Articles about TexSom 2012

Chalk Talk: Interview with Fredrik Osterberg of Pedernales Cellars

posted by Andrew Chalk | August 25th, 2012 11:27am | filed under Andrew Chalk, Texas Wine, TexSom 2012 |

At Texsom 2012, Pedernales Cellars from Stonewall Texas provided some of the wine and the winery President, Fredrik Osterberg, gave a few moments for an interview.

Report From TexSom 2012: Photos From Closing Ceremonies

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 15th, 2012 8:58am | filed under AgriBusiness, GO TEXAN, Sommeliers are people too, TexSom 2012 |

Co-founders and Master Sommliers Drew Hendrick's and James Tidwell; Peter Stolpman of Stolpman Vineyards pours to tasters. (Photography by Desiree Espada)

Monday night TexSom celebrated the success of this year’s international wine conference with a grand tasting and awards ceremony event at The Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas. Andrew Chalk was there and so was our eagle-eyed photographer Desiree Espada. Hayley Hamilton reports on the wine represented. Andrew has run out of words (“Food was great. Wines were stunning”), so we’ll let Desiree’s pictures tell the story. Congrats to organizers, co-founders, and Master Sommeliers Drew Hendricks and James Tidwell.

Continue reading "Report From TexSom 2012: Photos From Closing Ceremonies"

TexSom International Grand Tasting…The Best Wine Ticket in Town

posted by Hayley Hamilton | August 14th, 2012 5:17pm | filed under TexSom 2012, Wine & Spirits | 1 Comment »

We give a lot of props to the TEXSOM conference, and we should.  It is the only one of its kind in the country bringing brilliant wine minds together for a few days of teaching, drinking, learning and laughing, all while some of our finest Sommeliers in the state compete to see who is the best.

In addition to the fun, the conference (which is open every year to anyone who has an interest in wine not just those in the wine trade) ends their events with the International Grand Tasting and Best Sommelier in Texas Awards Ceremony.  Nancy noted earlier that the winner for the best Som in Texas went to the talented Ryan Tedder.  His announcement came about a hour into this grand tasting last night, and grand it was. Continue reading "TexSom International Grand Tasting…The Best Wine Ticket in Town"

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What To Drink Now: Bordeaux Red

posted by Hayley Hamilton | August 14th, 2012 2:25pm | filed under TexSom 2012, Wine & Spirits | 2 Comments »

Though not the first winemakers in the world, the French are incomparably the best, particularly for their velvety, slightly tannic, intensely aromatic and flavor filled wine of the exquisite French terroir in Bordeaux.  There is a reason why winemakers across the world desire to make a classic Bordeaux style blend, dominated by Left Bank or Right Bank varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, respectively) and, if referring to a Bordeaux, the wine is a blend of a percentage of both often with the addition of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and sometimes Carmenere.

Names like Chateau Lafite, Haut-Brion and Chateau Margaux reign as kings of the industry, thanks to the impeccable soil these Bordeaux grapes thrive in and the highly regulated standards the French government has set for their wine. Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Bordeaux Red"

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Report From TexSom 2012: Ryan Tedder of FT33 Named Texas’ Best Sommelier

posted by Nancy Nichols | August 14th, 2012 8:44am | filed under Champagne is the new Chardonnay, mob scenes, TexSom 2012, youthful spontaneous restaurants | 2 Comments »

Ryan Tedder (center with big bottle of wine) is named Texas' Best Sommlier. Group hug flanked by Drew Hendrick's (left) and James Tidwell (right). Geoff Kruth, MS from the Guild of Sommeliers andFred Dame, MS with the Guild.Not a mixologist in the room.

The Texas Sommelier Association’s 8th annual international wine conference at Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas ended last night. The closing ceremonies included the announcement that Ryan Tedder of FT33 Restaurant in Dallas is Texas’ Best Sommelier. The Texas’ Best Sommelier Competitions is run behind the scenes  during the two-day conference organized by co-founders and Master Sommeliers Drew Hendricks and James Tidwell.

While wine experts gather for seminars on wide-ranging topics on wine, twenty-two sommeliers compete in a rigorous three-part wine examination involving service, blind tasting, and theory. The winner is picked by an elite panel of Master Sommelier judges.

Last night Ryan Tedder was the winning sommelier. Tedder has sniffed and swirled at Stephan Pyles and most recently Grace in Fort Worth. Tedder has joined Matt McCallister’s merry band of forward-thinking culinary rebels gathered together to open FT33 in the Design District this fall. Tedder received a scholarship of $2,500 from the Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation to be used for a Court of Master Sommeliers certification program. David Keck of Uchi Restaurant Group in Houston was the second runner up and will receive a $1,500 scholarship from the Guild, and the 3rd place winner Steve Murphey of Mid-Stage Wine & Liquor in Plano will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Additionally, the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, California will be offering scholarships to all three top placers.

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Report From TexSom 2012: New Zealand Wines Go Beyond Sauvignon Blanc

posted by Andrew Chalk | August 13th, 2012 3:55pm | filed under Andrew Chalk, TexSom 2012 |

At TexSom, the international wine conference going on today at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Irving, we just tasted a stunning flight of wines from New Zealand. One of the most interesting things about the selection made by Cameron Douglas, MS and co-presenter Andrew McNamara, MS was the range of grape varieties. New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs is a big seller in Dallas, and the country’s Chardonnay is picking up as well, but this tasting also included Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, Malbec, Pinot Gris, and Riesling from the land of the Kiwis.

A 2010 Greywacke ‘Wild’ Sauvignon Blanc ($30) from the Marlborough area is flying off local shelves. It is a classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with bright acidity and a herbaceous nose. This label is one to watch. Owner Kevin Judd was the winemaker who put Cloudy Bay on the map. The 2009 Villa Maria “Taylor’s Pass Vineyard” Chardonnay, also from Marlborough ($18), was partly (17%) aged in new French oak. It showed in the taste but not in a negative sense. As they say in the industry, the oak was well integrated into the wine. This wine also came across as soft and voluptuous in the mouth by virtue of having been through a secondary fermentation, malolactic fermentation a process that converts malic acid (the acid found in green apples) to softer lactic acid.

Surprise below. Continue reading "Report From TexSom 2012: New Zealand Wines Go Beyond Sauvignon Blanc"

Report From TexSom 2012: A Star From Bordeaux

posted by Andrew Chalk | August 13th, 2012 11:00am | filed under Andrew Chalk, Texas Sommelier Conference, TexSom 2012 | 1 Comment »

Andrew Chalk filed this report yesterday.

It is 9:30am on Sunday morning so I am doing what any rational person would be doing: tasting wine from  Bordeaux. The French wine region, in many people’s opinion the most prestigious wine region in the world, produces wines that cost from a few dollars up to over $1,500 a bottle. At Texsom, the annual international wine conference held at The Four Seasons Resort and Club in Irving, I am sitting in room filled with wine experts and listening to two Master Sommeliers as they take us through a tasting of eight wines chosen as good examples of  middle price range ($20-$100) wine. The quality of the wines was high but I would like to report one of those wines that absolutely blew me away for its likability.

Jump for the joy from Bordeaux. Continue reading "Report From TexSom 2012: A Star From Bordeaux"

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Report From TexSom 2012: “For Sale In Texas Only” Label on Wine Bottles Misleads Consumers

posted by Andrew Chalk | August 13th, 2012 10:30am | filed under Andrew Chalk, Texas Sommelier Conference, Texas Wine, TexSom 2012, Uncategorized | 7 Comments »

photo from Vinotology.com

Yesterday I attended TexSom, the international wine conference held at The Four Seasons Resort and Club in Irving. At lunch I was seated at the same table with a woman named Lindsay (last name redacted) who runs a restaurant in Austin. She tells our table that buying local is critical in Austin. “Chains just don’t survive,” she said referring to restaurants.  I asked her whether the same spirit translated into consumer wine choices. After all, Austin is in the center of the Hill Country AVA (American Viticultural Area). “They don’t give a sh*t,” she shot back. Austin is weird. They love their local food movement, but apparently their aren’t many “vine huggers” in the area. Dees this mean Texas wine is lacking some credibility?

Oh you must go below to know. Continue reading "Report From TexSom 2012: “For Sale In Texas Only” Label on Wine Bottles Misleads Consumers"

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TexSom Conference Kicks Off at Four Seasons Resort and Club in La Colinas

posted by Andrew Chalk | August 11th, 2012 1:23pm | filed under Andrew Chalk, Texas Sommelier Conference, TexSom 2012, Wine Pairing | 1 Comment »

I am at The Four Seasons Resort and Club in Irving attending a day of pre-program events centered around TexSom. TexSom is the best DFW-area wine conference of the year. TexSom Conference and the Texas’ Best Sommelier Competition were founded by James Tidwell MS, CWE, Beverage Manager at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in La Colinas; Drew Hendricks MS, CWE, Director of Beverage Education for Pappas Restaurants in Houston; and Guy Stout MS, CWE, with Glazer’s Distributors.

Next to me is a guy who works in wine retail who has come in all the way from Sylmar, California. On the stage is a speaker from New Zealand and two others from New York. The latter pair are with the Culinary Institute of America, so they are expert teachers as well as knowing their subject matter. Continue reading "TexSom Conference Kicks Off at Four Seasons Resort and Club in La Colinas"

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TexSom 2012: Court of Master Sommeliers Introductory Sommelier Course

posted by Nancy Nichols | July 26th, 2012 3:43pm | filed under Sommeliers are people too, TexSom 2012 |


Would you like a chance to fill your life-long dream of becoming a Master Sommelier? Then you must contact this nice lady, Kathleen Lewis, and she’ll get you on your way. Here is what she’s got:

Spaces have become available for the 2-day Introductory Sommelier Course prior to TEXSOM in Las Colinas. The Program Dates: August 10, 2012 through August 11, 2012
Please note, three years in the service industry is recommended to register for the program.The 2-day course is offered as a prelude to TEXSOM by the Court of Master Sommeliers and will be hosted at the Four Seasons Resort and Club. Please visit the Court of Master Sommeliers website to register, http://www.mastersommeliers.org

For those of you who do not wish to register for the Court of Master Sommeliers, you may prefer this one. Rock on, fire witches.

The 8th Annual Texas Sommelier Conference: Registration is Open!

posted by Nancy Nichols | May 17th, 2012 9:20am | filed under AgriBusiness, Booze News, Bring it!, GO TEXAN, Texas Sommelier Conference, TexSom 2012, Wine & Spirits, Wine Pairing | 1 Comment »

The dates for one of the area’s most interesting events is set. On August 12- 13, the Four Seasons Resort & Club Dallas at Las Colinas will host the 8th Annual Texas Sommelier Conference. The three-day conference includes educational sessions, wine tastings, and social media workshops. The 2011 TexSom conference featured the largest contingent of Master Sommeliers at a public event. This year should be no different. However, you don’t have to be any kind of sommelier to buy a seat.  Some of the names you can rub shoulders with include:

Scheduled Master Sommeliers include James Tidwell, Drew Hendricks, Wayne Belding, Brett Zimmerman, Guy Stout, Tim Gaiser, Laura Williamson, Keith Goldston, Nate Ready, Melissa Monosoff, Brian Cronin, Cameron  Douglas, John Szabo, Geoff Kruth, Laura DePasquale, Jay Fletcher, Andrew McNamara, Peter Neptune and Greg Harrington. The speaker lineup also includes James Beard Award Winners Rajat Parr and Paul Grieco, Master of wine Christy Canterbury, wine marketer Paul Wagner, Union Square Hospitality Group Wine Director John Ragan, and Leonetti Cellar Owner Chris Figgins.

The seminar topics, times, and various ticket prices are listed below. For more information or to register, click here. Like, fast. Continue reading "The 8th Annual Texas Sommelier Conference: Registration is Open!"

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