Wine

World Malbec Day

Celebrate World Malbec Day – April 17, 2018

Spec’sology Blog, Wine
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... Read More
Wine Lingo

Basic Wine Lingo: Talk Like a Sommelier

Spec’sology Blog, Wine
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 App... Read More
Hill Country Wineries

10 Hill Country Wineries and Tasting Rooms

Spec’sology Blog, Wine
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’. T... Read More

Vintage 2015 (Mostly) Cru Classé Bordeaux Tasting

Spec’sology Blog, Entertain, Events, Wine
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... Read More
Thanksgiving Pairings

Thanksgiving Wine Pairing Tips

Spec’sology Blog, Holidays, Pairings, Wine
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 Z... Read More

Happy Bastille Day!

Events, Spec’sology Blog, Wine
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 ... Read More

2014 (Mostly) Cru Classé Bordeaux Tasting

Entertain, Events, Spec’sology Blog, Wine
On Wednesday, January 18, 2017 from 4:30 to 8:30pm, Spec’s will host over 30 Bordeaux Chateau owners, directors, and/or winemakers presenting 59 mostly Cru Classé Bordeaux wines all from the fine 2014 vintage in a standup- and-walk-around tasting format. This is our fifth time to host such a delegation from Bordeaux and each of the previous events have been smashing successes. By appellation, they include … Pomerol: Chx. Clinet, Gazin, Croix St. Georges, and La Pointe (along with 2nd vi... Read More

Cheers to Bear Dalton’s Green Sangria!

Drink Recipes, Wine
Congratulations to Bear Dalton on his recent win for judges and peoples choice recipe at the 2016 Women of Wine Sangria Showdown! Want to celebrate with him? Well he happened to share his recipe… GREEN SANGRIA Ingredients: Dow’s White Port Minute Maid Lemonade Schweppes Tonic Lime Juice Basil Cilantro Green Seedless Grapes, frozen Red Seedless Grapes, frozen Cantaloupe, cubed, lightly salted &  frozen Directions Chop approximately 2/3 cup of fresh basil Chop approximately 2/3 cup of ... Read More

Regal Rice: Special-Designation Sake

Spirits, Wine
Spec’s stocks some spectacular sake – and shows that there’s much more to this Japan-based beverage than an unusual bottle. We previously provided an intro to sake, but for further facts, here’s more on this delicious rice-based beverage. The process of sake production is simple. The rice is washed and steamed, then mixed with yeast and a mold known as “koji.” (See our introductory sake post for more on koji.)This mix is allowed to ferment while adding more rice, water, yeast, and ko... Read More

Sweet Talk: Dessert Wines

Finer Foods, Wine
Dessert wines are just what they sound like – wines with a sweet edge for after your meal. Dessert wines vary in style, and are available from all different parts of the globe.  Whether your post-dinner preference is sweet and light or heavy and honeyed, Spec’s divine dessert wines will provide excellent endings. Port wines are an excellent option for an after-dinner treat. Our tawny or ruby ports can satisfy anyone with a sweet tooth. 10yr or 20yr aged ports in these styles offer toasted, ... Read More