Wes Marshall

3 weeks ago | austinchronicle.com | Wes Marshall

White wine from the gorgeous Mediterranean Vermentino is one of Italy’s most luscious grapes and is often overlooked in the United States, usually for the simple reason that most have never heard of it. It is grown over much of Italy as well as in limited amounts in France and the U.S. Much of the very best is from the gorgeous Mediterranean island of Sardinia. Like the delicious Pinot Grigio grape, Vermentino is occasionally over-produced and insipid.

2 months ago | austinchronicle.com | Wes Marshall

Exceptional wine from the Arroyo Seco J. Lohr's Riverstone Chardonnay is one of the genuine touchstones of California Chardonnay. Over 50 years ago, owner Jerry Lohr built a vineyard in California’s Central Coast area of Arroyo Seco in the Monterey Valley. I discovered this wine in the mid-1990s. When I started writing for The Austin Chronicle in 1999, one of my first orders of business was to seek out the J.

Nov 13, 2024 | austinchronicle.com | Wes Marshall

An ideal accompaniment for grilled meat Winemaker Dave Ready Jr. The pendulum swings back and forth in the world of wine. Ten to fifteen years ago, people started ordering wine as ABC wine. For those not in the know, this was a basic way of saying that you were a member of “the in crowd.” As such, you couldn’t be bothered with two of the most popular wines in American culture.

Sep 26, 2024 | austinchronicle.com | Wes Marshall

A foodie’s Chardonnay Elouan Oregon Chardonnay ($20) is an interesting item because the grapes are grown in Oregon, but the wine is made in California. Transporting grapes that distance can be tricky and at the price, the winemakers must have gotten a hell of a deal at some vineyard!Oregon Chardonnays have often been a tetch over acidic, though climate change seems to be bringing a bit more ripeness to the wine.

Jul 4, 2024 | austinchronicle.com | Wes Marshall

Take your pick: Italy, Texas, or California? Wine fans are always on the hunt for a winery they can trust to make at least really good, often magnificent wines, especially in a reasonable price range. One that fits that bill for me is California’s Tablas Creek. They generally avoid the Cabernet/Chardonnay varietals and focus on Rhone varietals like Mourvèdre or Grenache, along with the occasional Italian varietal.