wine Archives - Page 2 of 3

Best Spots to Sit & Sip a Glass of Wine in Austin

January 3, 2017 by Jessica Pino 9 Comments

I’m a recovering wine snob. Years ago, I only drank high-end bottles with other wine snob friends. We would eat cheese while sipping, sniffing and discussing wines. Then I moved to Italy, where delicious wines cost as little as $5.

And then it hit me.

It’s not about this varietal or that vintage, or even what pairs best with what. It’s simpler than that. Much like any alcoholic beverage of choice, you drink it because you like it. And the reason you drink is to celebrate friends, family, careers or life events.

Here are some top-notch spots to sit and sip a glass of wine in Austin with your closest friends, family or colleagues. They aren’t necessarily the most high-end in town, but they’ve got soul. [Read more…]

5 Grown-up Austin Wine Venues With Tasty Food Options

October 13, 2016 by Joleen Jernigan 5 Comments

Lenoir’s sun-dappled wine garden also offers savory dishes and desserts

Find your wine-soaked bliss paired with delicious food at these classy Austin wine locales. All these places will satisfy your cravings for delicious wine and food, and won’t break the bank if you plan ahead. [Read more…]

Austin’s laV Earns National Recognition for Food and Wine

August 28, 2015 by Natalie Parra-Novosad 1 Comment

laV wine bar

Editor’s Note: laV has permanently closed, as of January 1, 2016.

LaV was recently named among U.S. Wine Enthusiast’s 2015 list of America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants, and for good reason. Their wine selection is exceptional and they employ two advanced sommeliers. The two-story wine cellar at laV houses over 1,200 different selections, and the wine menu is a book with a much-needed table of contents.

To put laV’s accomplishments into perspective, it is one of only 19 restaurants on Wine Enthusiast’s list in the south. It’s the only one of eight in Texas, and the sole representative in Austin. [Read more…]

Experience Texas Wine and Food at Tour de Vin 2015

August 26, 2015 by Natalie Parra-Novosad Leave a Comment

Tour de Vin 2015 is right around the corner

Twin Liquors at Hancock Center hosted a sneak peek wine tasting event last week for the upcoming Tour de Vin, an annual festival from the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas. Vendors and wineries gave a preview of some of the wines they’ll be presenting during Tour de Vin at the Fair Market on September 17th. The pre-tasting event featured mostly California wines, but Tour de Vin will include several wines from Texas and around the world. [Read more…]

Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy Your (Wine) Flight at Departure Lounge

March 24, 2015 by Judy Rae Merhar Leave a Comment

Departure Lounge at W 5th and Guadalupe in Austin

Above the entrance to Departure Lounge

Editor’s Note: Departure Lounge closed its downtown location in July 2017. Owner Keith Waldon plans to open a new location in the airport.

It bodes well for a place that can make a woman with four kids recall the sensation that accompanies the words sleek and sexy. It took a departure from suburbia for me to embrace this opportunity to escape.

Once settled into your plush seat, you too may decide to linger. No flotation device required and you won’t find safety information in your seat back pocket. But this downtown destination may induce wanderlust you’ve been stowing in your overhead compartment.

Departure Lounge inspires your mind to open and – like a fine glass of wine – breathe. This isn’t your typical travel agency; Departure Lounge is a coffee and wine bar that happens to sell customized travel. [Read more…]

Wine and Food Foundation of Texas Spring Events Released

February 18, 2015 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

Wine and Food Foundation of Texas Wine Glass

Fine wine and good eats await you! (Credit: WFFT)

Feel like planning a wine tasting getaway? Forget about flights and expensive hotels. Some of the best wine in the country lies in your own backyard.

Since 1985, the Wine and Food Foundation of Texas (WFFT) has been celebrating the best our state has to offer and this year is no exception. With a number of fantastic events on the horizon, the WFFT is poised to kick off their spring 2015 season in style.

Toast and Roast: March 1st

The fun kicks off in grand scale with Toast and Roast on March 1st, 2015. Taking place at Rancho Cuernavaca, the event is a celebration of wine, food and music. The highlight of the afternoon will be a tasting of every vintage in Texas Monthly’s 2014 Best Wines of Texas list. This is a rare and special opportunity to sample the best wine in the Lone Star State.

With food provided by [Read more…]

Winebelly: Tapas Wine Bar with Surprising Influences

July 28, 2014 by Erin May 1 Comment

Welcoming interior at Winebelly

Winebelly is true to its name. It invites the purple-tongued, the cheek-flushed, the loud-laughers, and you are unlikely to leave without a satisfied stomach.

A comfortable wine bar on Oltorf and South 1st St, Winebelly’s dark paneled bartop wood and golden booths invite guests to relax. At the same time, the venue maintains the class and food quality demanded of any successful wine joint.

The tapas bar was opened in 2013 by the same family who owns the Hai Ky Vietnamese restaurants in Austin. The Winebelly tapas and vino bar is vastly different from the Vietnamese go-to, but its local Austin roots are unmistakable.

Local ingredients are used in many of their plates and local beer, including the potent Devil’s Backbone, is served on tap and in bottles or cans at decent prices. [Read more…]

House Wine: Go Out for a Glass of Wine at Home

November 14, 2013 by Matthew Champion Leave a Comment

House Wine exterior (Photo credit: austingastronomist.com)

If you’re looking for a place where you can enjoy a glass of well-selected wine and still feel like you’re in Austin, look no further than House Wine. It sits tucked away on Josephine Street, near P. Terry’s on South Lamar, and is perfect for a date or any good company if you’re seeking an intimate, laid back atmosphere.

The house has been around for decades, but has been renovated nicely to resemble a trendy bungalow in the midst of the city atmosphere. The decor is modern and comfortable and screams “relax.” In fact, if half of you wants to go out and half of you wants to stay at home, just go to House Wine. It’s that comfortable. [Read more…]

Dust Off Your Dancing Shoes for 2013 Gruene Music and Wine Festival

October 3, 2013 by Brittany Highland 3 Comments

You’ll want to experience the sounds and tastes of Gruene Music and Wine Festival 2013. This fest has longevity as it heads into its 27th year. With that much history, it’s gotta be good!

Located just outside New Braunfels, the historical town of Gruene is one of my favorite day trips from Austin. With lovable shops and good food galore, the town has mastered the art of hosting special events and festivals. This year’s Gruene Music and Wine Festival is four days of live shows and friendly imbibing. [Read more…]

Spice Up Your Fall In and Around Austin

October 1, 2013 by Matthew Champion Leave a Comment

If you’re reveling in the break from the heat like I am, then you must want to celebrate and embrace the beautiful fall season that’s now upon us. Fortunately, there is an overwhelming number of things to do in and around Austin when the colors begin to change. Below are many of the stand-outs.