Thank you so much to the good folks at Edible Austin for a taking an interest in Stone House. Come and see us again anytime!

http://www.edibleaustin.com/content/editorial/editorial/739?task=view

As this year’s award season winds down, we think it’s only fitting that the wine named for our amazing owner Angela would be recognized, and by one of the largest, most respected wine competitions in the US.

This, the 32nd year for the competition, was the largest on record for the San Francisco-based judging, with over 4,500 wines submitted from 26 states and 29 countries. The judging panel consisted of nearly 50 wine experts, including sommeliers, wine writers, and consultants, among others.

We are so thrilled for the honor!

Our newly released Claros 2010 received a Silver Medal, as did our 2010 Riesling!

The Lone Star International Wine Competition is hosted every year by the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association. Their judges assess almost 600 wines in over 30 categories. They have both a Texas Wine Competition, which features wines that are at least 75% volume from Texas grapes, such as our Claros, which is 100% Texas grown, and an International Competition.

We are so proud of our wines and, as always, are thrilled to see others embrace them – and this time by local, Texas judges. Thank you to the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association for the recognition!

We were so excited to hear Jacque would be taking our wine on her trip, we told her we wanted to hear all the details when she returned, and she graciously obliged us.

One stop included a visit with friends at their flat in Gorgonzola, just outside Milan. After enjoying a couple bottles of Claros, Jacque’s friend Rita insisted Jacque bring more with her on her next visit. I think it’s safe to say they enjoyed it!

Another stop included a dinner at an old enoteca in Lucca. The owner, who spent more than twenty years as a wine buyer, was beyond impressed with our humble Claros. Two for two!

Finally, a stay at a beautiful villa in Chianti. The owner of Querceto, Lara, thought the Claros was amazing and also asked for additional bottles from Jacque on her next trip.

Sounds like our Texas wine was a hit all over Italy! And as a place that knows a thing or two about wine, we can’t help but feel a little proud.

Endless thanks to Jacque for her continued support of Stone House. We are so honored she chose our wine to share with her friends across the globe! And we loved hearing how it was received. Thank you again from everyone at Stone House!

(PS – We hear a trip to Ireland is in the works. Can’t wait to hear all about it.)

This is great for Stone House. This California-based competition is one of the larger, more prestigious competitions in the United States. Over the past 30 years, Riverside has strived to bring attention to the world’s best wines, including wine styles and regions that can go unnoticed – like the Norton, perhaps!

This year, nearly 50 judges tasted almost 2,000 wines from all over the world and awarded their favorites. We are honored and thankful for the recognition!

The Pacific Rim International Wine Competition has been judging the world’s best wines since 1985. For two days, 30 well-respected wine professionals hold a blind tasting of over 2,000 wines in just five hotly contested categories: Best Red Wine, Best White Wine, Best Rose Wine, Best Sparkling Wine, and Best Dessert Wine. An overall Grand Champion is also named.

This year we are very happy to say that our Scheming Beagle Port was awarded a Silver Medal and that Angela’s Wish received a Silver Medal, too.

Thank you to the judges at Pacific Rim for the honor!

The 2009 Survivor (Grenache/Shiraz blend), Barossa, won a Silver Medal, as did the 2010 Wild Ferment Riesling, Eden Valley.

We are also so proud that our very own estate wine, the 2009 Claros, was awarded a Gold Medal!

Over 1700 wines from around the world were judged by wine makers, writers, consultants, and sommeliers from all over California. We are all so happy for the honor and for the recognition of the all the hard work it takes producing these wonderful wines.

Come out to the winery Friday, March 16th, for The Perfect Toasted Panini to enjoy with your favorite Stone House wine. Choose between Rosemary Ham, Mozzarella, and Arugula or White Pesto, Tomato, Roasted Peppers, and Roasted Red Onion. They’re $12 each and come with easier fruit or salad.

And we’ll be open an extra hour, 12 – 6, so hope to see you there!

Is that the Claros we see in the bottom right, next to the red cup?

Last fall, Appellation America, a leading online source for information about the wine industry, decided it was time they became more familiar with “the wild vine.” It was an endeavor we were more than happy to participate in.

First, writer Catherine Seda put together a great, brief history on the truly interesting grape that is Norton. Check it out if you’ve ever wanted to know more about Norton, or if you’re just a fan of wine history.

http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-review/751/Norton-Grape.html

Then, Appellation America gathered together an array of wine industry professionals for a tasting of thirty-six Norton wines from five states, including our very own Stone House Vineyard Claros. Winemakers, buyers, marketers, writers, and sommeliers all noted the unique structure of the wines, the mix of spice, fruits, and earthiness – all things that fans of the Claros are familiar with.

At the end of the tasting, six wines were chosen as the panels favorites, and guess who was included? We can proudly say our Claros can now lay claim to be one of the Top Six Norton Wines in America, as named by Appellation America. And, we might add, the only Norton from Texas on the list.

Thank you to Appellation America for the honor!