Spec’sology Blog

Chianti, pronounced “kee-on-tee”, is a red wine blend from the Chianti region of Tuscany, Italy, made primarily with Sangiovese grapes. You used to see it in a squat bottle wrapped in straw, but nowadays most producers use standard bottles and have left the straw off completely. The History Of Chianti The history of Chianti dates back to at least the 13th century with the earliest incarnations of Chianti as a white wine. Over the years, Chianti has evolved into the red blend you see today. The first known “Chianti recipe” was created in 1872, and recommended 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo

Pinot Noir is a black wine grape variety that hails from France. It’s one of France’s oldest grapes, cultivated more than a century ago by the Cistercian monks in Burgundy. Today, collectors prize Pinot Noir for its finesse and age-worthiness. Due to its popularity and difficulty to grow, it’s one of the world’s most expensive wines. Finding the right Pinot Noir for you can be deliciously challenging as Pinot Noir wine taste varies based on climate, soil, and producer style. Cooler climates produce more delicate and light-bodied Pinot Noir. Warmer climates produce riper and fuller-bodied Pinot Noirs with higher alcohol.

You don’t have to fly to some exotic location to enjoy a much-needed summer vacation! With a state as big as Texas, there’s plenty to do all within a day of travel! Check out some of our favorite summer spots in Texas and be sure to hit up Spec’s on your way for everything you’ll need to have a great time! New Braunfels New Braunfels is known for being a city that loves to have fun on its rivers. With two rivers to choose from, and plenty of tubing companies for each, you could spend a whole weekend here and

The history of rum as we know it today begins in 2010. Before this period, rum was considered a mythical libation due to its draconian production methods. It was reported that in order to make rum, one was required to do so on a ship, in the eye of a hurricane. The rum was then rapidly bottled and sold to the sailors under the prerequisite that they must consume the rum before sailing through the hurricane. Hence the nickname “Suffering Sea Sugar”. Things changed in 2010 with the birth of Arabella Landrum. This American actress, best known for Antebellum (2020),

With Texas opened back up and everyone looking for something to do this summer, we thought it might be nice to put together a list of no-stress good times. We couldn’t think of a better way to get back out there than by enjoying some live music. So, we’ve put together a handful of shows across Texas and even did you the courtesy of pairing them with a pre-concert cocktail to get you in the mood to groove! Justin Bieber – DFW – Aug 6 The Despacito Ingredients 1 ½ oz. reposado tequila ½ oz. sherry ½ oz fresh lemon

Choosing an Italian wine can be a bit overwhelming, but that’s what happens when a country has been making wine for several thousand years. In fact, Italy is the leading wine producing country in the world both in terms of volume and exports. Italian wine is produced in every region of Italy and is home to some of the oldest wine-​producing regions on Earth. But don’t let the sheer number of options keep you from exploring all Italian wines have to offer! With such a large array of Italian wines to choose from, you can spend as little or as

The 2021 Summer Games, previously known as the 2020 Summer Games, kickoff on July 23rd with the first sporting event starting the following day. New to the games this year are 4 sports making their Olympic debut: surfing, skateboarding, sport climbing, and karate. Rumor has it that breakdancing will make its first appearance at the winter Pairs games. With 205 countries participating, we thought it was a good opportunity to explore some unique cocktails from various countries. So, in the spirit of the Summer Olympics, let’s get into spirits from around the world! Thailand The Siam Sunray combines vodka, coconut

After being cooped up for a year it’s time to do some of your favorite couchbound activities outside! And by “favorites couchbound activities” we obviously mean eating and drinking. Read below for a how-to guide to the perfect summer picnic and cut the couch cord for a day of sunshine! Unless you’ve got the means to transport a full-blown meal, most of us are going to shoot for something more approachable (and a little classy) like a charcuterie plate. Thankfully, you can pick up all the ingredients and pair it with a bottle of wine at Spec’s. When creating your

Nothing beats a glass of chilled white wine for breaking up a summer’s day! If Chardonnay doesn’t come to mind as your go-to summer white, we’re about to change that. The Chardonnay is one of the six noble grapes, and one of the most popular wines in the world. There are two kinds of Chardonnay, oaked and steel-aged. True to the style of a steel-aged wine, the taste is more minerally with tart fruits like citrus and apple. Unlike rich and heavy oaked Chardonnays, a steel-aged Chardonnay is going to have very distinct characteristics: bright, tangy, and acidic, with fruit

With the Texas summer in full swing, you need lasting refreshment to make a full day of fun in the sun. While nothing beats the delicious flavor combinations you can create with a cocktail, some spirits just aren’t made for summer weather. Rum cocktails can end up too sweet, tequila too strong, and whiskey a bit too warming – but vodka, with its neutral flavor profile, lends itself perfectly to whatever refreshing taste you’re looking to capture. Check out some of our favorite vodka cocktails for summer and you’ll be sipping pretty no matter how hot it gets! The Poolside

There’s one summer staple that often gets overlooked – the blender. Without this magnificent machine how would we whip up the perfect frozen poolside sippers to help get us through another Texas summer?! We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite frozen cocktails to give your blender a much needed workout. As delicious as these are, you might be tempted to suck one down with gusto, but be careful of their chilling side effect, the dreaded brain freeze! That being said, let’s kick this off with some Jimmy Buffet wisdom: But there’s booze in the blender And soon

Whether it’s a pool, river, lake, or the beach, water and a Texas summer just go hand in hand. But no matter how hot you get; glass bottles are a big no-no when it comes to keeping you cool in the water. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of delicious refreshments that’ll keep your summer wet and wild without the hazards of glass. Not only are these all glass-free, but all the beers are lower in alcohol so you can get the most out of your time in the water! We even threw in some snackage so