Great grapes

In vino veritas: Our Messina Hof contest winners prove that wine is more than abeverage

If there's one thing we know, dear reader, it's that Houston loves its wine.

When we asked you on Facebook to tell us about your love affair with wine, you told us — and you told us in droves.

It didn't hurt that we were offering the sweetest anecdote: A one night stay at Messina Hof Winery & Resort's Villa Bed & Breakfast, dinner for two at the Vintage House Restaurant, a wine and cheese social in The Wine Bar, a winery tour and tasting, and a full champagne breakfast in the morning.

Yes, all of that for your great grape narratives!

The competition was fierce. The stories were heartwarming, funny, and entertaining. But there could only be one victor in this veritable vino clash.

The competition was fierce. The stories were heartwarming, funny, and entertaining. But there could only be one victor in this veritable vino clash: CultureMap reader Viswa Subbaraman.

Without further ado, grab your glass, sit back, and read the winning entry and our runner-up picks.

Winning Flavor:

I knew nothing about wine. In fact, in college, wine was Boone's Farm (sad to admit!).

I went to Paris to study and ended up winning a job there. My boss looked at me and said, "Such a shame you are in France and know nothing about wine." We'd go out to eat once a week, and I'd be lectured non-stop about wine and terroir.

One day before I moved back to Texas, the waiter poured me the wine to taste, and I sent it back because it was corked.

My boss said, "Wait a second ... wait. He knows nothing about wine. Let me taste it." He took a taste, waited for a second and said, "No, surprisingly, he is right. Take it back."

He looked at me and said, "If you learned nothing else about your time in France, at least I taught you about wine."

- Viswa Subbaraman

Flavors Rounding Out the Top Flight:

I grew up with a Cajun grandpa from Louisiana who taught me at an early age that food and wine were some of the great pleasures of life. He would cook all the time to show his love for his family.

I didn't have my first glass of wine until I was 16, but I was taught much earlier about the history and types of wine.

The years have rolled by, and at age 40, I know the happiest times are spent around a table, surrounded by family and friends celebrating with good wine and food. Everytime I drink a nice glass of bordeaux I think of my papa and smile.

- Anna Fulbright

I grew up in a family that very much appreciated a great bottle of wine. We learned the differences between cabernet, pinot noir, merlot and "house" wine very quickly. As an adult, I can solidly say that a good girl's night in or out always includes a good bottle ( or three) of wine.

With a wine-loving father and green developer fiancé, I like to support the (few and far between) outstanding Texas vineyards and wines that are just as great as what is coming out of California.

As an event planner, I always find that buying Messina Hof is a great option, whether it be a wedding, a gala, a gallery opening or birthday party. It is local, affordable and goes well with so many things.

It is nice to always have a great standby that you feel good about serving friends and loved ones.

- Nicole Laurent

My mother-daughter bachelorette party was a Texas vineyard tour near Wimberley, Tex. Armed with a pink boa, a bride-to-be crown and an empty glass, we spent one of my favorite days of my life marauding around, trying different wines and generally being girly. We ended the day with a special dinner at our bed and breakfast.

Spending the day with my family and friends was the best bachelorette party I could have ever imagined. During the day, my mother bought me a bottle of wine that we split on my wedding day, another very blessed and favorite day!

- Jamie Glover-Dabbs

I just graduated from Texas State University, where I worked with the marketing department for two years. Needless to say, it was a great environment and I truly loved my coworkers, especially the "social media dungeon," as we called it.

On my last day of work, my boss came to my desk and surprised me with a bottle of homemade wine from his personal vineyard. It was called Tom Cat's Magic Elixir. It was a delicious white wine, which he obviously knew all too well that I would just love.

It was such an amazing going-away gift, and I cracked it open on my graduation day with my family and friends. I'm the first to graduate from college in my family, so to have it and spend time with them was a very special thing!

- Britney Mungia

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cheers to that

Texas bourbon named one of 2024's top 10 whiskies

Still Austin Whiskey Co. Red Corn Bourbon Whiskey

Still Austin Whiskey Co./Facebook

Now if only we could snag a bottle...as a Christmas gift, of course.

Three cheers for Still Austin Whiskey Co.! The distillery's Bottled in Bond Red Corn Bourbon Whiskey was recognized as one of Whisky Advocate'sTop 20 Most Exciting Whiskies of 2024.

Every year, Whisky Advocate's expert panelists rank hundreds of whiskies based on their quality, availability, value for the price, and "X-factor," meaning an excitement-inducing component like a unique flavor or an innovative idea. An international panel also reviews contenders through several blind taste tests without knowing each whisky's producer, origin, age, or price.

The magazine ranked Still Austin's five-year Red Corn Bourbon No. 7 on the list with a prestigious score of 94 points. The Red Corn whiskey, which was released in June 2024, has mash bill consisting of 36 percent Jimmy Red corn, 34 percent white corn, 25 percent rye, and 5 percent barley.

According to panelist Shane English, tasting notes start big and bold with cracked pepper, dusty leather, and cocktail cherries, before moving on to a palate of chile pepper, caramel, and buttery cornbread.

"Each sip is electric — the pepper gives this whiskey a zing balanced by poundcake and glazed doughnuts," English said. "Charred oak fades to chocolate, coffee, and pecan pie on the finish."

Still Austin had the only Texas product on the list, which was fitting given the brand's recent boasting that it could match any Kentucky Bourbon. As a game day stunt when the Texas Longhorns played the Kentucky Wildcats in November, Still Austin refilled empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles with its own Cask Strength Bourbon for just $1.

When the brand isn't playfully antagonizing Kentucky fans, its Red Corn Bourbon sells for a retail price of $85 per 750-milliliter bottle, falling nearly in the middle of the price category out of all 20 bourbons on the list, with eight others priced for less.

For additional context, none of the top five bourbons fall under a $100 price tag. In fact, the most expensive bottle on the 2024 list is the Angel's Envy 2023 Cask Strength Port Wine Barrel Finished Bourbon, which ranked No. 12 and retails for $230 per bottle.

"Our top 20 whiskies represent a curated collection that deserves your attention. Each whisky on the list stands out for its superb taste, representing the pinnacle of a year filled with remarkable tastings," said executive editor David Fleming in a release. "This list features whiskies offering exceptional value, leaders in their respective styles, and superbly made expressions that are well worth seeking out."

Whiskey Advocate's 2024 Whiskey of the Year is Laphroaig Elements 2.0 Cask Strength Scotch Single Malt, which earned 95 points and retails for $165 a bottle.

whiskey bourbon distilleries awards lists