by Russ Kane, wine writer, blogger and aficionado
www.vintagetexas.com

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo just completed their 2011 international wine competition that involved 1,789 wines from 591 wineries in Texas and around the world. As the holidays are times to share fine foods and wines with family and friends, I’d like to point your attention to two Texas winners:

Becker Vineyards Viognier 2009 (Texas), winner of the “triple crown”: Best Texas Wine, Class Champion, and Texas Class Champion. This is a dry aromatic white wine with jasmine-like floral essence and flavors of peach and apricot. Pair with roasted rosemary chicken or turkey (add some to gravy, too).

Texas Hills Vineyard Syrah 2009 (Texas Hill Country): Texas Class Champion. This wine has flavors of dark berries and red plums, hints of thyme and clove on the nose, and a light tannic structure. Pair with holiday favorites such as prime rib or pork roast.

If you’ve never tasted them, find out what Texas has to offer with these wines. To find a Texas winery, click here for an interactive map.

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Russ Kane has covered activities in the Texas wine industry for over a decade with articles in selected local and regional publications. He is currently blogging regularly at www.vintagetexas.com/blog.