calling all wine lovers

Chris Shepherd recommends 13 delicious Houston food and wine events

What’s happening, team! Let’s talk about cool stuff to look forward to this month. All sorts of food and wine events give us a chance to eat and drink delicious things! Let’s get your calendar booked up, here we go!

There are lots of great wine events coming up this month that you should have on your list.

November 7 - Iron Sommelier
Lindsey and I love this event and make it out almost every year. Sommeliers from all over the city battle it out gladiator-style for bragging rights and the Iron Sommelier title. The auction is always fantastic, and they have a wine pull that is one of my favorites! Iron Sommelier supports the Periwinkle Foundation that provides a community of healing for kids with cancer through camps, arts, and survivor programs.

November 13 - Wine dinner with Ray Isle at Marigold Club
Ray Isle is the wine editor for Food & Wine magazine and a good friend. His palate is awesome, and his wine knowledge is off the charts. His book, The World in a Wine Glass, is one of the best books on wine out there. Let’s just add the talented skills of chef Austin Waiter, master sommelier June Rodil, and the Marigold Club team, and you will be in for an amazing evening.

November 14 - Fireside chat with Ray Isle, Julie Dalton, MS, and Keith Goldston, MS at the Post Oak Hotel
If you didn’t get to the dinner on the November 13, then head out to this! It should be the ultimate way to nerd out on wine with some of the smartest wine pros in the business, as Ray Isle talks to two master sommeliers, Keith Goldston and Julie Dalton. It’s your opportunity to get a book signed by Ray, taste fine wines, and enjoy light bites. RSVP to postoakhotel@nextjenpr.com. Space is limited.

November 14-15 - Holiday Champagne Tastings at Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
I love a good tasting, and I can’t think of a better pairing than Pappas Bros. And champagne. Heck yes! Steven McDonald, MS always holds It down when it comes to tastings. I looked at the lineup of Champagne he’s selected, and this is no different. They will have a Special Club table, so you know where to find me! The restaurant will be serving snacks, but make sure you make reservations for dinner after the tasting.

November 16 – Spain Wine Class at 13 Celsius
13 Celsius is holding a beautiful Spanish wine class with Cyrus Tolman of Rootstock Wines. Tempranillo, Granacha, and Albarinio will be flowing.

November 19 – Gundlach Bundschu Wine Dinner at Brennan’s
Brennan’s of Houston will be hosting a wine dinner with Gundlach Bundschu Winery, and I’m going to say that the menu looks amazing! Gundlach Bundschu is the oldest, family-owned winery in Sonoma. You’ll have the opportunity to taste their Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Estate Cab along with a four-course dinner at Brennan’s.

November 23 - Holiday Shopping at AOC
Who doesn’t love a good shopping trip, especially to AOC where Brandon Kerne, MS puts together a heck of a list!

One of my favorite wineries Miner Family Winery is offering 20-percent off all large format bottles aka A BIG BOTTLE SALE! We all know I love a big bottle especially when showing up to Thanksgiving and all the holiday parties. Let’s just say you look like a rock star when you roll in with a big ass bottle of Gary’s Vineyard Pinot Noir in your hands. They make the most memorable gifts as well — how about a 3 Liter bottle of Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot?

Use the code BIG20 at checkout. Shop wines here.

November 24 - Camerata’s Annual Holiday Wine Sale
Speaking of shopping trips, one of my favorite Montrose wine bars is having its annual holiday sale. You’ll get to taste up to 50 wines from 10 distributors. My friend Ryan Lachaine will be serving his famous butter burgers, so you know it’s a party.

If you can’t make the sale, the wines will be available for purchase online from noon on November 23 until 6 pm on November 24.

Now let’s look at some food events on the horizon as well!

November 7 - Kelsey Barnard Clark at Williams Sonoma
Let’s head on out to Williams Sonoma Highland Village to welcome Top Chef winner Kelsey Barnard Clark and celebrate her new book Southern Get-Togethers. I will be there 6-7 pm to walk through a tailgate demo with Kelsey! Since 15 percent of the store sales during the event go to Southern Smoke, I think it’s time to revamp your kitchen!

November 10 – High Tea with Khushbu Shah at Marigold Club and November 12 - Khushbu Shah Pizza Party at Rosie Cannonball
Two different events with our good friend Khushbu Shah, the former restaurant editor of Food & Wine magazine and author of the new book Amrikan. These two events are very different and very cool, a high tea at Marigold Club and a pizza party at Rosie Cannonball. These parties will both have the flavors of India and some Khushbu magic!

November 17 - Table to Stage with Tom Colicchio
I am so very excited about this one because I get to talk with chef Tom Colicchio! I have long admired Tom and what he has done, not only as a chef and TV personality but what he has done to create a path for so many chefs. His thought process of cooking is what we are going to dive deep into as we discuss his new book, Why I Cook. This event is at House of Blues, tickets are $50, VIP is sold out, and books will be on sale with our friends at Kinded Stories. Get some signed books for your holiday gifts!

November 20 - Fifth anniversary dinner at Guard and Grace benefiting Southern Smoke Foundation
Congratulations to the team at Guard and Grace on five years. To celebrate, they are throwing a party! Chef-owner Troy Guard and his team will be cooking with friends Drake Leonards, Aaron Bludorn, Bobby Matos, and the crew from Blood Brothers! Get down!

I know there are many more great food and wine events happening around the city, but this is a good start!

One more thing I would like to tell you about is the Southern Smoke Bottle Club. This is a club that we started to help people get their hands on amazing single barrel whiskeys and other spirits that are picked by our team and me. We only have a few more spots available because we are only taking 125 members to ensure plenty of goods for the club!

Our first pick, which new club members still have limited access to, is an Elijah Craig 10-year Barrel Proof pick that is outstanding, and we’re in the process of scheduling a virtual tasting for club members with Elijah Craig’s national ambassador! Members: Keep an eye on your inboxes for the details!

The next pick will be a Maker’s Mark Private Selection, which will be released at a holiday party/bottle share at my house! This club isn’t just bourbon either. We have single barrels from our winery friends as well, including a reserve barrel with Hirsch Family Vineyards. Remember my interview with Jasmine Hirsch? She is awesome, and so are her wines. We’ll also have single barrels of tequila, mezcal, maybe even very special balsamic vinegar from Italy. Whatever else I can get my hands on! GET IN THE CLUB!!!

Iron Sommelier 2019 Jeffery Young Georgia James

Photo by Dave Rossman

Hang with Houston's top wine professionals at Iron Sommelier.

news-you-can-eat wine shopping

Oh, Donna

New Houston cocktail bar serves up a house party fueled by music and martinis

Courtesy of Donna's

People are flocking to Donna's.

It hasn’t taken long for Houston cocktail fans to discover Donna’s. Ever since it opened Thanksgiving weekend, the new cocktail bar in the Heights has been packed with people eager to check out the new project from Anvil owner Bobby Heugel and veteran Houston bartender Jacki Schromm.

Named for Schromm’s grandmother, both partners use the word “house party” to describe the kind of atmosphere they want to create at Donna’s. That party can be very energetic on busy weekend nights and a little quieter and more intimate during the week — allowing patrons to choose what kind of experience they want to have.

Heugel and Schromm worked with collaborators on the design, music, and art for Donna’s. So far, people seem to be enjoying themselves.

“It’s really f---ing awesome,” Schromm tells CultureMap. “It has been really remarkable to have people in this building. To see the room full is a rewarding experience. The feedback we’ve received has just been really positive.”

To transform the former Ready Room into Donna’s, the partners collaborated with Brittany Vaughn of Garnish Design. Known for her work at establishments such as Tiny Champions, Maximo, and Milton’s, Vaughn helped divide the retro-styled cocktail bar into two distinct interior spaces. The main bar area is defined by high-top, organically-shaped tables that allow large groups to congregate or smaller groups to share without being on top of each other. The more intimate living room section features a large couch and a spacious booth.

“There’s a lot of smart utility in the space,” Heugel explains. “We kept talking about how it’s a small space. We want to find a seat for everybody as much as possible.”

To honor the space’s history of hosting live music, the partners worked with Chicago-based firm Uncanned on a powerful vintage stereo that includes both a reel-to-reel tape deck and a turntable. Known locally for their work at restaurants such as Nancy’s Hustle and Nobie’s, the Uncanned team gave Donna’s the ability to kick out the jams with ultra-clear sound while not being so loud that people can’t talk to each other. It also opens up the possibility of people playing their favorite albums on select nights.

“Jacki and I both had the bold opinion when we started talking about Donna’s that cocktail bars were boring. We wanted to add more layers to the onion,” Heugel says. “Having music be here as an additional component to the bar makes the room feel really good. That’s important to us, and we’ll have some programming related to that.”

Keli Hogsett of Austin’s CoCollect helped Schromm and Heugel select the room’s distinctive art on its walls. Heugel describes the works as museum-quality, contemporary pieces from regional artists that are a cut above what’s usually seen in bars. Hogsett will also source the art for the new restaurant Heugel and chef Justin Yu are opening next year in the former Vibrant space.

Schromm, who partnered with Heugel after working at Anvil and Reserve 101, created the opening cocktail menu herself. One highlight is the Jacki’s Martini, a nod to the “Bobby’s Martini” served at Refuge and the “Terry’s Martini” served at Squable. It’s a 50-50 mix of gin with Cocchi Americano and Dolin Blanc vermouth. She describes it as more “sessionable” than a traditional martini.

“I think this cocktail menu has a lot of personality,” she says. “Some of my flair, whether it’s a spirit I chose or a flavor I like.”

Although parking on the property is limited, Heugel notes that street parking on White Oak is relatively plentiful. A nearby pay lot is available, or people can skip the issue altogether by using their favorite rideshare service.

Of course, the adjacent restaurant space won’t stay empty for long. As CultureMap has previously reported, Austin-based pizzeria Home Slice has claimed the building for its second Houston location that will open in fall 2026.

-----

Donna's, 2626 White Oak Drive. Open daily from 2 pm-2 am

Courtesy of Donna's

People are flocking to Donna's.

openings nightlife cocktails the-heights