Lisa’s blog

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.

News and Views article for May 2008

Last Friday night, after a delectable Tuscan feast (prepared by the incomparable Harlan Gibson), a friend of mine was helping me dry wine glasses and noticed that the large crystal glass he was holding was a bit different that our everyday wine glasses.  Specifically, he looked at me and said, “This glass seems different than the rest… what is it for?” To which I replied, “That, my friend, is a Riedel.”

(I next admitted that the following information has been quite beneficial to no more than eleven generations of Riedels, and like any overly nuanced product, should be appreciated with curiosity and good humor instead of religious fervor that will make you want to go out and spend your savings on stemware!)  But as a proud Bohemian, I do enjoy interesting glassware, especially when said glassware contains my favorite liquid.

Riedel wine glasses are unique because they have been created with the precise aromatic qualities and palates of specific grape varietals in mind.  More simply, if you like Chardonnay, there is a special glass shaped specifically to deliver the aroma molecules to the precise section of your tongue that will optimize the enjoyment of the wine.  Like Riesling? Montepulciano? Burgundy?  Riedel has got you covered, with a dizzying array of specially designed wine glasses for dozens of different wines.

According to the company’s website, the Riedel family began making glass in the 17^th century when the knowledge of the glassmaking process migrated from the Near East to Venice to Bohemia, following the timberlines for the wood that literally fueled the fires used in the process. 

Today the family run business operates from Kufstein, Austria, and their glassware is sold worldwide.  If you enjoy fine wines, I encourage you to experiment with a few Riedel glasses.  I have begun using them for our weekly wine tastings, so I welcome you to stop by and give them a try yourself. And if you’re interested in wine in general, I highly recommend a visit to the Riedel website (www.riedel.com) to learn more than you ever dreamed of about the world of tasting wine! Cheers and enjoy!

Last night I held a staff meeting for the folks that you see wielding wine here at Clifford’s.  I just want to leave a little note telling all of you how hard these guys work for all of us.  In addition to being reliable and honorable, they are all fun, artistic, intelligent and friendly.  So, kudos and big thanks to Amanda, Chantelle, Isaac, Jen, Jon, and Kim.  Love y’all!

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.