Wine

Best Organic Wines – Sommelier Tested, Mother Earth Approved

What makes a wine organic? An organic wine is made from grapes that are grown under the rules of organic farming, which usually means they don’t use artificial or chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, or fungicides. It also has to do with added preservatives in the wine itself. The only effective preservatives that make the wine last longer are ‘non-organic’. The most widely used preservative is sulfur dioxide. The regulation of this varies by country. For example, wi... Read More

Fall in Love with Bordeaux!

Entertain, Holidays, Wine

The cooler temperatures of Fall are upon us and that means it’s Wine Weather! And if you haven’t already heard, Bordeaux is the way to go. Take a look at our top 20 Bordeaux selections, all under $20, to expand your wine horizons and keep your wallet full.
Château Ampélia, Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux 2015
Owned and operated by François Despagne, of the famed Ch. Grand-Corbin-Despagne. The wines of Château Ampélia offer the freshness and mineral character that come from the li... Read More

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 matt... 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 win... 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’... 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-k... 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... 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 $11.9... 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... 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 cu... 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 k... 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