by Sandra Crittenden

 As seen in the September 2021 issue of Galveston Monthly magazine

 As originally seen in the August issue of Galveston Monthly magazine. In this month's issue, I write about Schramsberg Vineyards which sits on Diamond Mountain in the Napa Valley. This historic property has been owned and operated by the Davies family since the 1960s. I met Hugh Davies at a dinner in 2015 at the Meritage Resort so I am sharing the link to that story below but this feature was inspired by a tour of the caves I did this past May when my husband and I took a short trip to Calistoga. Schramsberg was the ideal place to take a bubble break after all the Cabernet Sauvignon. http://www.sancrittenden.com/2015/09/schramsberg-dinner-at-meritage-resort.html

Fall Creek Vineyards is one of the Texas wineries that I have visited the most, both at their Tow and Driftwood locations. This year the Aulers are celebrating their 45th anniversary in Texas wine so this month, I share some of their story in Galveston Monthly magazine, on the stands now. Ed and Susan Auler have proven that together they can do just about anything. In the early years of their marriage, Ed was practicing law while Susan was the ideal mother taking care of their children. As if that was not enough to keep a young family busy, the two also took over operations of Ed’s family cattle ranch... Read the on-line version at  Galveston Monthly.com

In the Beychac-et-Caillau commune in the Gironde in southwestern France, you'll find  Planet Bordeaux  which is both the headquarters for the winemakers association and a recommended place for you to begin your tasting tour of the Bordeaux wine region. I visited there in the fall and was surprised to discover that behind the nondescript entrance was a unique and thoroughly modern wine experience waiting for me. In addition to housing the association, Planet Bordeaux is also the tourist center for the wines from the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur wine appellations. They have guides to help out visitors and can do tours in several languages. They offer attractions like educational exhibits and audio/visual installations covering a range of wine-related subjects along with wine tastings and cooking classes. The center can help with the planning of visits to local chateaux as well.  It is not just for wine consumers and tourists, it is also a hub for visiting w...

I have written about each Paso Robles winery stop that I made in May on Wine-Thoughts. I am including that link here . Each one has something unique to offer from zip-lining to concerts to wine and food pairings and each is worth checking out if you plan on visiting the area. Read more on my Paso Robles visits at  www.Wine-Thoughts.com