Bad Wine Reviews and HEB Tasting #1
The first Bad Wine Reviews and HEB wine tasting kicked off May 4th, 2019 and it was an absolute blast! The cost was $20 per person and we just did a non-organized, free-for-all taste of whatever and however the hell you want event that allowed people to move at their own pace and in any direction they wanted. The wines ranged from $10 - 50 so there was something for everyone.
Andrew Winston, HEB Mont Belvieu Wine Manager, gave an excellent introduction of the evening, a description of the reach HEB has in terms of wine and the purpose and vision of what we’re trying to create. There is a huge market for the finer things in life in the lil’ ol’ east side of Houston and we’re trying to embrace that opportunity.
The evening was a mix of educational and wine drinking. Many great questions were asked and Andrew did all he could to provide as much technical information as possible. I found it way easier to just pour wine and tell people they didn’t know what they were talking about when they disagreed with any of my tastes. The two hours flew by pretty quick which I take it as a good thing - that’s a good thing. IT’S GOOD!
I won’t bore you with a long write-up so here is what we tasted through:
Rodney Strong Chardonnay ($18)
Peju Sauvignon Blanc ($21)
The Prisoner “Blindfold” White Blend ($21)
Conundrum White Blend ($18)
Gerard Bertrand “Gris Blanc” Rose ($12)
Freixenet Sparkling Italian Rose ($15)
Conundrum Red Blend ($18)
The Prisoner Red Blend ($37)
Matchbook “The Arsonist” Red Blend ($20)
Trefethen “Dragon’s Tooth” Cabernet Sauvignon ($45)
Seghesio Zinfandel ($20)
Fortnight Cabernet Sauvignon ($20)
Chuck Wagner “Bonanza Lot 1” Cabernet Sauvignon ($22)
Tether Cabernet Sauvignon ($50)
Penley Estate “Phoenix” Cabernet Sauvignon ($18)
What you should see out of this list is your $20 gets you pretty far with unlimited pours of each wine. What else are you gonna do for $20? Go see Endgame? Pffttttt lame bro.
There was a large array of WINESPERIENCE in the room from pure on winos to, “I don’t drink wine - my wife made me come” so there wasn’t an outright favorite or winner of the night. I believe everyone found something they enjoyed and were even surprised by wines they didn’t think they would like. HEB provided a top-of-the-line spread of cheeses, meats and light hors d’oeuvres that allowed the attendees to try many of the wines under different circumstances.
Everyone received some Bad Wine Reviews SWAG on their way THE HELL OUT because why would I let them leave empty handed? Attendees were also able to purchase any of the wines that were sampled and had the opportunity to take advantage of HEB’s always great 10% of deal of six or more wines.
In the future we will have many more of these events and as we start to grow them we’re hoping to incorporate dinners, winery reps, more distribution reps and themed wine tastings with food to match. The way we grow them is with YOU! So to those that made it out thank you! To those that are coming next time - THANK YOU! To those that won’t come - it’s ok…I still love you. But I don’t have to like you.
