Robert Nist

Who doesn’t love brunch?! It’s the perfect start to a lazy weekend, and as a socially acceptable bonus, drinking is encouraged! The downfall is that if you don’t get there early, you’ll be stuck waiting in line as others take their time savoring every bite and sip, while you stand around watching (and getting more hungry!). So, why not invite your pals over and brunch at home? There’s no wait and bottomless drinks are hard to beat.We’ve got some brunch pairings based off the easi... Read More

The largest non-official work holiday is almost here!Non-official work holiday? By this we’re referring to the last few weeks of March where you keep one eye on keeping up appearances and the other firmly planted on some sort of visual display showing college basketball.It’s March Madness!And while American companies reportedly lose at least $1.2 billion per every hour of unproductivity during the first week of the NCAA tournament, you can certainly raise the bar on your watch parties with s... Read More

Could there be a more perfect union than wine and pie? The proper wine can turn a slice of pie into a transcendental experience. But pairing is key here as the wrong wine can overpower a sweet pie or completely clash in the palate, ruining both. But, we assume you’re eating more than just pie and wine, so you should be fine.So, without further ado, we present some wine and pie pairings sure to delight!Apple Pie & Dry Marsala America’s favorite pie is brought to life with this Sicilian d... Read More

Instead of writing this in an Irish accent with references to leprechauns and green beer, we’re going to throw a little Irish culture at you. And by culture, we mean food.Not many of us stateside are familiar with traditional Irish fare, and assume corned beef and cabbage is a favorite on the dinner tables of Ireland. However, this is not the case. Corned beef and cabbage actually comes from the early days of Irish immigrants in America, not Ireland itself. So, we’re going to focus on actual... Read More

Admit it, when you think of Mardi Gras you think of New Orleans, beads, and debauchery. And while you’re not entirely inaccurate, there’s more to it than that.If you’re heading down there or closer to Galveston Island, (catch some beads for us!) or even if you’re celebrating at home, there are a few traditional dishes that you’ll want to add to the menu along with a wine or beer pairing that will really highlight the flavors of Cajun cuisine.When pairing wine with the rich, buttery, sp... Read More

With flavors as big as the state they call home, Texas is a melting pot of cuisines and cultures like no other. As such, we’ve decided to use our locally grown expertise to help guide you to the perfect pairings for a few of Texas’ most popular dishes!Chicken Fried Steak This is a difficult one to pair with as the combination of ingredients that make up a chicken fried steak would pair with very different wines if they were served on their own. The red meat generally calls for a full-bodied... Read More

Texas takes its beer pretty seriously. In fact, no other state has a beer named specifically after their flag. (Looking at you, Lone Star!) The number of craft breweries in Texas has been, and continues to grow, at an astonishing rate. Currently there are upwards of 257 breweries across the state. So, if you’ve got a hankering for a local brew, you’ve got some options!According to BevSpot, the most ordered beer brands in Texas are as follows in descending order: Bud Light, Michelob, Miller, ... Read More

When it comes to mixers, nothing comes close to the sweet coffee flavor of Kahlua. Created in Mexico in the 1930s, it was named Kahlúa, meaning “House of the Acolhua people” in the Veracruz Nahuatl language spoken before the Spanish Conquest. It’s made from rum, sugar, vanilla bean, and arabica coffee, as such it contains approximately 10 mg per 100 mL (4.85 mg in each 1½ oz.) drink or about 25% the amount found in the same volume of coffee.In honor of National Kahlua Day, we’r... Read More

Chocolate and mint go so well together that National Chocolate Mint Day is recognized by the US National Confectioners Association and happily observed on February 19th by chocolate mint lovers everywhere!Even nature gets in on this delicious action! The chocolate mint plant features dark-green purplish leaves and garners its name from the herb’s flavor, which is akin to a chocolate-covered mint candy. Once harvested, the mint leaves are often dried and used as tea or chopped and consumed ... Read More

There’s something to be said for every day wines. They are your any occasion go-to bottles perfect for weeknight pizza or bringing to a friend’s house for a casual dinner. These are not the ones you store in the cellar for a special occasion as they’re not meant to age particularly well and have a pricing sweet spot of around $15.One thing you’ll want to keep in mind when shopping for every day wines is to stick with newer vintages. These wines are meant to be drunk fresh, so finding the... Read More

If you’re looking for a little more flare than fizz this Valentine’s Day, we’ve got you covered! These deliciously romantic cocktails are perfect for impressing your sweetheart or getting together with friends for a palentine celebration.Valentine’s Day calls for chocolates, flowers, and a large amount of red which these love-infused cocktails are centered around. Your only tough decision is choosing which one to serve first! Check out our lovely Valentine’s Day inspired cocktails.Russ... Read More

There’s nothing suave about shooting a Champagne cork into the face of your Valentine’s Day date. Even screaming, “Duck!” tends to knock the cool out of your step; especially when there’s a proper method for opening a bottle of bubbly. Learn how to properly open a bottle of Champagne by following these steps.  1. Make Sure The Bottle Is Chilled The bottle needs to be chilled to around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. If it’s not cold enough, the pressure inside the bottle will cause the cork... Read More