Totally Texas: Toast arrival of '09 with help of wineries
Make plans to ring in the New Year at a Texas winery. Or celebrate with some award-winning wines.
•Messina Hof Winery in Bryan won 15 awards in the 2009 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Wine Competition, including four Champion awards and one Reserve Champion award.
Among the winery's winners were Private Reserve Shiraz 2006 Silver Texas Class Champion; Paulo Port 2004 Silver Texas Class Champion; Private Reserve Pinot Noir 2007 Silver Texas Class Champion; Paulo Red 2006 Silver Texas Reserve Class Champion; Paulo Merlot 2002 silver; Cabernet Franc 2005 bronze; and Merlot 2006 bronze.
Also, Paulo Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 bronze; Private Reserve Merlot 2003 bronze; Private Reserve Reflections 2005 bronze; Texas Hold 'Em Red 1 bronze; Ivory 1 bronze; and Paulo Shiraz 2005 bronze.
Other Texas wineries to medal in the competition included Becker Vineyards, Llano Estacado, Flat Creek Estates, Val Verde, Peregrine Hill, Cap*Rock, LightCatcher, Sandstone Cellars, Inwood Estates Vineyards and Kiepersol Estates.
Haak Vineyards & Winery of Santa Fe won a Champion and Gold Texas Champion for its Haak Blue Label SemiSweet Blanc du Bois 2005.
All Champion wines will be auctioned at the Rodeo Uncorked! Champion Wine Auction and Dinner at 6 p.m. March 7 in the Methodist Training Center at Houston's Reliant Park.
The rodeo runs March 3-22.
•Lost Creek Vineyard, 1129 Ranch Road 2233, Sunrise Beach, is hosting a New Year's Eve party at its TreeHouse Bistro.
Executive Chef Rafael Garcia is offering a three-course meal, starting with Lost Creek salad or Lobster Bisque Soup. The second course is a choice of a steak fillet and lobster tail or crab-stuffed flounder, both served with a baked potato, black-eyed peas and steamed broccoli. Dessert will include chocolate-dipped strawberries.
Dinner includes a complementary glass of sparkling wine with a special toast at midnight. Cost is $100 a person. Reservations are required. Call (325) 388-3753.
•Haak Vineyards & Winery, 6310 Ave. T, Santa Fe, is celebrating the holidays in various ways.
The kitchen is selling Egg Nog Cheesecake, Chocolate Tiramisú, Madeira-soaked Pound Cake and Triple Chocolate Cheesecake, among others. Place orders 72 hours in advance at (409) 925-1401, ext. 106.
Haak is also having its first New Year's Eve party at the winery. The party is from 7-10 p.m. For information, menu and prices, visit www.haakwine.com.