The "Spirits" of Texas

Last Saturday we took a leisurely trip to the Hill Country in New Braunfels, Texas. Located about 30 minutes from San Antonio, New Braunfels is a beautiful nature-based town where you can go hiking, take a ride down the Guadalupe River on a raft, explore the historic town of Gruene and visit several vineyards. We went for a wine tasting at Dry Comal Creek Vineyards. I had heard that Texas wines are good but I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the wines we were able to sample from Dry Comal Creek. I enjoy dry white wines and their Sauvignon Blanc was pretty tasty. They also make a FABULOUS sangria from their house wine that is served frozen, like a slushy. It's delicious and will be made in the Williams Family Home. If you are interested in making it yourself, here is the recipe:


Thanks to drycomalcreek.com....

6 oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate plus
1 can of water
6 oz. can frozen limeade concentrate plus
1 can of water
1 liter Hill Country Fair grapefruit soda (chilled) (found at HEB) 1 bottle Dry Comal Creek Foot Pressed Table Wine
DIRECTIONS:
Blend frozen limeade and orange juice with water. Add Foot Pressed Table Wine. Add chilled Hill Country Fair grapefruit soda and freeze until slushy, then serve. Garnish with orange
(You can substitute the HEB grapefruit soda with Sam's Club Sparkling Water in one of the citrus flavors.)

We loved the vineyard and will definitely be back. They also have a grape stomping festival every year where the patrons stomp the grapes used for their foot pressed wine! All the participants get their name on the back of the bottles for that year. We will be participating in 2010 for SURE!


The grapes for the year have already been harvested but I'm determined to see them on the vines next year.

Award Winning Wines!

I wish I had gotten the name of our wine server. He was really nice and is moving to China today so he won't be there when we return:(

Ricky has mentioned for a while that he wanted to visit the Flying Saucer--a bar and restaurant known for it's fabulous selection of imported beers.

We ventured out to the San Antonio location with some new friends including my pals Dr. Norma, the pediatric dentist and Dr. Nandini the fabulous pediatrician from our sister clinic in Pleasanton. You can join the UFO club (Ricky did, of course) and receive a personalized swipe card to keep track of all the beers you drink. Once you reach 200, your name is put on a golden saucer (a plate, not a cute small UFO like I was envisioning at first) and you get a party hosted at the Flying Saucer where you complete your grand task. On our first trip Ricky had two beers so he's still got 198 to go! Thanks to Garrett for suggesting the Allagash White! I really like it and I'm not the world's biggest beer drinker.

Ricky worked intently filling out his UFO application.

This is blurry, sorry, but it's the wall of "Flying Saucers", patrons who have completed their entire beer menu!

I am currently working on plans for when my parents visit us in December. If they are interested, we'll be going to see the Lion King--On Broadway at the Majestic Theater in San Antonio. If they aren't interested, Ricky and I will be going together for sure! I've heard great reviews about it for years and have ALWAYS wanted to go. If any other Texas have suggestions, I'll gladly take them.