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    By The Glass

    Texas snubbed on America's Best Wineries list: Cali snobs slow to recognize Lone Star grape power

    John Egan
    Jul 13, 2014 | 3:01 pm
    Becker Vineyards Fredericksburg
    Becker Vineyards (pictured) and McPherson Cellars Winery landed on the Daily Meal's list of best wineries in the U.S.
    Photo by McCabe Rawls

    Texas gets only a little vino love on a new list of America's 101 Best Wineries.

    Despite the presence of more than 270 wineries in the Lone Star State, only two Texas wineries appear on the list, created by The Daily Meal. McPherson Cellars Winery in Lubbock shows up at No. 87 and Becker Vineyards in Stonewall at No. 93. Not surprisingly, California wineries dominate the list.

    Brennan points out that not one of the wine experts, sommeliers and writers who judged the wineries for The Daily Meal is a Texan.

    “There are certainly more than two deserving wineries in Texas, but the competition is so strong and varied from California and the Pacific Northwest that it's difficult to find room in a highly limited listing — a mere 101 out of an estimated 7,000-plus wineries in the U.S. — for any significant representation from Texas or other states producing good wines,” says Colman Andrews, editorial director of The Daily Meal.

    Andrews says few of the panelists who picked the wineries on the list have sampled Texas’ wine offerings. He says that’s because the state produces a relatively small amount of wine — only little more than three million gallons in 2012 — and because distribution of Texas wines is “extremely limited” outside the state.

    “I’ve spent a great deal of time in Texas and have been lucky enough to have been able to enjoy many, many Texas vintages, and I have no doubt that in years to come, more and more of them will find there way onto lists like this — but California and the Pacific Northwest will always remain in the majority, as far as I can predict,” Andrews says.

    Although California and the Pacific Northwest rule the winery scene in the U.S., Texas does rank as the No. 5 grape and wine producer among the 50 states, according to the Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association.

    According to Time Warner Cable News in Austin, wineries in Texas didn’t really start to take off until the 1990s.

    “At that time, there were 25 wineries in the state,” Nichole Bendele, tasting room coordinator at Becker Vineyards, tells the cable news channel. “Now, there’s almost 300.”

    Becker Vineyards produced more than 1.2 million bottles of wine in 2013, making it the third largest producer in the state. Becker Vineyards opened its winery in 1996 along what’s now billed as Wine Road 290 in the Fredericksburg area.

    While The Daily Meal doesn’t put Texas in the same wine category as California, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples puts a lot of stock in the state’s grapes. “The Texas wine industry has come of age,” Staples says in a statement.

    Pat Brennan, owner of Brennan Vineyards in Comanche, Texas, and one of the leaders of a wine promotion group called Texas Fine Wine, says he’s disappointed by The Deal Meal’s list but isn’t surprised. He notes that most Texas wines are consumed in Texas, “so wine enthusiasts don’t get the opportunity to taste our wines unless they visit.” In fact, Brennan points out that not one of the wine experts, sommeliers and writers who judged the wineries for The Daily Meal is a Texan.

    “The good news is our wines are getting more and more national attention, given the number of Texas wines winning awards at prestigious wine competitions,” Brennan says. “The more people taste our wines, we are confident that our wines will keep winning awards, be proudly served at restaurants, and be top of mind among wine experts.”

    “The good news is our wines are getting more and more national attention, given the number of Texas wines winning awards at prestigious wine competitions,” Brennan said. “The more people taste our wines, we are confident that our wines will keep winning awards, be proudly served at restaurants, and be top of mind among wine experts.”
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    Houston burger mastermind fires up new pop-up devoted to Philly cheesesteaks

    Eric Sandler
    Jun 19, 2025 | 4:35 pm
    Bas's Cheesesteaks Abbas Dhanani
    Photo by Michael Ma
    Abbas Dhanani is serving up cheesesteaks at his new pop-up.

    Abbas Dhanani is at it again. The food influencer-turned-restaurateur behind the CultureMap Tastemaker Award-winning smash burger concept Burger Bodega is firing up a new pop-up concept devoted to another iconic sandwich.

    Called Bas’s Cheesesteaks, the new concept will Dhanani’s take on the classic Philly cheesesteak, made with sliced ribeye and white cheese on a seeded hoagie roll — onions and a spicy sauce are optional. A second version swaps the white cheese for Cheez Whiz. Like Burger Bodega, Dhanani is using halal beef for his cheesesteaks.

    Bas's Cheesesteaks cheesesteak sandwichThe cheesesteak is served on a seeded hoagie roll.Photo by Michael Ma

    “We have experimented with cheesesteaks as specials on the menu at Burger Bodega and received amazing feedback,” Dhanani said in a statement. “However, the cheesesteaks at Bas’s are the most refined versions we have done so far. I am excited to bring authentic Philly cheesesteaks to Houston as a new flavor experience while continuing to build on the energy and community we have created at Burger Bodega. This is a huge passion project for me, and I plan to take it step by step, just like Burger Bodega."

    As Dhanani notes, he introduced Burger Bodega with a series of pop-ups throughout Houston. To answer the obvious question, of course a restaurant could be in the cards for Bas’s, too.

    “I think thats the goal of any new pop-up concept,” Dhanani tells CultureMap. “Like Burger Bodega, we want to take it one step at a time and see where it goes.”

    Bas’s Cheesesteaks will have its first pop-up on Monday, June 30 at Burger Bodega’s location (4520 Washington Avenue). In addition to the two cheesesteaks, diners can get fries. Future pop-ups will be announced via Instagram.

    As for Burger Bodega’s second location in Katy, Dhanani says it’s still working through securing the necessary permits to begin construction.

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