THE WINE GARDENER GOES TO THE WINE GARDEN

The State Fair of Texas wound down this week

I guess everyone that goes to the fair has a favorite thing to do there

Some people go just to taste the fried foods

Others go for the rides and games along the midway

I think everyone has to at least stop by to see what Big Tex has to say

I'm sure there are mirrors involved

but I've still never figured out how the midway barker balances himself so well on that stool

After I've had my fill of fried foods

spent more than enough on the midway games to buy the jumbo sized sock money outright

and stopped by to see if Big Tex has anything new to say this year

I like to head to the wine garden

The wine garden offers tastings from a number of Texas wineries

You can try a glass, a flight or a bottle

This year I tried a red wine from Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards located in Pittsburg, Texas

A lot of the Texas reds are a little sweet for my taste

The one I tried was a little drier

and was a nice pairing with the Texas fried chicken in a waffle cone I had just purchased

As an added bonus, there is a big screen tv on a nice, shaded patio

This is still one of my favorite things to do whenever I come to the fair

ROUND TOP - DAY TWO

This is the time of year that the population of Round Top increases more than 100 times.  

Today was no exception. 

It was a nice day and traffic was fairly light compared to what it will be like Friday and Saturday when it will look more like the LBJ Freeway at rush hour.

Many great finds today - two wine themed treasures.

Found this cool industrial looking gauge that serves as a wine holder.  

Can't wait to get it home and try it out- might even put it in my garage.

The second item was a vintage wine bottle- an Italian red table wine by Lambrusco.

I have two others that I have posted pictures of previously.  One is a plain green cylinder for the neck of the bottle.  Another is in the shape of a chain of fishes and this one is in the shape of an elephant's trunk with the elephant serving as the base of the bottle.

Funny thing is - I had no idea I needed these things when the day started.  

Who knows what I'll find that I didn't know I needed tomorrow.