When I was asked by Freixenet to spend a week in Barcelona (and surrounding Penedès) learning about Cava, I immediately started packing.   My friends all know that I have a huge weakness for sparkling wine.  When they are all ordering martinis or gin and tonics, I am ordering Champagne, Prosecco or Cava – basically anything with bubbles.

Sure I know that Cava is a value sparkling wine, but that is just the start of the journey.  This was the “Earth to Effervescence Trip in Penedès”.

The first day was a vineyard tour where I learned the best vineyards for Cava are protected by the Montserrat Mountains.  These mountains are not extremely high, but do offer protection from the elements.  Cava primarily utilizes the native Spanish grapes of Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada although they are now allowed some Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Dan Aykroyd visits Twin Liquors in Austin, Texas to sign bottles of Crystal Head Vodka. Thanks to our customers and Twin Liquors staff for making this an incredible event! Stay tuned to twinliquors.com for more fantastic events.

by Duke Egbert

      “Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake.”
                --William Claude Dunkenfield, better known as W.C. Fields

    Spring is here in full bore, rapidly rolling downhill towards the unflinching light and heat of a Texas summer. Last month’s interesting moments for your faithful correspondent included adding ‘snake wrangler’ to my Twin Liquors business card. Turns out we had a baby Texas garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis annectens, for the scientific-minded) lurking under one of our geranium planters here at the Galleria. Being the heroic type I am, I removed it. (We had a customer who was refusing to leave the store until it was gone.) After that brush with nature, I needed a long, cool drink. In fact, in most circumstances this time of year cool drinks sound like a good idea – but what about enjoying a mixed drink made with beer?

I’m going to geek out a little here!  I was invited to “cover” a wine tasting event for the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas. Apparently they needed a female blogger to meet with a female winemaker. Well, when I heard it was Ms. Laurence Feraud from Domaine du Pegau, I immediately accepted.

I love to paint a picture…