Spec’sology Blog - Wine

Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes What is the best champagne for mimosas? Mimosas are a classic brunch cocktail that have been enjoyed for decades. Made with orange juice and Champagne or sparkling wine, they are refreshing, sweet, and perfect for any occasion. However, with so many bubbly options on the market, it can be challenging to know which one to use. In this post, we'll cover the types of sparkling wines, the eight best Champagnes for mimosas, how much Champagne to use, how many mimosas you can make from one bottle, and the steps to make a perfect mimosa! What

Malbec wines are known for their exotic flavor, deep purple color, and for being the quintessential big red. They’re made from a dark variety of grapes that are tricky to mature properly without the topography of a valley and an equatorial climate. Malbec wines require a lot of sunlight and high elevation spots, making them not as common as other red wines in the west. That’s why most Malbecs are sourced from South America and Southern parts of Europe. The Malbec grape originates from France but found its full potential in the outskirts of Mendoza, a major Argentine city just

The best time of year is upon us - Holiday Season! What’s better than family, friends, and a bounty of bubbly?! Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve or even just a couple of days off work, ‘tis the season for some celebratory sparkles in your glass! Of course, with this comes the issue of finding a good bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine that’ll impress both you and your guests. Well fret no more for Spec’s has narrowed it down to 4! We’ve got two Champagnes and two sparkling wines that are sure to impress even the

It’s the time of year that we’d like to take a moment and send our love and appreciation to some of our favorite brands and products of 2022! So, without further ado… Branson Cognac Owned by award-winning musician, entrepreneur, actor and producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Branson Cognac represents a bespoke, exclusive and unique Cognac that showcases the highest quality of Cognac being made from the best vineyards in every bottle. Maker's Mark Private Select Beginning as fully matured Maker's Mark at cask strength, Private Selection is created by adding 10 custom wood finishing staves to each barrel. It's then

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