This Is Texas Wine Shelly Wilfong

This episode explores the topic of expanding the Texas wine selections in Texas restaurants. Becker Vineyards' Jen Syma and Nichole Bendele are spearheading the #AskForTexasWines effort. Other wineries are getting on board, and you’ll be hearing a lot more about this initiative very soon.
As always, I'll cover some recent Texas wine news and events.
Cheers y'all!

This is episode 81, and my guest today is Mike Batek. Mike and his wife Denise own Hye Meadow Winery in Hye in the Texas Hill Country. Mike is also the current president of the Texas Hill Country Wineries association. His story starts at the beginning of his wine journey and ends with upcoming travel and a winemaking "stage" in Slovenia!

In the Texas wine news section, I’m talking about wineries opening and expanding, Texas wine women are getting a shoutout in Men’s Health, and I’m reviewing my recent France trip with other Texas wine enthusiasts. Don't miss the ticket giveaways to two events the weekend of May 4-5.

Cheers, yall!

My guest on episode 80 is Tim Drake. He’s winemaker at Michael Ros Winery in Fredericksburg and also makes wine for Farmhouse Vineyards and Majek Vineyards. Tim has been in the Texas wine industry for quite some time, and he started his wine career in Washington. He's an entertaining subject with lots to say about winery design, winemaking philosophies, how the Texas wine industry has evolved, and more.

In the Texas wine news section, we’re anticipating the April 8 eclipse, reviewing Texas wine stories from large regional magazines, and discussing the magic of wine, a new campaign by WineAmerica to change the way we talk about wine.
Cheers y'all!

My guest today is Bret Perrenoud, is one of the owners of a newer winery in Fredericksburg called Airis'Ele Vineyards. Many in the Texas wine industry know him from his long stint as the general manager at Becker Vineyards. During this interview, Bret shares a lot of stories and lessons learned during his years at Becker and explains how those experiences prepared him to open Airisele in 2022 with his wife Chris and their partners John and Susie Bernard.
In the Texas news section, wineries are opening and closing and moving. And People moving too. We’ve got Texsom Awards results, a big Texas wine and travel article, an American wine drinking challenge, and several marquee events featuring Texas wine that you won’t want to miss this spring.
Cheers y'all!

Katy Jane Seaton is co-owner of Farmhouse Vineyards in the Texas High Plains. We’re talking about Texas agriculture, Farmhouse’s best damn client list, the eclipse, the quest for unity in Texas wine, and much more.
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In the Texas news section, we’ve got some breaking news from Daniel Kelada at Vinovium, good press for Texas white grape varieties, and a special Texas wine event for International Women’s Day.⁠
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Cheers y'all!

My guests today are Kristin and Mike Nelson of Ab Astris Stonewall. In 2020 I answered a call for harvest help, met the Nelson family, and have enjoyed getting to know them and their wines ever since. Our conversation includes their thoughts on the family business, sustainability, authenticity, and much more.
In the Texas news section, we’ve got ownership changes, new tasting rooms, travel news and spring events you won't want to miss.
Cheers y'all!