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Chillable Red Wines Perfect for Summer
Yes, I love rosé for all my summer fun. I mean is there anything better at the beach or the lake? And I definitely drink more white and sparkling wine these days than red. But even with all of that, I still enjoy a fair amount of red wine. Yes - even in the ridiculously hot and humid Houston summer. So finding some chillable red wines is absolutely essential. Even at the lake, sometimes you just want a glass of red wine! Not every red wine shows well when it’s chilled. Chillable red wines tend to have a few things in common. They have lower alcohol, lower tannin level, high acidity, pronounced fruit flavor, and overall tend to be lighter-bodied. Save that tannic Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah for another time. A cold tannin can taste bitter and who wants that? Typically, red wine should be served between 55 and 65 degrees. It should be cool to the touch, which incidentally is a sore subject for me. It drives me batshit crazy when I go to restaurants and they bring me a bottle of red wine
- news
Beyond Bubbles, The Women of Maison Pommery Continue to Innovate with Château La Gordonne
With all the wine out there - and there is a LOT of it - I’m always looking for a connection to wine. What is something that they do that is important to me? What actions do they take that aligns with my values and makes me actually want to buy the wine? It turns out that Maison Pommery checks those boxes for me - and that includes their Château La Gordonne estate in Provence, which I had no idea even existed! An amazing setting to enjoy some amazing wines!
- news
Paso Robles Wine Country: Go for the Wine, Stay for the Food
I love it when I take a wine trip and am just as ready to visit the restaurants as I am the wineries. That’s literally what happened to me when I encountered the Paso Robles food scene. The food wowed me as much as the wine and the vibe. And it wasn’t just “shi-shi,” fine-dining food that I enjoyed. It was a little bit of everything. I honestly am as at home eating mustard greens and ox-tails as I am indulging in a caviar fist bump. I can effortlessly go from so-called low brow to high brow in an instant and never miss a beat. Kinda like code switching for food. Totally winning when the restaurants at the wineries are just as good as the standalone restaurants! As a “forced” chef of two teenagers, I cook a fair amount. And in a desire to create healthy, hearty (they are both athletes), and interesting dishes for them, I’ve made an effort to learn more about food. I’m more curious about food, and have a greater appreciation for the flavors and techniques that chefs employ than ever befo
- news
Raising a Glass to Texas Wine Month – 2025 Edition
I swear I blinked and we were halfway through September. I'll wake up tomorrow and it will be Christmas. That's how fast time seems to be going. My grandmother always told me that time seems to pass quicker the older you get. Yep. Anywho, this time of year means it's time for Texas Wine Month. And since it lands in October, it coincides with #ComeOnOctober month. Cheers to drinking and celebrating Texas wine in October and all throughout the year. Come Over October is a global campaign celebrated in October that encourages wine drinkers to invite friends, colleagues, neighbors, and family to “come over” to a home, a restaurant, a winery or wherever people gather to share wine and fellowship. It's meant to pay homage to wine’s 9,000-year history as a communal beverage that brings people together. Given the pressure that the wine industry has been under, I love the message behind this campaign. Wine has been enjoyed for millennia (in moderation by most) and has been a celebrated wa
- news
The Corkscrew Concierge’s August 2025 (In)Conspicous Consumption + Austrian Wine Spotlight
It's been a minute since I've written anything. I'd even sworn off social. To be honest, I was just tired of it. Between the death of my cousin who was like a sister to me, only 53, and like a 3rd parent to Thing 1 and Thing 2 (it’s been so hard for them), to totaling my car and the immense guilt associated with my son having some minor injuries, to so many other things that all seemed to crop up at once, I was numb. Lost. Listless. I literally was going through the motions, not wanting to do anything. I kept feeling this "responsibility" to The Corkscrew Concierge, which in and of itself was a problem. This was supposed to be a fun, creative outlet. But it had started to feel like work. I was uninspired. And then I was like "eff" this too. I seriously thought about just pulling the plug, but then decided to give it some time... And here we are again. I’ve again found some inspiration, some thoughtfulness. So what have we been drinking? Some good stuff. And interestingly enough, much o
- news
The Corkscrew Concierge’s (In)Conspicuous Consumption June 2025
These days, it’s hard to figure out how best to share the interesting and amazing wines that I have the privilege to enjoy. Wines that resonate with me that I think others would enjoy. Back in the day, you’d do an Instagram post with great photography and it would get tons of views and some conversation. Now you have to dance, have a full blown conversation, or do whatever the theme of the day is. I still just want to talk to people about wine. I don’t want to have to dance. So, I’m talking about and sharing some great wines from the past month here, most of which feature 2 pillars that are important to me - family-owned wineries and those that emphasize sustainability. This isn’t everything we drank, but these are worth spreading the word… It’s always cool to look back on places you’ve visited when you grab a bottle from the store. Winzer Krems was a standout during a trip to Austria.
- news
The Corkscrew Concierge’s Summer 2025 Rosé Picks
It’s June and summertime for all intents and purposes. It’s hot as hell where I am, so of course, the rosé has been flowing. Yes, I drink rosé year-round (we love it for Thanksgiving), but there is something about summer and rosé when you see all of the new vintages hitting the shelves, not to mention the beach outings and pool-side sipping. Rosé just hits different in the summer. As I do every year, I participated in a blind tasting of American rosé wines hosted by The Drunken Cyclist and had to choose my favorites. From that, I created my own list of summer 2025 rosé wines. Photo Credit | The Drunken Cyclist. Clearly he has a bit more “leverage” than me! It’s not fair if it’s not blind! Ya gotta have a wine crew to get through this many wines!
- news
Who Knew That Meghan Sussex and I Had the Same Wine Taste
I’m one of those people that loves cooking and lifestyle shows - and sports. If they put it on Food Network, chances are, I’m going to watch it. I mean, they even got me to watch the Halloween-inspired “Last Bite Hotel” - which I loved! But, I didn’t have “With Love, Meghan” on my bingo card. I honestly didn’t even know about it. But then the internet blew up and the haters started hating, so I KNEW I was going to watch this show. But then I watched the second episode and it put me to sleep - twice. I was going to throw in the towel. But the more hate I read, the more determined I was to watch it. And you know what happened? But then she uncorked some wine and brought in Roy Choi for some fried chicken and I was all in! She just had to work out the kinks y’all! And hate all y'all want, but I'm going to try that single skillet spaghetti! And let me tell you, the Meghan Sussex wine game is strong! Meghan Sussex pouring one of my faves! Photo Credit | Netflix