Good Morning!

One of my favorite things in the whole wide world to do is travel. I love going to a new place and finding the food that the locals eat and find as many wine bars as possible. I find that if I try the local food most of the folks will share with me their favorite other local activities too.

Over the past year I have spent a lot of time all over the country, but I have had a project going on in San Antonio that keeps bringing me back to the Alamo city. First let me say, wine is really big in Texas. The largest grape growing appellation in the United States is located in the Texas Hill Country, just an hour drive from San Antonio or an hour from the Austin area. The food in San Antonio is Tex- Mex, (which is Mexican traditional foods, but made with local ingredients). But what is most unique to San Antonio is a puffy taco. I know it might sound funny, but the torilla is fried and it puffs up, then they fill it with the carne (meat) and lettuce and tomatoes…it is really good, but a bit greasy for me. I like the place called Henry’s Puffy Taco’s best, but these tacos are on most menus. The other food you must eat in San Antonio is mesquite smoked brisket…it is legendary and if you have the time and energy drive out to Salt Lick. I found the place through food network and Bobby Flay. AWESOME experience, the meat and environment is just plain amazing. The side dishes are good, but pile on the meat. They also have Texas wines to sample and buy to pair with your dinner.

After I hear about the local food, I want to find out about the wines. Texas has quite the amazing wine country. It’s heart is located in Fredericksburg, TX. I have spend many weeks up in Fredericksburg and tasted locally grown grapes and wine. Some of the wineries are just like being in Napa and Sonoma. Some of the wineries are very laid back and are no more than a barn with a tasting bar built in.

Back to wine bars in San Antonio, I have found several places with knowledgeable staff and wide selections of both Texas wines and wines from all over the US and the rest of the world. If you are in San Antonio and are down by the riverwalk, stop in and visit Zinc. The Riverwalk can be congested during all the conventions and everyone wants to sit by the water and drink Margarita’s. Zinc is just around the corner from the riverwalk and the Alamo. The vibe is fun and high energy and the Texas wine flights are fun to try.

If you are staying out closer to the airport, there are two great wine bars at the Quarry Market (Great shopping and dinning options at this shopping center) it is a lifestyle center, so you can walk around and shop. 29 Wine Bar and Max’s Wine Dive, both are must go places for me. If I want a more upscale meal with my wine I go to 29 Wine Bar. The wine glass light fixture as I walk in just looks so high end, but the place does not feel stuffy at all. Max’s Wine Dive is a great friendly place and the staff is so approachable. If you knew nothing about wine you would never feel intimidated. Fun, lively and a HUGE selection by the flight and by the bottle. Max’s is surrounded by glass and you can also sit outside and enjoy the warm weather. Casual food and it is great and affordable.

I just felt like telling you a bit about some great places within one of my favorite cities, next week I will be in Indianapolis, so I will let you know what I think about the wine bars there. If you are looking for wines from Texas you would like to try, find Becker, GrapeCreek, and Torre di Pietra. These wineries remind me most of Northern CA, their wines are estate bottled and the wines have great structure and with the intense heat from the summer these grapes have to be managed perfectly to create such great wines. Try them, you’ll like them!

Much LOVE and wine,

Tammi