Spec’sology Blog - Wine

Americans have been appreciating fine wines from all over the world for decades, but what about wines made right here in the good old USA? American viticulturists have been hard at work crafting world-class wines, and winning awards around the world over the years. With wine typically recognized as a European and South American endeavor, it’s no wonder they haven’t been getting as much consumer attention. We aim to fix that with a list of America’s top wines for 2019 from around the country. 1. Beaux Freres The Upper Terrace Pinot Noir 2014 This critically acclaimed Pinot Noir from the

While you don’t need an excuse to celebrate mom, Mother’s Day is a great reason to host brunch and lavish well-deserved praise upon your mom. As we all know, brunch is the perfect reason to raise a glass before noon. Sure, you could serve up a regular old mimosa, but is that really worthy of the woman who spent hours in labor and then years raising you? We didn’t think so either, and that’s why we’ve put together a list of fabulous wines that pair wonderfully with mom’s love. 1. La Crema Pinot Noir If there’s a perfect Mother’s Day

If you aren’t sure if the old saying, “Mother knows best,” is true, then a quick trip to Spec’s will certainly solidify it as fact. Spec’s has aisles and aisles of mom’s favorites as well as accessories and gift baskets that’ll have her changing your name to Favorite. Below you’ll find a great little gift guide to show mom how much you care. Sweet Delicious Lazzaroni Amaretti Cookies are a great way to tickle her sweet tooth. Lady Walton’s White Chocolate French Vanilla Cookies are a delicious European style wafer cookie filled with creamy white chocolate and a hint of

While we’re not entirely sure where all these National fill in the blank Day ideas come from, we certainly can’t hold it against the creators as it gives us a reason to get back on the kitchen and wow some palates! In case you lost your “National Day of” calendar, April 29th is National Shrimp Scampi Day! We can’t think of a better way to spend a day than by indulging in shrimp and garlic. When you’ve got shrimp and garlic on the mind, your next thought should be wine. But which one goes with shrimp scampi? Thankfully, these delicious

With spring in full swing, it’s time to freshen up your wine wardrobe with some light and refreshing options. Gone are the winter days where a warm fire and a heavy red are the perfect companions. With spring, you want lighter wines that evoke the warmth of the sun, not a fireplace. From crisp, aromatic white wines to vibrant Rosés, spring is all about tasting fresh, drinking light, and saving money for summer vacation! With that in mind, we’ve gathered up a few of our springtime favorites that pair perfectly with your patio and don’t strain your wallet. 1. Kono

Easter dinner brings about the questions of what wine to pair with ham, or which one goes with lamb, or what pairs with both? Instead of trying to pair with the meal, what about pairing with the season? Thankfully it’s Spring, and that means Rosé is arriving fresh from the fields with its juicy zing that pairs perfectly well with ham and lamb, as well as lighter opening dishes. But it’s not just Rosé that can enliven your Easter dinner, as you’ll see we’ve provided several options that pair wonderfully with the season and your plate. Bliss Chardonnay This Estate

What is World Malbec Day? World Malbec Day isn’t just a seemingly random day to sip on wine. (Though any reason to drink wine is a good one if you ask us.) April 17th actually marks a fateful day in wine history, commemorating Argentina’s wine renaissance. This was a time when president Domingo Faustino Sarmiento made it his mission to transform Argentina's wine industry in 1853, by ordering a botanist to transport and plant the French grape to South American soil. Why does it matter? Had it not been for Argentina, Malbec may not have reached the level of popularity

Wine stewards and connoisseurs have their own unique vocabulary—which can often sound like spy code to the outsider. Not to worry! Here’s a glossary of the most commonly used wine terms. Brush up on these, and you’ll be able to rub elbows with the pros at your next tasting session or impress your dinner date. Wine Terms Glossary Acidity — the liveliness and crispness of wine, often stimulating your salivary glands Aeration — the addition of oxygen to round out and soften a wine Appellation — a delineated wine producing region particular to France aroma or bouquet — The smell

Hill Country Wineries make us proud to be a Texan. You can find some great ones scattered all across the region, from far north of San Antonio, to east of Lampasas. Most offer very informative tours throughout their scenic vineyards. But what really puts the icing on the cake, are the wine samples from their tasting rooms. Take a day trip to any one of the following Texas Hill Country wineries, and we guarantee you’ll feel that Texas pride swell in you with each sip of ‘cowboy cabernet’. Texas Hill Country Wineries Four Point Cellars, Fredericksburg The name 4.0 Cellars

Vintage 2015 Mostly Cru Classé Bordeaux Tasting Hosted by Spec's Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at the Crystal Ballroom at the Rice Spec’s will host over 30 Bordeaux chateau owners, directors, and/or winemakers presenting 62 mostly Cru Classé Bordeaux wines all from the suberb 2015 vintage in a standup- and-walk-around tasting format. This is our seventh time to host such a delegation from Bordeaux and each of the previous events have been smashing successes. The list of well-known and highly regarded Bordeaux wineries includes ... Pomerol: Chx. Clinet, Gazin, Croix St. Georges, and La Pointe (along with 2nd vin Ballade de

Thanksgiving is almost here and that means the holiday stress is just starting to peak. We’re going to take care of that with some wine pairing tips you and your guests will be grateful for! Here are a few ways to go about this. One White, One Red A good and simple strategy for Thanksgiving wine is to select a very good white and a very good red, offering your guests their choice. For reds, look for soft tannins that will yield to and blend with your dishes, like Pinot Noir, Syrah, a fruity Zinfandel, Merlot, Beaujolais Nouveaux or a

Bonne la Fête Nationale! Just like the United States has Independence Day, France has Bastille Day on July 14th. The date marks the beginning of Republican Democracy and the end of the tyrannical rule back in 1790. And to celebrate, we have the Liberation de Paris Wines! Make sure to HOP in to pick up a bottle to celebrate. Liberation de Paris Rosé $9.99 Liberation de Paris Pinot Noir $9.99 Liberation de Paris Bordeaux $11.99 Liberation de Paris Cotes du Rhone $11.99 Liberation de Paris Chardonnay $9.99 Liberation de Paris Cabernet Sauvignon $9.99 *Prices include 5% cash savings.