The Austin Wine Merchant

08/03/2025

Ciao a tutti! 🇮🇹 Our Wine of the Week (and it's one of my personal favorites) is 2023 Pinot Nero Meczan by J. Hofstätter. This is a truly delicious Pinot Noir, hailing from northern Italy in Alto Adige. It's a light-bodied red, offering delightful notes of wild berry and cherry with a touch of savory complexity. You'll find it very easy on the palate with lovely fruit.

This wine is terrific on its own especially during these hot Texas days. You can put a slight chill on it if you like. Or it pairs particularly well with poultry, pasta, and mushroom dishes.

Just $22.50 the bottle or $229.56 by the case of 12!

C’mon uptown to our Midtown location (1601 West 38th St #3) or downtown to our flagship store (512 West 6th Street) and grab a bottle!

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ITALIAN WINES: https://www.theaustinwinemerchant.com/italia.html

Saluti! Lucinda 🍷❤️🍷

PS - Like / Follow / Share with friends!
winery

08/01/2025

SATURDAY WINE TASTING: Join us downtown Saturday 02 Aug 2025 NOON-3PM for a taste of five crisp Italian whites!

WINE MENU:
Favorite Italian white wines to foil the summer heat
(vini bianchi italiani preferiti per contrastare il caldo estivo)

> 2024 Soave Classico Vin Soave Inama
> 2023 Weißburgunder (Pinot Bianco) Südtirol Alto Adige J. Hofstätter
> 2023 Orvieto Classico Superiore Terre Vineate Palazzone
> 2023 Friulano Primarûl Collio Venica
> 2023 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Bucci

Gentlemen, please, no cologne or after shave; ladies, please no perfume!

TASTING INFO:
It’s the dog days of summer! C’mon downtown Saturday for a taste of five of our favorite Italian whites to keep you cool! We’ve got a veritable panopoly of whites here from all over Italy - An alpine Pinot Bianco from the Alto Adige near the Swiss border, a Veneto Soave (Garganega) and a Friuliano from the northeast “flare” of the boot, a 5-varietal blend from Orvieto in Umbria in central western Italy and a crisp Verdicchio from the Marche on the central east coast. All of these wines offer crisp acidity and a lightweight body to help keep you refreshed in the heat!

Click the MORE INFO link below for details and watch this space for more tastings. Like / Follow / Share with friends! We're open 10AM-6:30PM Monday-Saturday.

ON SALE!
> See our Sale and Clearance items at: www.theaustinwinemerchant.com/clearance.html

PS - Coffee & wine in one stop? YES! It’s a thing…at our MIDTOWN LOCATION at Jefferson Square (1601 W 38th, Unit #3) - next door to Anderson’s Coffee in Rosedale. We’re open Monday through Saturday 10AM to 6:30PM…We’d love to see you! And tell your friends we’re here… :)

MORE INFO: https://bit.ly/curr

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR ITALIAN WINES: https://www.theaustinwinemerchant.com/italia.html

07/27/2025

Bonjour! 🇫🇷 Our Wine of the Week is 2023 Sancerre Raimbault et Fils - A lovely and extremely well-priced Sancerre, hailing from a certified organic vineyard in the Loire Valley with clay-chalk soils. This Sauvignon Blanc is approachable, medium bodied, citrusy, and shows beautiful minerality. Stainless steel fermentation showcases the crisp and bright acidity. A classic expression of Sancerre that’s very easy drinking and pairs well with pasta, fish, or nothing at all!

Just $27.50 the bottle or $280.56 by the case of 12!

C’mon uptown to our Midtown location (1601 West 38th St #3) or downtown to our flagship store (512 West 6th Street) and grab a bottle!

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOIRE WINES: www.theaustinwinemerchant.com/loirevalley.html

Cheers, Lucinda ❤️

PS - Like / Follow / Share with friends!

07/25/2025

SATURDAY WINE TASTING: Join us downtown Saturday 26 Jul 2025 NOON-3PM for a taste of a trio of Rhône wines from M. Chapoutier!

WINE MENU:
Le trio des vins des Côtes-du-Rhône Belleruche de M. Chapoutier

> 2023 Côtes-du-Rhône Belleruche Blanc M. Chapoutier
> 2023 Côtes-du-Rhône Belleruche Rosé M. Chapoutier
> 2023 Côtes-du-Rhône Belleruche Rouge M. Chapoutier

Gentlemen, please, no cologne or after shave; ladies, please no perfume!

TASTING INFO:
Retrograde Mercury got you down? C’mon downtown Saturday for a taste of three delightful Rhône wines certain to brighten your day from M. Chapoutier! M. Chapoutier (it's always an M as the first initial, by the way) was founded in 1855 and now has Mathilde Chapoutier at the helm. This organic Rhône Valley producer bottles what has become go-to stuff for us with their exceptional trio of red, white and rosé Côtes-du-Rhône wines branded Belleruche. The wines demonstrate typicity, a certain freshness and exuberance that make them a pleasure to drink. Even more so considering their very reasonable prices. And, they come under screwcap, so easy-opening and no chance of that irksome cork taint. Take that, Mercury!

Click the MORE INFO link below for details and watch this space for more tastings. Like / Follow / Share with friends! We're open 10AM-6:30PM Monday-Saturday.

ON SALE!
> See our Sale and Clearance items at: www.theaustinwinemerchant.com/clearance.html

PS - Coffee & wine in one stop? YES! It’s a thing…at our MIDTOWN LOCATION at Jefferson Square (1601 W 38th, Unit #3) - next door to Anderson’s Coffee in Rosedale. We’re open Monday through Saturday 10AM to 6:30PM…We’d love to see you! And tell your friends we’re here… :)

MORE INFO: https://bit.ly/curr

IMAGE CREDIT: M. Chapoutier

07/18/2025

SATURDAY WINE TASTING: Join us downtown Saturday 19 Jul 2025 NOON-3PM for a taste of four rosés from Provence!

WINE MENU:
More rosé wine riches from the south of France

> 2024 Côtes de Provence Rosé Sainte Victoire Elie Sumeire Famille Sumeire
> 2024 Côtes de Provence Rosé Grand Classique Domaine Gavoty
> 2024 Côtes de Provence Rosé Love By Léoube Château Leoube
> 2024 Cassis Rosé Domaine du Bagnol

Gentlemen, please, no cologne or after shave; ladies, please no perfume!

TASTING INFO:
C’mon downtown Saturday as we offer a taste of four more French rosê riches to tempt your palate! In Provence, Grenache, Cinsault are usually in the leading roles with Mourvèdre, Syrah and sometimes Carignan making a guest appearance. Soils and sun exposure influence the wine as well - such as the limestone rich soils surrounding Mount Sainte-Victoire and in the small fishing village / wine region of Cassis - where the vineyards grow in a natural southwestern-facing amphitheater sloping down from the forested hilltop towards limestone cliffs into the vibrantly aquamarine Mediterranean sea.

Click the MORE INFO link below for details and watch this space for more tastings. Like / Follow / Share with friends! We're open 10AM-6:30PM Monday-Saturday.

ON SALE!
> See our Sale and Clearance items at: www.theaustinwinemerchant.com/clearance.html

PS - Coffee & wine in one stop? YES! It’s a thing…at our MIDTOWN LOCATION at Jefferson Square (1601 W 38th, Unit #3) - next door to Anderson’s Coffee in Rosedale. We’re open Monday through Saturday 10AM to 6:30PM…We’d love to see you! And tell your friends we’re here… :)

MORE INFO: https://bit.ly/curr

07/14/2025

Bonjour! 🇫🇷 Our Wine of the Week is 2022 Costières de Nîmes Cuvée Tradition Rouge Mas des Bressades - from the Southwest corner of the Rhône, close to the Mediterranean’s cooling sea breeze, this 60% Grenache, 40% Syrah red (certified EU Organic) offers a lighter, juicier version of a Rhône red - offering aromas / tastes of sun, sea, spicy fresh berry and stone along with a hint of cracked black pepper. Give it a slight chill and pair with your summer grilled meats and Mediterranean dishes!

Just $13.75 the bottle or $140.28 by the case of 12!

C’mon uptown to our Midtown location (1601 West 38th St #3) or downtown to our flagship store (512 West 6th Street) and grab a bottle!

Cheers, Lucinda 🍷❤️🍷

PS - Like / Follow / Share with friends!

07/11/2025

SATURDAY WINE TASTING: Join us downtown Saturday 12 Jul 2025 NOON-3PM for a taste of four rosés from Bandol!

WINE MENU:
Rosé Wines of Bandol

> 2024 Bandol Rosé Château Barthès
> 2024 Bandol Rosé La Bastide Blanche
> 2024 Bandol Rosé Domaine du Gros'Noré
> 2024 Bandol Rosé Domaine Tempier

Gentlemen, please, no cologne or after shave; ladies, please no perfume!

TASTING INFO:
Bandol is a small sub-appellation of Provence, ~30 miles east of Marseille on the southern French riviera. The winemaking history extends back to the 6th century BC with the Phoceens, then the Romans and their mastery of the ports of Marseille and Bandol to move their wines. Mourvèdre (also known as Monastrell in Spain) is the star grape of this region - a spicy, powerful red grape variety leaning into blue and black fruit aromas with rustic tannins when vinified into a red wine. When blended with Grenache, Cinsault and made into a rosé, it transforms into a wine featuring red and stone fruits (strawberry, peach), Provençal herbs & flowers (lavender, rosemary, thyme) and coastal saline notes. Bandol rosé has a bit more body and more tactile/silky mouthfeel versus other Provençal rosés and serves as a great pairing for barbecue, grilled / smoked meats and of course classic Provençal dishes such as Bouillabaisse and Ratatouille. C’mon downtown for a taste of four superb Bandol pink wines, including the famed Domaine Tempier - whose founding Peyraud family (with a little help from esteemed US importer Kermit Lynch) put Bandol on the international wine stage and saved Mourvèdre from being replaced in the vineyard more well-known French varietals.

Click the MORE INFO link below for details and watch this space for more tastings. Like / Follow / Share with friends! We're open 10AM-6:30PM Monday-Saturday.

ON SALE!
> See our Sale and Clearance items at: www.theaustinwinemerchant.com/clearance.html

PS - Coffee & wine in one stop? YES! It’s a thing…at our MIDTOWN LOCATION at Jefferson Square (1601 W 38th, Unit #3) - next door to Anderson’s Coffee in Rosedale. We’re open Monday through Saturday 10AM to 6:30PM…We’d love to see you! And tell your friends we’re here… :)

MORE INFO: https://bit.ly/curr

IMAGE CREDIT: Domaine Tempier, La Bastide Blanche

07/08/2025

THURSDAY WINE TASTING: C’mon downtown Thursday 10 Jul 2025 4PM-6PM as we welcome Texas Hill Country wine producer Lewis Wines!

WINE MENU:
LEWIS WINES
with Doug Lewis, Co-Owner & Winemaker

> 2024 Lewis Wines Viognier Chenin Blanc Texas�> 2023 Lewis Wines Verdelho Bear Vineyard Texas Hill Country�> 2024 Lewis Wines Mourvèdre Rosé Klein Vineyard Ranch Texas Hill Country�> 2021 Lewis Wines Mourvèdre Parr Vineyard Texas Hill Country

Gentlemen, please, no cologne or after shave; ladies, please no perfume!

TASTING INFO:
Lewis Wines was founded in 2010 by good friends Doug Lewis and Duncan Mcnabb when an abundance of fruit from the 2010 harvest was used in a winemaking side project. Soon after, Doug and Duncan started planting vines with select growers across the state of Texas, sourcing fruit for the 2011 vintage and started to look for a property to build their winery and plant their own vineyards. Today, Lewis Wines (just outside of Johnson City) is one of the foundational wineries in the wildly vibrant Hill Country wine movement. But, they’ve remained true to using only 100% Texas grapes, fostering sustainable viticulture and have worked to find what varietals “work” in the Texas terroir - favoring more southern Old World varieties such as Viognier, Mouvèdre and Tempranillo that can take the heat. C’mon downtown to meet Doug and learn/taste how good Texas wine can be!

Click the MORE INFO link below for details and watch this space for more tastings (hint - there’s a BORDEAUX TASTING on WEDNESDAY afternoon!). Like / Follow / Share with friends! We're open 10AM-6:30PM Monday-Saturday.

ON SALE!
> See our Sale and Clearance items at: www.theaustinwinemerchant.com/clearance.html

PS - Too hot & muggy to drive downtown??? C’mon UPTOWN to our MIDTOWN LOCATION at Jefferson Square (1601 W 38th, Unit #3) - next door to Anderson’s Coffee in Rosedale. Two errands (coffee & wine) in one stop = lower carbon footprint = time saved = less miles traveled! We’re open Monday through Saturday 10AM to 6:30PM…We’d love to see you! And tell your friends we’re here… :)

MORE INFO: https://bit.ly/evnt

IMAGE CREDIT: Lewis Wines

07/07/2025

Coucou! (Hi!) 🇫🇷 Our Wine of the Week is 2023 Pouilly-Fumé Petit F… Michel Redde et Fils - Pouilly-Fumé is just across on the eastern side of the Loire River from Sancerre with similar flinty soils and a touch more clay. This delightful value is fresh and lively, mineral with green apple, bright lime and of course that Loire valley flinty note.

Just $22.50 the bottle or $229.56 by the case of 12!

C’mon uptown to our Midtown location (1601 West 38th St #3) or downtown to our flagship store (512 West 6th Street) and grab a bottle!

Cheers, Lucinda ❤️

07/04/2025

SATURDAY WINE TASTING: Join us downtown Saturday 05 Jul 2025 NOON-3PM as we welcome James Cahill of North Valley Vineyards Oregon!

WINE MENU:
NORTH VALLEY VINEYARDS
with Winemaker / Managing Partner James Cahill

> 2022 North Valley Vineyards Chardonnay Classic Willamette Valley
> 2022 North Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Classic Willamette Valley
> 2022 North Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve Willamette Valley

Gentlemen, please, no cologne or after shave; ladies, please no perfume!

TASTING INFO:
Back in 1995, one of The Austin Wine Merchant’s employees asked us to arrange an internship with an Oregon producer of Pinot Noir. We placed James Cahill with winemaker Michael Etzel at Beaux Frères and he worked the 1995 fall harvest. James returned to Austin to advise us that he and his wife Marie would be departing for Oregon for keeps as he had “drank the Kool-Aid” of winemaking. Once there, James continued his work with Beaux Frères for some years and then with some of Oregon’s most formative producers - Adam Campbell at Elk Cove and then with Tony Soter (founder of Etude in California) at Soter Vineyards. At Soter, James led the creation of their North Valley Vineyards bottlings, which are now independent of Soter under James’ leadership. It's good to have good friends in the business that make superb wine! C’mon downtown Saturday and join us to meet James, learn about what makes Oregon wine special (hint - ask about diurnal shift and soil diversity) and taste their fine Willamette Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir!

Click the MORE INFO link below for details and watch this space for more tastings. Like / Follow / Share with friends! We're open 10AM-6:30PM Monday-Saturday.

ON SALE!
> See our Sale and Clearance items at: www.theaustinwinemerchant.com/clearance.html

PS - Too hot & muggy to drive downtown??? C’mon UPTOWN to our MIDTOWN LOCATION at Jefferson Square (1601 W 38th, Unit #3) - next door to Anderson’s Coffee in Rosedale. Two errands (coffee & wine) in one stop = lower carbon footprint = time saved = less miles traveled! We’re open Monday through Saturday 10AM to 6:30PM…We’d love to see you! And tell your friends we’re here… :)

MORE INFO: https://bit.ly/curr

IMAGE CREDIT: North Valley Vineyards

07/03/2025

THURSDAY WINE TASTING: Join us downtown Thu 03 Jul 2025 4PM-6PM for a taste of five Zin/Cab-driven wines for your Independence Day fare!

WINE MENU:
HAMBURGER RED WINES FROM THE GOOD OL' US OF A

> The Whole Shebang Seventeenth Cuvée California Red Wine
> Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Lot Number 75
> 2021 Marietta Cellars Estate Grown Zinfandel Román North Coast
> 2022 Hedges Family Wines C.M.S Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Syrah Columbia Valley Washington
> 2023 The Girls In The Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon California

Gentlemen, please, no cologne or after shave; ladies, please no perfume!

TASTING INFO:
Planning your menu for the 4th tomorrow? Off work early today? C’mon downtown 4PM-6PM for a taste of five of our favorite red wines from the good ol’ US of A - perfect complements to your hamburgers, BBQ, hot dogs and other grilled / smoked fare! We’ve got three of our favorite California Zinfandel blends / wines from our good friends at Marietta Cellars and Bedrock Wines as well as a Cabernet blends from Hedges Family Estate in Washington state and a 100% Lake County / Oakville Cabernet from Art + Farm Wine.

BOTH locations of The Austin Wine Merchant will be OPEN tomorrow, 4 July 2025 from 10AM to 2PM for your last-minute Independence Day needs. Happy 4th of July!

Click the MORE INFO link below to see our current offering and watch this space for details on our upcoming Saturday tasting downtown with North Valley Wines of Oregon! Like / Follow / Share with friends! We're open 10AM-6:30PM Monday-Saturday.

MORE INFO: https://bit.ly/AWMevnt

ON SALE!
> See our Sale and Clearance items at: www.theaustinwinemerchant.com/clearance.html

PS - Too hot & muggy to drive downtown??? C’mon UPTOWN to our MIDTOWN LOCATION at Jefferson Square (1601 W 38th, Unit #3) - next door to Anderson’s Coffee in Rosedale. Two errands (coffee & wine) in one stop = lower carbon footprint = time saved = less miles traveled! We’re open Monday through Saturday 10AM to 6:30PM…We’d love to see you! And tell your friends we’re here… :)

Careful selection of fine wines, spirits, beers, accessories, gifts. Competitive pricing. Courteous

06/27/2025

SATURDAY WINE TASTING: Join us downtown Sat 28 Jun 2025 NOON-3PM for a taste of five Chardonnays that will defy any preconceptions you may have about this grape!

WINE MENU:
CHARDONNAY FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE CHARDONNAY

> 2022 Charles Smith Real Wine Chardonnay Washington State
> 2023 Chardonnay Altkirch Südtirol Alto Adige Colterenzio
> 2023 Saint-Véran Clos de l'Ermitage Sainte-Claude Thevenet & Fils
> 2022 Pouilly Fuissé Courtelong Claude Manciat Marie-Pierre Manciat
> 2022 Chablis Drouhin-Vaudon

Gentlemen, please, no cologne or after shave; ladies, please no perfume!

TASTING INFO:
In our experience, when folks say that they 'don't like Chardonnay' (we'd say easily 9 times out of 10) it isn't the grape, but rather what is done to it in the winemaking process. The Chardonnay grape is a mirror of its environment - taking on the character of the place and the soil in which it is grown and, for better or worse, the choices in the winemaking process. Commercial) yeast(s) utilized for alcoholic and malolactic fermentation (to convert naturally tart malic to softer lactic acid and the use / overuse of new oak to age the wine. Unadorned, Chardonnay can demonstrate both charm and complexity, depth and minerality, purity of flavor and freshness long on the finish - and with a nice chill, can refresh you in our hot summer weather. C’mon downtown - we've selected five of our favorite such unadulterated versions of Chardonnay for your Saturday afternoon consideration.

Click the MORE INFO link below to see our current offering and watch this space for details on our upcoming tastings downtown! Like / Follow / Share with friends! We're open 10AM-6:30PM Monday-Saturday.

MORE INFO: https://bit.ly/AWMevnt

ON SALE!
> See our Sale and Clearance items at: www.theaustinwinemerchant.com/clearance.html

PS - Too hot & muggy to drive downtown??? C’mon UPTOWN to our MIDTOWN LOCATION at Jefferson Square (1601 W 38th, Unit #3) - next door to Anderson’s Coffee in Rosedale. Two errands (coffee & wine) in one stop = lower carbon footprint and less miles traveled! We’re open Monday through Saturday 10AM to 6:30PM…We’d love to see you! And tell your friends we’re here… :)

Careful selection of fine wines, spirits, beers, accessories, gifts. Competitive pricing. Courteous