2019 Fall Texas Fine Wine Dinner

Everyone knows October is Texas Wine Month full of fun and interesting events all month long across the state at our wineries. It also marks the month of the annual Texas Fine Wine’s dinner. This year’s event was held Friday, October 18 at 4.0 Cellars. The evening was delightful with large circular tables set up inside the new event space on the property. This lovely building was a perfect setting for guests to easily sit and enjoy the views outside of the property through the large glass windows as the sun was setting, and folks were settling in at their tables.

Texas Fine Wine is comprised of five wineries making award winning Texas wine and helping to lead the industry in high end wine production for the state. Members of this group include Brennan Vineyards of Comanche, Duchman Family Winery of Driftwood, Bending Branch Winery of Comfort, Spicewood Vineyards of Spicewood, and Pedernales Cellars of Stonewall. Each winery had their winemakers and/or owners in attendance and scattered about seated at various tables among the guests to enjoy the dinner and evening together with those who came out to support the event.

Guests were initially greeted with a glass of 2018 Brennan Roussanne, a lovely white wine. As everyone found their spot for the evening, they were welcomed and encouraged to enjoy both the wines and the wonderful food planned to pair with them. Dishes were served small plate style with each wine expertly poured by the wait staff.

The initial course featured a beautiful 2017 Trebbiano Reserve from Duchman Family Winery. This was artfully paired with a spinach and parmesan souffle. Guests seemed delighted with both the wine and the souffle.

The second course was equally enjoyable with a 2017 Pedernales Viognier Reserve paired with lobster ravioli that was full of succulent meat and cheese with a champagne cream sauce. Similar to the initial course, this one was well matched with the wine and appreciated.

The third course was the highlight for those at our dinner table. This featured a 2016 Bending Branch Petite Sirah with fruit sourced from Newsom Vineyards. This bold, smooth red was lovingly paired with a very tender and juicy medium rare lamb chop with prune and cognac sauce and sautéed greens and shallots. The wine was superb with this dish as it had the depth to compliment the lamb. Truth be told, everyone had a strong desire to find out if the kitchen had extra chops in the back as they were just that awesome.

The fourth course was a 2017 Brennan Vineyards Super Nero served with garlic prime rib and Yorkshire pudding with a mushroom medley. This red wine did not disappoint and paired well with the heavier cut of this meat dish.

The dessert course was paired with a special bottle that a few at the table were very familiar with, a 2017 Spicewood Vineyards Estate Muscat. This was served with a plate featuring assorted cheeses, figs, walnuts, almonds, and honeycomb. This luscious sweet wine was crafted for sipping and savoring. It was just the right wine for the cheese plate and was the perfect final wine to cap off the evening.

As guests chatted and compared their favorite dishes and wines of the evening, it was fun to also chat with the winemakers as they made the rounds walking around and visiting the various tables, and chatting with guests and their fellow winemakers and winery owners to share their enjoyment of each other’s work and wines.

As everyone began to slowly say their goodbyes, folks were greeted once more at the doorway by Denise Clarke and the winemakers by the main tasting bar. Guests were thanked again for their attendance and were provided six bottle wine bags that featured the Texas Fine Wine on them as a keepsake souvenir of the evening.

If you are not yet familiar with the wineries associated with Texas Fine Wine, I encourage you to check them out and explore their wines. There are many great ones to enjoy among their brands and their individual lineups. Additionally, if you have not attended one of their annual dinners, I likewise encourage you to keep an eye out for updates on next fall’s event so you can try to attend and see why there are so many reasons to love these wineries, their wines, and this wonderful annual celebration of their work paired with spectacular Texas cuisine.