• Texas wine winners: It was quite a competition for Brennan Vineyards in Commanche. The winery's 2007 viognier (white wines) and rose (pink wines) were Grand Star winners at the 2008 Lone Star International Wine competition. That means the wines were the best of the best in their categories. The complete list of winners is here.
• Say no to higher alcohol: I popped open a rose the other day, as the temperature reached 100 for the first time this summer. The wine was quite undrinkable, and I dumped it down the drain. The culprit, which I smelled as soon as the cork came off, was the alcohol level -- 14 percent is much too high for a pink wine. Rose is supposed to be refreshing, not hangover inducing. No need to mention the California winery; it knows who it is, and I hope it it knows better next time.
• Wine ice cream: And why not? It's a novelty in upstate New York -- and regulated by the state. Ice cream makers won't need a liquor license, according to a new law, but they can't sell to anyone under 21 and their products can't contain more than 5 percent alcohol.
Comments