Wine

Macarons and Wine: Sweet Pairing Tips

Entertain, Finer Foods, Pairings, Spec’sology Blog, Wine
As far as meringue-based sweets go, the macaron stands out as a triumph of culinary achievement. Not to be confused with the similarly spelled macaroon, a coconut-based cookie, the macaron is made with egg white, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond powder, and food coloring. It’s typically presented as a sandwich cookie with a buttercream, jam, or ganache filling. Macarons are available in a variety of flavors. These light in weight, but heavy in sugar, cookies pair wonderfully with wine. Th... Read More

Six Great American Wines

Entertain, Spec’sology Blog, Wine
Americans have been appreciating fine wines from all over the world for decades, but what about wines made right here in the good old USA? American viticulturists have been hard at work crafting world-class wines, and winning awards around the world over the years. With wine typically recognized as a European and South American endeavor, it’s no wonder they haven’t been getting as much consumer attention. We aim to fix that with a list of America’s top wines for 2019 from around the countr... Read More

5 Mother’s Day Brunch Wine Pairings

Spec’sology Blog, Pairings, Wine
While you don’t need an excuse to celebrate mom, Mother’s Day is a great reason to host brunch and lavish well-deserved praise upon your mom. As we all know, brunch is the perfect reason to raise a glass before noon. Sure, you could serve up a regular old mimosa, but is that really worthy of the woman who spent hours in labor and then years raising you? We didn’t think so either, and that’s why we’ve put together a list of fabulous wines that pair wonderfully with mom’s love. 1. La C... Read More

The Ultimate Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Spec’sology Blog, Cheese, Deli, Finer Foods, Gifts, Wine
If you aren’t sure if the old saying, “Mother knows best,” is true, then a quick trip to Spec’s will certainly solidify it as fact. Spec’s has aisles and aisles of mom’s favorites as well as accessories and gift baskets that’ll have her changing your name to Favorite. Below you’ll find a great little gift guide to show mom how much you care.SweetDelicious Lazzaroni Amaretti Cookies are a great way to tickle her sweet tooth.Lady Walton’s White Chocolate French Vanilla Cookies ar... Read More

5 Wine Pairings For National Shrimp Scampi Day

Entertain, Pairings, Spec’sology Blog, Wine
While we’re not entirely sure where all these National fill in the blank Day ideas come from, we certainly can’t hold it against the creators as it gives us a reason to get back on the kitchen and wow some palates!In case you lost your “National Day of” calendar, April 29th is National Shrimp Scampi Day! We can’t think of a better way to spend a day than by indulging in shrimp and garlic. When you’ve got shrimp and garlic on the mind, your next thought should be wine. But which one g... Read More

7 Affordable Spring Wines Under $20

Entertain, Spec’sology Blog, Wine
With spring in full swing, it’s time to freshen up your wine wardrobe with some light and refreshing options. Gone are the winter days where a warm fire and a heavy red are the perfect companions. With spring, you want lighter wines that evoke the warmth of the sun, not a fireplace. From crisp, aromatic white wines to vibrant Rosés, spring is all about tasting fresh, drinking light, and saving money for summer vacation!With that in mind, we’ve gathered up a few of our springtime favorites t... Read More

6 Easter Spring Wines with Pairing Options

Entertain, Pairings, Spec’sology Blog, Wine
Easter dinner brings about the questions of what wine to pair with ham, or which one goes with lamb, or what pairs with both? Instead of trying to pair with the meal, what about pairing with the season?Thankfully it’s Spring, and that means Rosé is arriving fresh from the fields with its juicy zing that pairs perfectly well with ham and lamb, as well as lighter opening dishes. But it’s not just Rosé that can enliven your Easter dinner, as you’ll see we’ve provided several options that ... Read More

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, wines made in the ... 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