June 2, 2025 – Texas Wine Tourism Grows and Locals Sound the Alarm

Wine News Round-Up

Wine Spectator – “What’s the Most Expensive Wine You’ve Ever Sold?” 9 Sommeliers Spill

The prices range from $10K to over and $100K, this is one of those, you really should bring your own bottle moments.  But the theme seems to be big celebrations.  From the article:

• Wine Spectator reached out to nine sommeliers to find out the most expensive bottle of wine they’ve ever sold at a restaurant. They came back with tales of big bottles with big numbers attached, a World War II victory vintage and wine flights that broke restaurant group records. See what brought in the big bucks!
• The buyer had just sold a company and was in a celebratory mood!
• Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 2007 for $25,000. Not surprisingly, it was a celebration for a guest, a wine lover who had a movie premiering.

Eater Austin – Texas Wine Country Confronts the Challenges of Its Boozy Boom

Not sure if it is really any different than any other wine region. But I was shocked to learn they are the second behind Napa in wine tourism revenue.  Crazy!  From the article:

Famed for its German heritage and rolling hills, Texas Hill Country is best known for its wine. Considered the region’s crown jewel, Fredericksburg started with just three wineries in the 1970s and has since blossomed, experiencing one of its most significant booms in tourism over the last five years, says Brady Closson, the CEO of Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau. Today, the city has more than 80 wineries and generates the second-highest revenue in wine tourism dollars in the country, falling just behind California’s Napa Valley, Closson adds. But with more than 3 million people visiting each year and its designation as the second-most visited wine destination in the U.S., residents are feeling the effects. Locals say some visitors are drinking a little too much while visiting wine country.

Wine Enthusiast – Guess What? There’s Actually Good News for the Wine Industry

Wine Enthusiast digs deep to come up with some positive wine news.  Here are the bullet points:

• Decline Is Bottoming Out
• Value Is Booming, and Wineries Are Growing
• Online Sales Are Rising
• Growers Are Optimistic
• … And More Wine Clubs are Doing this..
  • Wineries are developing new ways to market to those younger drinkers. At Clif Family Winery, in Napa, subscriptions to their “The Wine Drop” club, which lets customers choose the wines they’d like to receive, have outpaced their traditional wine club sign-ups by 244%.

National Association of American Wineries – 2025 US Economic Impact Study

Really interesting read, and the infographic tells the story:

Wine & Winery of the Week

Crush Pad Wine Bar in Las Vegas, NV

Crush Pad Wine Bar manages to strike a tricky balance: it’s both serious about wine and refreshingly unpretentious. You won’t find sweeping vineyard views or Instagrammable decor here. What you will find is a thoughtful selection of wines, a knowledgeable and friendly staff, and a community of people who genuinely enjoy sharing what’s in their glass. You don’t need to know the difference between left bank Bordeaux and right to feel comfortable here. But if you do, you’ll find plenty of people ready to go deep with you.

2016 Ferretti Brunello di Montalcino 

Ferretti’s 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a classic, no-frills take on Sangiovese, built for those who appreciate structure and depth in their wines. With its balance of fruit, earth, and spice, this bottle is a testament to both the vineyard’s unique terroir and Matteo Perugino’s dedication to tradition. While it’s drinking well now with some air, it has the backbone to evolve beautifully over the next decade. If you’re looking for a serious Brunello with a sense of place, this is a great bottle to explore.

Restaurant and Corkage of the Week

Hill & Vine in Fredericksburg, TX

For anyone visiting Fredericksburg, Hill & Vine is well worth a visit. Just plan ahead, as there are no reservations, and peak hours can get busy. But once you are there, sitting back with a plate of Southern comfort food and a drink in hand, you will see why this place has become a local favorite. No BYOB allowed here.