Wine

Orange Wine 101 - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Everything You Wanted To Know About Orange Wine

Spec’sology Blog, Wine
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. Eventua... Read More
Best Chiantis For Every Budget - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

The Best Chiantis For Every Budget

Spec’sology Blog, Wine
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 “C... Read More
Italian Wine Cocktails

4 Simple Italian Wine Cocktails

Spec’sology Blog, Drink Recipes, Wine
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 Lambrus... Read More
Top 5 Prosecco Wines - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Top 5 Prosecco Wines

Spec’sology Blog, Wine
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 Slove... Read More
best chardonnay under $30

The Best Summer Chardonnays Under $30

Spec’sology Blog, Wine
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 highli... Read More
Highly-Rated White Wines - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Highly Rated White Wines to Enjoy This Spring

Spec’sology Blog, Wine

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 Sau... Read More

How To Pick The Perfect Rose - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Rosé 101: A Guide to Picking the Perfect Rosé

Spec’sology Blog, Wine

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 a... Read More

Beet Budget Spanish Wines - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Best Spanish Wines Under $15

Spec’sology Blog, Wine

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 choo... Read More

Little Known Libations - Spec's Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods

Little Known Libations

Spec’sology Blog, Spirits, Wine

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 i... Read More

Texas Breweries, Wineries & Distillers - Spec's

Texas Distillers, Wineries, & Breweries To Visit

Spec’sology Blog, Beer, Spirits, Wine

Texas Independence Day weekend is the perfect time to raise your Texas spirits with a trip to a Texas brewery, distillery, or winery! We’ve put together a list of some of our favorites from across the state. These offer not only outstanding products but an excellent atmosphere for learning and fun!

Please celebrate responsibly and don’t drink and drive by planning ahead.
Breweries
Jester King – Austin, Texas
Jester King offers an outdoor dining & drinking experience which inc... Read More

A Guide To Australian Wines

A Guide To Australian Wines

Spec’sology Blog, Wine

Australia is quickly becoming one of the world powers of wine. The wine industry in Australia is perhaps the most technologically advanced, and forward-thinking on earth.

Australia has no native vines. Winemaking grapevines first came to the country in 1788, from South Africa. Fast forward 234 years and Australia is now famous for its fresh, fruity red and white table wines that are extremely consistent in quality. Australia now ranks sixth in the world in wine production — making slightly ... Read More

Value Wines for Valentine's Day - Spec's

5 Value Wines For Valentine’s Day

Spec’sology Blog, Holidays, Wine

Pop the cork on a romantic Valentine’s Day evening without blowing a hole in your wallet!

Check out our top 5 picks for deliciously affordable Valentine’s Day wines that’ll have you oohing and aahing all night long.

 
Roederer Estate Brut Estate Bottled Champagne Blend
$14.73

An elegant blend of approximately 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, this Roederer Estate Brut is crisp and elegant with complex pear, spice and hazelnut flavors. It is fresh and lightly fruity with great... Read More