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My experience preparing for WSET Level 2
Nobody needs an industry credential to enjoy and learn about wine…but what if you just want one? Today, I thought I’d write a bit about my experience studying and preparing for the Wine & Spirits Education Trust Level 2 Award in Wines. I’m planning to take the exam in just over three weeks (January 2025).…
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Texas Tasting: Messina Hof (Grapevine)
When Paul V. and Merrill Bonarrigo planted some vines in Bryan, Texas in 1977, they might not have guessed that the single-acre, experimental vineyard would become one of the oldest and most awarded estate wineries in Texas. Messina Hof wines are familiar to Texas wine fans here and abroad. There’s a large portfolio of wines, covering…
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Review: The Costco Wine Adventure Calendar (2024)
Update: Costco’s 2025 calendar is out now! Peek inside the box here. Or, if you’re curious about what the wines taste like, check out our archive of reviews from the 2025 Wine Advent-ure Calendar. As every suburban wino knows, the wholesale club Costco can be a reliable source for better-than-drinkable wine at rock-bottom prices. The…
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Wine Road Trip: Arizona’s Sonoita-Elgin region
Sippin’ in Sonoita! We were in Tucson in for the Gem & Mineral show in February 2024…what a perfect place to shake off the winter blahs. Some of the most breathtaking green hills and tumbleweed-swept deserts I’ve ever seen are here…and surprising hospitable wineries, as well. Sonoita-Elgin is a lesser-known wine region with plenty of…
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Houston Pit Stop: Golden Oak Micro Cellar
What is better than a glass of Texas wine on a perfect fall day? A glass of Texas wine with pasture views, of course! We had just such a an idyllic experience on a recent trip from the Houston metro area back home to Dallas. Those of you who travel through Texas know the drive…