Spec’sology Blog - Wine

Pinot Noir is one of the world's most popular red wines. It's made from black-skinned grapes that thrive in a narrow spectrum of cooler climates. It's also notoriously difficult to grow. When done right, it produces lighter-bodied wines of elegance, complexity and longevity. They also pair wonderfully with almost everything you’ll have on your Thanksgiving table! Now let’s get to raising the bar on raising a glass with a collection of excellent Pinot Noirs that won’t break the bank! Pound Cake Pinot Noir This Pound Cake Pinot Noir reflects its terroir, or place of origin, more than just about any

In case you needed another excuse to visit the Texas Hill Country, there are now even more award-winning Texas wineries to visit! There are more than 400 wineries in Texas which makes us the 5th largest wine producing state in the nation. The Lone Star State is home to eight American Viticultural Areas ranging from the North-Central Region, to the South-Eastern Region, and the Trans-Pecos Region. Below you’ll find some of our favorite wineries in Texas that’ll have you raising a glass to these lip-smacking Lonestar wines! Becker Vineyards - Stonewall, Texas Surrounded by lavender fields like those found in

New wineries, incubators, and promising grape varieties are fueling a golden age of Texas wines. Currently, Texas has over 500 wineries and vineyards making it the third-largest American Viticultural Area in the country as well as the fifth-largest wine-producing state. But if you’re expecting Napa-style wines, we’ve got some news for you. Our short and extremely warm growing season constitutes an earlier harvest traditionally vs. regions like Napa. This means Texas wine won’t typically have the time on the vine to become the extremely ripe, highly extracted fruit-forward wines we have come to expect from Napa. You should expect softer

What Is Orange Wine? Contrary to the name, orange wine is not wine made from oranges or some sort of citrus wine cocktail. It’s a type of white wine made by leaving the grape skins and seeds in contact with the juice, creating a deep orange-hued finished product. To make orange wine, whole white grapes are crushed and then macerated (left to sit) with their skins and stems for as little as one week and up to one year - essentially making white wine in the same manner as red wine. Eventually, winemakers separate out the fermented juice, at which

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 now days most producers use standard bottles and have left the straw off completely. 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 and 15% Malvasia

How do you make happy hour even better? Simple, you just turn your glass of wine into a cocktail! It’s easier than it sounds and requires zero mystical powers (a plus for us muggles). We’ll be focusing on Italian wine cocktails, but feel free to do some experimenting based on the recipes below! Lambrusco Sangria Ingredients 1 ounce brandy 1 ounce Tuscan Sangiovese wine ¾ ounce blood orange juice ½ ounce Cherry Heering ¼ ounce Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao ¼ ounce lime juice Lambrusco, to top Blood orange slice, for garnish Directions In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine

Prosecco is one of the most famous and appreciated Italian wines in the world due to its great pleasantness and versatility. If you don’t know much about Prosecco, you will after this article! Prosecco's Bubbly History Prosecco is made from a blend of grapes that must be at least 85% glera, with the rest being local and international varieties including verdiso, bianchetta trevigiana, perera, chardonnay, pinot bianco, pinot grigio and pinot noir. The Glera grape is thought to be of Slovenian origin and was probably cultivated in the vineyards of the Italian village of “Prosecco” in Trieste which shares a

Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes Chardonnay, a green-skinned grape varietal with origins in France's Burgundy region, is one of the world's most popular and adaptable white wines. Thriving in diverse climates—from California to Australia—Chardonnay produces a wide range of flavors, from crisp and citrusy to rich and buttery. This versatility, shaped by both terroir and winemaking techniques, has earned it a devoted following around the globe. On the blog today, we’re highlighting a curated selection of quality Chardonnay bottles from Spec’s—all under $30—that deliver exceptional taste without breaking the bank. The Best Chardonnays Under $30 For those seeking quality Chardonnays

Spring doesn’t last long in Texas, so getting the most out of this short season is the key to enjoying it while it lasts. And that’s where these easy-drinking whites truly shine. Whether you’re pairing a bottle with a light spring dish or just splashing it into a glass to enjoy on the porch, these spring sippers are perfect for any occasion! Pick up any of these easy-drinking spring white wines and you’ll be ready to bloom no matter where you find yourself planted! Kono Sauvignon Blanc Juicy crisp and fresh, Kono’s Sauvignon Blanc features a vibrant fruit-driven nose bursting

If your favorite summer sipper leads to you making plans like Rosé all day + fill in the blank, and if you want to get the most out of your Rosé all day, then this is the piece for you! We’ve put together some of the best rosé wines as well as tips on how to pick the perfect rosé. What is rosé wine? Rosé is simply a light version of red wine. Red wine gets its color from fermenting the white juice with red-skinned grapes to get a red color, and rosé is fermented the same way but for

When looking for a good Spanish wine it can be difficult to narrow down your choices, and with good reason. Spain is considered one of the top-producing wine regions in the world, with more than 50 prolific areas exporting delicious bottlings every vintage. Spain is a captivating country for wine with its millennia of winemaking, its exceptionally diverse geography and its economic and cultural history all making it a great source of quaffable discovery. With so many wonderful options to choose from, we thought we’d help you narrow it down by highlighting some of our highly affordable favorites! Campo Viejo

No one likes missing out on something good, especially when good means delicious! So, to make sure you aren’t raising a glass to FOMO, we talked to the experts and put together a few wines and spirits that may not be on your list but totally should be! Spirits Trail’s End 10 Year Bourbon Trail’s End 10 is the Second whiskey collaboration between Hood River Distillers, the oldest distillery in Oregon, and the expert team at Clear Creek Distillery, the second-oldest distillery in Oregon. They take a 10-year Kentucky Bourbon and then further age it in local toasted Garryana oak