continue your travels south along 174 toward Meridian and Clifton.  You have two opportunities to try the wines from the Red Caboose Winery.  (If you want to really see,  the start of the Texas hill country, my recommendation is to go to the vineyard located outside of Meridian.)  During our travels, we spent a lovely morning at the vineyard, tasting a variety of wines and talking with Evan McKibben, the vintner.  The first vines were planted shortly after the land was purchased in 2001.  And, the story of the winery is one of a dream (and very little prior experience).  This winery now is routinely recognized by the Texas wine industry and has received numerous medals at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

2015-05-23 11.21.54
Entrance to the Red Caboose Winery
2015-05-23 11.21.38
Just across from the entrance to the Red Caboose. It is worth taking the “long” way.

If you go, you are likely to be greeted by loveable Border collie that will lead you to the tasting room.  They have an array of lovely reds featuring the Syrah, Merlot, and Tempranillo.  With great names: Rolling Red, La Reina, and Quickdraw Syrah, and beautiful label artwork done by a local artist, what is not to love about this winery.  If you go, you must try their port-style it is lovely.

After you leave, the Red Caboose continue traveling south toward that little town of Crawford and head toward Temple, TX.  You might want to stop at The Gin at Nolan Creek in Belton for a lovely meal featuring some Texas favorites or take a break at the Nolan Creek Winery just across the small plaza.   Then you can return to your regularly hectic travel on I-35 South.

A Place to Start, Taos, NM

Posted on by sophicpursuits

high road to TaosWant a great way to begin exploring craft brews, new distilled products, great wines, and participate in local activities?  Then this New Mexico loop is just for you!  This loop can be started in Angel Fire, Santa Fe or Taos and can be done in a day or over a weekend.  While here, you can experience a number of restaurants, shops, art galleries, music, great scenery, and maybe a festival or two. In addition, there are lots of great wines, beers, and a distiller to experience as well. Here are some highlights:

The Food

New Mexico is known for its cuisine.  Taos and Santa Fe have lots of different restaurants and types of fare – from the burgers and pizza to global cuisine fit for heads of state.  For those that want a great evening try Sabroso.  It is located in little town outside of Taos, Arroyo Seco.  It is nestled in a grove of fruit trees and vines.  (The fruit when in season is featured as part of the menu.)  You can dine inside or out.  Our visit to this restaurant was memorable and the reviews of others have indicated that this is one of the best in the area.

The Beers

Taos features three brewers – Eske’s, Taos Ale House, and Taos Mesa Brewing.  In addition to the locals, many of the restaurants and eateries feature beers from other parts of New Mexico.  Eske’s is located near the Plaza in Taos and is located in a 100-year-old adobe home.  Their signature beer is made with green chiles, but while we were there they had a Scotch Ale, an IPA and a Red Rye on Tap.

Taos Mesa Brewing is just outside of the city located on the way to the Rio Grande Bridge on US 64.  It is set up for larger events.  They have a variety of beers including: the “Fall Down Brown”, “Lunch Pale Ale”, “Kolsch 45”, and “Superstitious Stout.”  There are a number of different IPAs and seasonal brews.

Eske’s and Taos Mesa Brewing feature live music, so be sure and check their websites for the current music offerings.

The WinesWines

Along this loop, you can visit the tasting rooms in Taos for Black Mesa and La Chiripada or visit their wineries down the road a bit.  The area also features Vivac and Estrella Del Norte (and Santa Fe).  As New Mexico is known for the reds – these are must try.  La Chiripada has a nice cabernet and merlot.  Estrella Del Norte is generally known for their Pinot Noir.  However, a New Mexico Pinot Noir is a bit different than what you may be used to from Oregon or California and it does vary a bit from year to year.

While New Mexico may be known for its reds – the whites are very enjoyable as well.  Blue Heron Brewery (which features some great Ales and a nice root beer) also had a lovely white that can be enjoyed on the porch.  The Primavera from La Chiripada is a lovely white that can be enjoyed on a summer evening.  Estrella Del Norte has a great pinot grigio.

The Distillery

bourbonDon Quixote Distillery and Winery is located in Pojoaque just a bit outside of Santa Fe.  They are the oldest distillery in New Mexico.  They have a blue corn bourbon and vodka.  They also feature a number of wines and ports.  They have a sherry as well.  While the wines are unique, it is clear that they are really headed to the ports and sherry.  These are very nice.  The bourbon is delightful.

When planning your trip be sure to do a bit of research before you go to learn about the galleries, and activities that are going on in the area.  Even if there is nothing “special” happening, the views along the “high road to Taos” and the Rio Grande Bridge are spectacular.  And if that doesn’t excite – in the winter there is skiing and in the summer you can take a rafting tour on the Rio Grande.  The key is to get out and explore.Coyote Loop