This one will sell out fast, folks. If you and your honey love beautiful places, incredible food and wine, and romantic music as the backdrop to your evening, you're in luck: Hotel Saint Cecilia is planning a very special Valentine's Day event, and you're invited. more ›

After conquering its quest to deliver the ultimate full service movie going experience, Alamo Drafthouse is venturing into unchartered territory with a recently announced signature line of wines. more ›

With an expert blend of humor, romance, fun and booze, the Alamo Drafthouse is hosting a Princess Bride Quote Along Feast in honor of Valentine’s Day and will simultaneously roll out their new signature line of wine. more ›

When the Alamo Drafthouse announced that noted mixologist Bill Norris had joined their team as beverage director this summer, it seemed obvious that he'd take the cocktail menus at Alamo Ritz and The Highball to a new level. What was less certain was how the Alamo would employ Norris' knowledge in their many venues without a hard liquor license. This week brings us a perfect example of what Norris and Chef John Bullington have been concocting. more ›

A mainstay of the Austin fall event calendar, next week marks the return of the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas' Big Reds and Bubbles event at The Driskill Hotel. This year's bash will be held on Thursday, November 17 from 6:30-9:30pm.

As we explained last year, the idea for the event is simple: as the holiday season approaches, sparkling wine and heavy reds become the focus of one's wine purchases during the holiday season. So why not sample the best wines in current release and decide what is worth the cash? more ›

In this Internet age, censorship isn’t much of a going concern in America. Yet, things were different in this country back when cars had a rumble seat, a lady never went out without her gloves and telephones still plugged into the wall. more ›

For over two decades, the Austin Museum of Art has hosted one of the true highlights of the fall gala event season. La Dolce Vita is now 22, and while the wines, foods, and entertainers are ever-changing, the event's star attraction is the Laguna Gloria settling. To put it plainly, the scope of this event is far larger that most sip-and-stroll tastings, with clusters of restaurants, wine tables, entertainment stages, and cocktail lounges spread throughout the vast and beautiful museum grounds. Attendance is always high, but there's so much to do, see, and eat that it can actually be challenging to get to all of it in the allotted three hours. more ›

Since our tastes veer toward the New World, we don't generally purchase or order Italian wine. The Lucente surprised on a number of counts - namely due to the wine's mix of old-world heritage and New World flavor profiles. The Merlot-based blend gets a rustic touch from the Sangiovese and some big red cherry flavors and aromatics from the 15% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. The wine has a bit of earthiness, but not much - the 12 months of French oak round it out quite a bit. more ›

There's nothing better after a long day at the office than hitting up a favorite restaurant for a happy hour deal. Luckily Austin has two more great after work options now that Haddington's and The Backspace have commenced with some new (and pretty epic) happy hours. more ›

While Tour de Vin has been a fall staple of Austin's wine calendar for years, the ninth edition might prove unrecognizable to attendees later this week. For starters, the longtime venue of Whole Foods Rooftop has been switched to the swanky confines of the W Hotel Austin - which will certainly have better air conditioning. The event's running time has also been extended to three hours. more ›

On Wednesday, September 14th, Fonda San Miguel will begin their fall 2011 event season with a tasting dinner pairing the North Loop stalwart's interior Mexican dishes with Sonoma's Copain Wines. Copain Wine Cellars is a highly regarded, low-production 'cult' winery that focuses on Syrah and Pinot Noir, and also dabbles in Viognier and Rosé. Eric Asimov of the New York Times is a fan, as is the Emperor Of Wine Robert Parker. In spite of this, you can still pick up a bottle of Copain's entry-level wines for around $20, so they're well worth exploring. more ›

Whether at The Driskill Grill, Uchi, or Uchiko, if you've done some fine dining in Austin, June Rodil has probably stopped by your table to talk about wine. Now reunited with Chef David Bull at Second Bar + Kitchen and Congress, Ms. Rodil is currently serving as the beverage director for the Congress Avenue triple threat. Having been named Texas' best sommelier in 2009 by the Texas Sommelier Association, Rodil is continuing to work toward a coveted Master Sommelier designation while also cultivating quite a wine list at Congress. She recently spoke to us about wine trends, spirits, and which wines are in fact her favorite children. more ›

Adam Lee is one of California's most esteemed Pinot Noir and Syrah winemakers, but he's not a West Coast native. Mr. Lee was born and raised right here in Austin, and is a graduate of Trinity University. Before decamping for California in the early 1990's, Lee worked as a salesperson and manager of the former Austin Wine & Spirits before moving on to a wine buyer role at Neiman Marcus in Dallas. At that job, he met his wife Dianna (who is still Lee's winemaking partner), and the two pooled their savings to move to California and start a winery - truly the stuff of legend. Over the past 15 years, the pair have produced literally hundreds of 90+ wines under the Siduri and Novy labels. Both Lees visit Central Market on Monday evening to host a tasting dinner, so we called Adam recently to discuss his thoughts on winemaking, Austin, and the best story he's ever heard over a glass of Pinot. more ›

Taco Time Shift: The often amazing El Naranjo has elected to close for lunch indefinitely due to the heat. A staffer on site told us that the 100+ degree days simply deflated the lunch business to the point where it wasn't sensible to open. Dinner hours are still in effect, though the trailer will be closed on July 4th for the holiday. The staffer also mentioned that construction on the permanent El Naranjo storefront is scheduled to begin "in a few weeks" and that the trailer will likely move to another spot nearby during construction. more ›

About this time of year, we start to daydream about escaping to someplace where the temperature never climbs above 84 degrees, the wine is plentiful, and people buzz around on scooters waving "Ciao" to one another. Maybe a trip to the Amalfi Coast is in your budget (jerks), but it's certainly not in ours. Luckily Aviary Lounge is offering the chance to send your mouth on a mini Italian vacation with their Cork Dork Night, featuring six Italian wines paired with snacks. more ›

Perhaps Austin's best-kept fine dining secret, The Carillon is primarily known for both their forward-thinking chef Josh Watkins (formerly of The Driskill Grill) and their New American cuisine, which earned them a four-star review from the Austin American-Statesman. Next week, Watkins will switch gears and throw a curveball of a dinner - he'll be cooking with Spanish accents and pairing the results with Spanish wines from Vinaio Imports. more ›

Yet more proof that Austin is becoming another haven for foodies: The International Association of Culinary Professionals is holding its annual conference in town June 1-4. You can bet your stemware that the focus will be on our state’s bounty of wines, food, and chefs. One soiree you don’t want to miss is the Edible Texas Wine Food Match, a nonprofit event produced by Edible Austin and The Texas Food and Wine Gourmet.com, taking place on Friday, June 3 in the AT&T Executive Conference Center’s Tejas Room. more ›

Central Market's N. Lamar wine expert Seth Pollard has been battling cancer, and like so many, his medical bills have mounted up. Friends of Pollard's from the food and wine community have taken matters into their own hands with a fun and family-friendly benefit to be held Saturday at The Scoot Inn. Guests can feast on apps from StrEat, Andiamo, Max's Wine Dive, and Cantina Laredo, sample drinks from Ben E. Keith Distributors, and view silent auction items, with all proceeds going to bills from Pollard's post-cancer stem cell therapy. more ›

If you were considering a last-minute walk up to this weekend's Sunday Fair event ending the Texas Hill Country Wine + Food Festival, think again: tickets have sold out completely. For those attending the event, festival organizers have sent word that on-street parking will not be allowed in the Rainey Street area on Sunday - free parking will be available at lots on Red River & Driskill and Red River & Cesar Chavez. When those lots fill, parking will be redirected to the $8 Austin Convention Center lot at Red River & 5th Street. There will also be limited valet parking at the M.A.C.C. for $20. If you missed out on Sunday tickets, please note that door tickets will be available for the other big gala of the festival, tonight's Live Fire event at TDS Game Ranch featuring Franklin Barbecue, La Condesa, Lambert's, and The Salt Lick. more ›

One of the best benefits of Austin's hosting the Texas Hill Country Wine + Food Festival is the rare opportunity to chat with winemakers from around the world. Hailing from the Paso Robles area of California, the team behind Hope Family Wines has been a notable presence in recent years, introducing Texan foodies to their (admittedly large) portfolio of family-grown wines at a variety of prices. Head winemaker Austin Hope doesn't hail from Texas, but his relative youth and laid-back manner have made our town a second home for him. A frequent visitor for wine dinners and tastings, Hope's brands will be showcased at several THCWFF events, including Stars Across Texas, Live Fire!, Big Dog Reds and Sunday Fair. more ›

Don't bother going out to a restaurant on the evening of Thursday, March 31. The Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival is stealing away our state's 25 best chefs for its annual Stars Across Texas Classic tasting event, taking place at the Long Center. The night will be headlined by John Besh, who recently brought his acclaimed southern Louisiana-style cuisine to Texas in his newest restaurant, Lüke River Walk in San Antonio. To give you an idea of how top-notch the evening's food promises to be, Chef Besh received the James Beard Award for Best Chef of the Southeast, which is basically the food equivalent of an Oscar. Oh, also? He beat Mario Batali for the title of "Iron Chef America." more ›

Though the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival focuses on our state, after the twentieth tasting of wine from a local vineyard, you may start to wonder what else the world has to offer. And when you do, the festival has you covered.Australia Unleashed : Fine Wines and Rogue Cookery at the Whole Foods Market Culinary Center on Saturday, April 2nd is presented by Andrew Dwyer, a chef, cookbook author, and television personality who has garnered attention for his elegant yet unexpected dishes that are all created while trekking through the Outback. more ›

When you think of winemakers here in the U.S., most likely your mind conjures images of sun-drenched Napa Valley or Sonoma in Northern California. And hey, we don't blame you. But do you realize that we in Austin live so very close to some gorgeous vineyards in Texas Wine Country? If you've never experienced the impressive variety of wines that Texas has to offer, you might consider attending the Texas Wine and Food Festival's Spotlight on Texas Wines and Winemakers event.
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Wine enthusiasts and meat connoisseurs alike will delight at Star Power, a celebrity-powered event under the stars at the AT&T Conference Center Courtyard on Saturday, April 2nd. Actor Kyle MacLachlan (of Desperate Housewives, Sex in the City, Twin Peaks and Blue Velvet) will be serving up his fantastically fruity small-production Cabernet Sauvignon blend, whimsically named Pursued by Bear, in coordination with a five course dinner presented by an all-star cast of celebrity chefs. more ›

Austinist is proud to once again work as a media partner with the Texas Hill Country Wine + Food Festival. On Tuesday, festival organizers announced the event lineup and immediately placed tickets on sale. Before going any further, it's worth noting that there's currently a 26% early bird discount on Sunday Fair tickets, so you might want to head to the ticketing site today and buy a pair before they run out, as the discount is limited to the first 500 buyers. more ›

On Monday night, the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival will announce the lineup for their 26th year. Tickets for over two dozen events will go on sale on Tuesday, February 8th to the public. For now, the event lineup is a secret, but festival president Cathy Cochran-Lewis emailed us the following tidbit this morning: "Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival saw the need to create the nation’s ultimate beef event, and what better place to do that than in Texas? A dozen chefs from across the country will host the first annual Live Fire! Event vying for beef supremacy and master of the flame bragging rights. The festival’s newest signature event will include live fire cooking at the famed TDS Exotic Game Ranch on Friday, April 1. Reigning Cochon 555 NYC champion Brad Farmerie, Beard finalist and Thai-food wizard Andy Ricker from Portland, and a slew of Austin’s hottest chefs will take fire to meat for a one-of-a-kind, flame-and-smoke party. Tickets will go on sale Feb. 8 for $75, and only 400 tickets will be available." more ›

Since opening last summer, Burnet Road's La Sombra has become a popular (yet somehow under-the-radar) spot for Rosedale and Hyde Park neighbors. The restaurant specializes in the cuisine of Central and South America, and they're not phoning it in: Executive Chef Julio-Cesar Florez is a native of Lima, Peru. To that end, dishes such as empanadas, cebiches, and tiraditos are par for the course, as are an assortment of grilled meats and South American wines. more ›

This weekend, Dripping Springs residents will have a new watering hole for craft beers. The Barber Shop Brewpub has announced a soft opening starting on Saturday. The tap selection reflects the recent Central Texas craft brew explosion, with two offerings from Jester King, three from Real Ale (including Coffee Porter), and two from Independence. The bar will also serve American craft brew favorites like Sierra Nevada and Deschutes. If patrons need something to do while drinking, darts and a domino table are also close at hand. There is even a custom bar menu done with neighbor The Goodnight Diner to allow bar-goers to order in from down the street. The Barber Shop Brewpub is located at 207 Mercer Street in Dripping Springs, and hours vary by day. Check their website for additional info. more ›

Why We Love It: This wine is a big red pop-and-pour special. Despite the wine's youth, it is round and ready to drink from the first minute. It has 18 months of oak, so the flavor profile is new world and quite ripe, with plum and blueberry flavors in addition to the expected vanilla and toasty oak. This is a fantastic winter wine, and represents a solid value in California Cabernet, which can be notoriously pricey. Alexander Valley Cabernets tend to also have a drier, more savory profile than their Napa counterparts, so while this is certainly ripe and fruit-forward, we wouldn't call it jammy. In sum - it's a crowd pleaser just right for cold weather. more ›

In late 2007, CIA-trained chef Shawn Cirkiel did something a little crazy - he opened an upscale restaurant on East 6th Street - then a culinary Siberia of downtown. Three years later, with parkside a fixture of downtown's upscale dining scene, Cirkiel is branching out...about half a block out. His new restaurant, the backspace, is styled after a casual Italian neighborhood bar, and serves Italian wine and beer, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, salads, cheese plates, and antipasto. We recently sat down with Chef Cirkiel during a quiet moment at parkside to discuss the new restaurant, Austin's evolving food scene, and the local culinary community. more ›