Robert Nist

When most of the United States thinks of fall, their mind conjures bright images of crunchy, colorful leaves, cozy sweaters and cinnamon scented candles. That’s not quite the same for us here in the south. This is Texas; the idea of a picturesque fall where the weather stays below a certain temperature and the leaves look something other than green, or dead brown, seems like a far-off fairy tale. That doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate and pretend, though! Ring in the season with these fall c... Read More

Every September 28th is National Drink Beer Day! Hooray! It’s not like we really needed an actual holiday as a reason to enjoy great beer though. Having good beer is reason enough! Beer has been made since the Neolithic Era, with some breweries dating as far back as 1040. It is safe to say that it is one of the oldest beverages in history. With hundreds of different new and traditional beer varieties available, “drink beer day” gives everyone an opportunity to sample both local and interna... Read More

Fall is one of the more romanticized seasons. For many people in the U.S., fall is synonymous with colorful leaves, cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice everything, and hearty meals. It’s true that in Texas the fall season is a little warmer, and a little shorter. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy wines that are perfect for autumn sipping. Here are our top wine picks to enjoy this fall. Beppe Pinot Noir This Italian pinot noir is elegant fruit-forward and slightly earthy on the p... Read More

Guten tag! Dust off your lederhosen because the world is celebrating Oktoberfest! This holiday is traditionally celebrated in Munich from September 22nd through October 7th. Oktoberfest is a German celebration of the fall season and more importantly, beer. You can celebrate it right in your own home by trying any one of these amazing German beer picks. Prost! Sünner Kolsch Sünner was founded in 1830 on the “right” side of the Rhine River, in the Deutz neighborhood of Cologne, when all othe... Read More

In celebration of National Punch Day, we bring you four of our favorite big batch, spirited punch recipes. The best part of mixing a cocktail in a large bowl, or pitcher, is the convenience of not having to rush back and forth from the bar to your guests. These easy to make punch recipes are sure to keep the fun flowing at your next party. Moscow Mule Punch   Yields 8 servings This recipe is basically one large Moscow Mule. Serve up this cocktail and you’ll eliminate the need to keep playing... Read More

Avast ye skalliwags! We’re celebratin’ Talk Like a Pirate Day here at Spec’s. And excuse the shorter than usual blog post, because it’s mighty difficult to type whilst wearin’ a hook on yer hand. (And me parrot keeps tryin’ to fly off with me mouse.) To celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day, we bring ye’ an assortment of pirate cocktail recipes that’d make Jack Sparrah proud. You’ll be needin’ plenty of rum, me hearties. The Bluebeard Ingredients •2 oz Spiced rum •1 oz Coconut... Read More

September 7th marks National Salami Day—the perfect time for a cheese and charcuterie board. What better way to pair salami than with wine? The type of salami you decide to snack on can vary in taste, as should the varietal you pair it with. Follow these easy tips for the best cured meats to pair with your wine and you’ll be sippin’ like a sommelier in no time. Genoa Salami Genoa salami is often made with a combination of pork and beef. It also incorporates red wine and a healthy amount of... Read More

September 5th marks National Cheese Pizza Day! Celebrate one of the most popular varieties of pizza by ordering up or baking your own. But wait! What good is pizza without something to wash it down with? Being the casual food that it is, calls for a no-frills kind of drink. And let’s be honest—not everyone wants to limit their toppings to strictly cheese. We’ve put together a list that goes over various pizza styles paired with craft beers. That’s amore! Cheese Let’s start with the bas... Read More

Labor Day means many things; it’s a celebration of the American workforce and a fun-filled three-day weekend. For many, it marks the end of summer. Let’s be real, here in Texas concepts like summer and fall are pretty synonymous. That aside, we want you to celebrate Labor Day like a boss. You can do that with these three recipes for adult summer slushies. These frozen cocktail recipes are perfect for cooling off on a warm day, kicking back and having your own little staycation. Cheers to not... Read More

If Cabernet is your bae, then today’s your day. Gratuitous rhyming aside—Today is International Cabernet Sauvignon Day! Celebrate this glorious holiday with these top wine recommendations. Divining Rod Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, Sonoma County California This California wine doesn’t hold back on the rich, concentrated black fruit flavors— sporting depth and character for days. A bouquet of black cherry, blackberry, sandalwood and plum aromas are layered with subtle notes of toas... Read More

Cheers to you! You are probably here for one of two reasons: either you really love red wine and want to know more about it, or you just want to soak in as much knowledge about random topics as you can so you can go on to fulfill your lifelong dream of becoming a winning contestant on Jeopardy. If either of these is true—you’re in luck, because you’re about to learn a thing or two about red wine. Today in celebration of #NationalRedWineDay we’re going to talk about red wine facts that ev... Read More