Dallas Cowboys or Houston Texans anyone?

In addition to offering wine tours; beginning Sunday, October 23, 2011, L'Avventura Dolce is offering transportation services to Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans home games from the Austin and San Antonio areas.  Pick up locations are in north San Antonio and north and south Austin.  If you already have your ticket to a game, let us do the driving while you begin tailgating on our bus.  We leave early so you have time to get settled in before each game and leave an hour after each game is over so you don't have to rush back to the bus.  Our bus can accommodate 23 passengers, so grab a group of friends and join us on The Sweet Adventure to watch and cheer on your favorite team. For pricing and any other questions, please contact us at: TheSweetAdventure@gmail.com

Georgetown Winery

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to visit Georgetown Winery and Vineyard located in downtown Georgetown.  It was a Saturday night, and the place was hopping with a large crowd that filled the bar and tables listening to the live music and drinking their wine. 

Having heard that they won, "Best Dessert Wine" in the state of Texas for the last three years, I had to of course purchase their tasting of three ports or dessert wines off the menu.  My favorite was their Raspberry Chocolate Port.  It was a perfect blend of the two flavors from the first sip to the last.  Served with morsels of chocolate, who can ask for anything more?  Georgetown Winery offers over 30 wines made on location, which the majority have won Gold, Silver, and/or Bronze medals at various competitions in and out of state.  So next time you are in the area, pay a visit to Dan and  Becca Marek's winery in Georgetown, TX.  You will be so glad you did.

Wines & Vines - Wine Industry News Headlines - Texas Vintage: Drought But Not Out

Wines & Vines - Wine Industry News Headlines - Texas Vintage: Drought But Not Out

Fiesta Winery

This past Sunday as we were previewing some of the wineries on the Way Out Wineries trail we happened on the neatest little place, Fiesta Winery.  Located just before Bend, Texas on Hwy 580 West, Fiesta Winery is a family endeavor through and through.  When we arrived we were met by Sally Baxter, one of the owners (along with her husband Stephen) and the nicest lady you'd ever want to know.  Sally took the time to tell us her story of how Fiesta Winery came to be. 
One of the things that I have enjoyed most since starting L'Avventura Dolce is getting to know the winery owners and hearing their stories.  Every story is unique and the story of how Fiesta Winery got it's name is no exception.  After having spent a considerable amount of time researching names for the winery with no luck, fate intervened one evening while Sally and Stephen were watching American Idol.  During the show, a Ford Fiesta commerical came on and Stephen turned to Sally and said, "that's it" and so from there, the name "Fiesta Winery" was born. 

L'Avventura Dolce Texas Wine Tours does the driving while you and your companions enjoy the tour and tastings without a care.  For more information, visit us today at http://www.TheSweetAdventure.com/ or email FrancescaR@TheSweetAdventure.com and let L'Avventura Dolce begin.

WINE TASTING TIPS

There was a time when wine tasting was a pleasure reserved for only the most serious (and snobbish) of connoisseurs.  Today it is an activity that can be enjoyed by the expert and novice alike.  In order to get the most out of your next wine tasting outing, we've put together the following wine tasting tips: 

SEE
Pick up the glass and hold at an angle. The wine should appear clear and sediment free. Young red wines are more purplish, mature red wines have a redder rim, older red wines have a dark reddish-brown tone and white wines have variances in the whiteness of the wine from pale to yellow.

SWIRL
Swirl glass to push the wine up the sides of the glass. When swirling, the legs follow the wine back into the bowl of the glass, giving a clue as to the wine’s content. The bigger the legs the more residual sugar. The wine’s essence is also released in the aroma or bouquet.

SNIFF
Yeast can give strong, fruity aromas or earthy spiciness depending upon the process used. The barreling type and length of aging can create smoky, toasty or vanilla sensations.

SWISH
With a sip of wine in your mouth, move the tongue around in a light swirl. Tannins make a drying, astringent puckering on the inside of the cheeks or lower in the throat. Depending on the alcohol content, there may be a burning in the back of the throat.

SWALLOW
This step should be the most enjoyable aspect of tasting. The wine should provide a lingering aftertaste that is as pleasant as the initial taste. To assist in experiencing the finish you can gently exhale through both your nose and mouth.

L'Avventura Dolce Texas Wine Tours does the driving while you and your companions enjoy the tour and tastings without a care.  For more information, visit us today at http://www.TheSweetAdventure.com/ or email FrancescaR@TheSweetAdventure.com and let L'Avventura Dolce begin.

The WINE-ding Road

When you're looking for something special to do close to Killeen, grab a group of friends and join The Sweet Adventure on a delightful wine tasting tour through the Central Texas Hill Country.  Sit back, relax, and in less than an hour you will find yourself a world away.  Disembark at the first of the four wineries for the day, each featuring their distinct versions of Texas wines.  Our Hill Country wine tours include several of the wineries of the Way Out Wineries of Texas including Alamosa Wine Cellars, Fiesta Winery, Pillar Bluff Vineyards, and Texas Legato Winery.  Beginning this Fall (October 2011) we will be offering wine tasting tours leaving from the Killeen-Ft Hood area to both the Way Out Wineries Trail and the San Gabriel Wine Trail.  The large majority of our tours are all inclusive (transportation, tasting fees, and refreshments along the way).

L'Avventura Dolce Texas Wine Tours does the driving while you and your companions enjoy the tour and tastings without a care.  For more information, visit us today at http://www.TheSweetAdventure.com/ or email FrancescaR@TheSweetAdventure.com and let L'Avventura Dolce begin.

COMING SOON!!! Wine tours from the Ft Hood and Killeen area

Did you know that within an hour drive of Killeen, Texas there are six fully functioning wineries and/or vineyards.  L'Avventura Dolce is proud to announce that we will soon be launching wine tasting tours of these wineries and vineyards leaving from the Killeen/Ft Hood area.  Sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip with your friends on our 22 passenger bus, including a box lunch, beverage and dessert.  The Sweet Adventure bus is also available for private tours and parties.  We look forward to serving our heroes and their families in the Ft Hood area.

Visit us at www.TheSweetAdventure.com for upcoming schedules and pricing.  

GO TEXAN WineCast - Hill Country Wine Trail

One of the tours L'Avventura Dolce features is The Hill Country Wine Trail.  The tour will take you to several of the following wineries: Solaro Estate Winery, Bell Springs Winery, Driftwood Estates Winery, Bella Vista Olive Orchard, Duchman Family Winery, and Wimberley Valley Winery.  Included in this tour is a Salt Lick Barbecue sandwich plate (choice of sliced beef, chopped beef, turkey, or sausage), drinks from Sweet Leaf Tea and dessert from Tiff's Treats.  For more information on tour schedules and pricing visit us at http://www.thesweetadventure.com/

L'Avventura Dolce Texas Wine Tours does the driving while you and your companions enjoy the tour and tastings without a care.  For more information, visit us today at http://www.TheSweetAdventure.com/ or email FrancescaR@TheSweetAdventure.com and let L'Avventura Dolce begin.