Lisa’s blog

Congratulations to Jack Roseman for choosing the winning name for this most winning of events.  We gathered on the First Thursday of the June to hold the first ever “First Class Flights”.  The premise is this: for $10, you receive a “flight” of fine wine that you would not ordinarily get to sample without buying the entire bottle.  I’m not sure of the origin of the term “flight”, but in the wine world it is used to refer to small pours of wines grouped by region, flavor, or theme.  We kicked off our inaugural flight with a trip to Italy, via the Austin Wine Merchant.  We first tasted the Inama Soave Classico ‘06, a rich and velvety white wine from Veneto, then moved on to the Allegrini La Grola, from Valpolicella, and finished with the Damilano Lecinquevigne Barolo, from the Piedmont.  It was agreed by all that the “First Class Flight” was a lot of fun, very educational, a great value.  Join us on the first Thursday of each month, just send an RSVP to lisa@cliffordsoriginalwinebar.comCheers! 

Well, I have now seen everything.  Someone has stolen our dear peaches, just ripe and full and luscious and ready to be eaten, right off the tree. I know that a lot of you are thinking that a squirrel or deer must be the culprit, but I have seen both of those creatures’ handywork, and I would be very suprised if our own five fingered species isn’t at fault. Which means that some ONE stole my darn peaches.  That I’ve been watering, tending to, and caressing for the last two months.  Anyone who knows me knows that I’m going to make a HUGE deal out of this.  Even if purely for entertainment value.   Even if squirrels and deer really are the culprits, I’m going to make sure that if there’s a tiny chance that someone took my peaches, that they feel childish for their action!  Or at the very least, they come tell me, “Gee, I’m sorry, but it didn’t look like you were going to want to eat those mouth-wateringly ripe peaches.  And so I stole them”.  I’m telling you people: This aggression will not STAND! (name the movie?) I’m offering a reward of a glass of Villager to the person who can post the best story about what happened to my peaches. And if you took ‘em, oh, man, you better have a REAL darn good reason.  And be prepared to be shamed all over town as I spin this and all of the resulting conjectures into one big rumor floating around town about the Peach Scandal of 2008!   

BBQ cookoff and wine??  Only in Texas.  At long last, the Original Wine Club held its much anticipated BBQ cookoff.  Miss Jane chose a bubbling rose, a rose, and four red wines that, frankly, beat the pants off Lone Star when matched up with the culinary delights that the clubbies brought with them.  We sampled three briskets, two sausages, and several delightful side dishes and at the end of the day, agreed that this was one of the best Club classes yet.Wanna join the Club?  Take the Original Wine Basics class, then you’ll be able to sign up for any Club class you’d like.  Visit our website for upcoming classes.  

Well, Harlan Gibson did it again.  On Friday, he filled our tummies with the most amazing Tuscan feast.  There were 14 guests, and we started on the porch in the glowing honey sunset and sipped Prosecco (I know, but I had some difficulty finding Tuscan whites) and munched on Bruschetta.  Then we moved indoors for the amazing second course, Ravioli Nudi.  Basically the ravioli was a little ball of ricotta, butter, and sage that was rolled lightly in flour and boiled.  The flour became the most delicate outer layer and the raviolis were perfect with the Zenato Lugana.  For the main course, Harlan created amazing mashed canneli beans, braised greens, and a lightly peppered beefsteak that made everyone at the table moan with their first bite.  The Villa Antinori Super Tuscan was the PERFECT match, and I don’t think I talked at all during the main course, due to bliss overload.  For dessert, we had poached pears in Vin Santo and balsamic reduction with steaming coffee.  After dinner, we moved back outdoors to finish the last of the red wine.  Kudos, Harlan, and thanks for bringing a bit of the big city to Wimberley.

Another great weekend is over… or should I say, I have recovered from another great weekend.   Last Thursday, the Rotary came and put the art that they will be auctioning at their Gala on every flat surface, and we all wandered around, appreciating the wealth of local talent while drinking lovely wine.  Carrie Campbell and Rotary volunteers did an amazing job of planning a fun event and raising some money for their organization.  We just love it when groups like the Rotary ‘use’ our place for good parties! On Saturday, Harlan Gibson’s Supper Club (Pacific Northwest cuisine) graced us with the experience of having oysters and clams in Wimberley!  Wow, what a concept!  We sat on the porch and had shellfish with Hedges Cellars’ CMS, then moved inside for a wild mushroom salad (that they had to pry away from me) with Foris Pinot Noir, glazed salmon with quinoa tabouleh that was ridiculously sumptuous, especially with the Bethel Heights’ Pinot Noir.  We finished with a dessert sampler of coffee themed goodies: espresso gelato, cappuccino shooter, and mocha biscotti.  To say it was amazing is an understatement. Sunday was another great day, started off with Miss Jane’s class “Riesling Rocks!” and learned that, indeed, it does.  We tasted six Rieslings, from dry (yes, Riesling can be dry!) to sweet and, as usual, laughed ourselves silly.It was also Rodney’s birthday, so we piled up on the porch nestled in the hills and the setting sun and just enjoyed the heck out of another gorgeous springtime in Wimberley.