Texas Wine & Chocolate Trail

Come on up for a stay at the ranch and enjoy the Wine & Chocolate Trail  which is another wonderful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. For four days on the first two weekends in February 2012, your trail ticket allows you to sample two wine tastings paired with a wonderful chocolate delicacy at each participating winery along the Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail.

Your Single ticket is priced at $25, or save 10% when you purchase a Ticket-for-Two-is priced at $45. Your ticket purchased for this event is good February 4, 5, 11 or 12, 2012, regardless of your purchase dated. Blaze your own trail. You can start at any winery you want and end where you want.The wine and chocolate pairings for the 10 member wineries are posted below.

Bernhardt Winery: A plate of elegant chocolates consisting of a dark chocolate truffle, a white chocolate dipped strawberry, and milk chocolate fudge tart paired with semi-sweet red Crimson and Port Reserve.

Colony Cellars: Crisp Texas Red paired with Chocolate Biscotti’s and Bliss Chocolate.

Cork This! Winery: Chocolate Fountain with all the fixings, paired with “One Night Stand” Cabernet Sauvignon and “Alchoholiday” Peach Apricot Chardonnay.

Messina Hof Winery & Resort: Port brownie paired with Messina Hof Reflections 2008, as well as their Chocolate Fudge with Nuts, paired with Messina Hof Private Reserve Port 2005.

Pleasant Hill Winery: Receive a welcoming taste of our 2010 Sangiovese when you arrive. Follow that with a perfect pairing of our Tawny Rosso Forte and a port brownie with a port chocolate glaze.

Retreat Hill Cellars: Pick your pair of wines to complement an assortment of five hand-crafted Chocolate Cake Balls from Sweet Tooth Montgomery.

Retreat Hill Winery & Vineyard: Receive a welcoming taste of Retreat Hill Dulce Blanco followed with slow-smoked chicken and rice with Chocolate Mole’ Sauce paired with Retreat Hill Sunset Syrah.

Saddlehorn Winery: White and Dark Chocolate paired with newly released Black Spanish Dessert Wine (Port) and Blanc du Bois (Dulce).

Texas Star Winery: Receive a welcoming taste of sparkling Hibiscus wine paired with a decadent raspberry chocolate tart with truffle garnish, followed by Prickly Pear wine.

Windy Winery: Receive a welcoming taste of Linda’s Sparkling Blanc and a delicious Chocolate Cobbler paired with Sparkling Syrah.

A Tuscan Garden Quilt Show

Brenham, Texas 77833

“Make Every Stitch Count.”

Also, on Saturday, January 28, learn about the history and symbolism of the many flags that have flown in Texas, with guest speaker and former TSSAR president Tom Green. Try your hand at putting a stitch into a re-creation of an early Texas flag.

For details and fees for these events, call (936) 878-2214 ext. 246, or visit Birthplace of Texas.

Texas-Sized Antiques Fare At Original Round Top Fair

By Tom O’Hara:  “The Original Round Top Texas Antiques Fair, hosted by Susan and Bo Franks September 28–October 1, saw more than 250 exhibiting dealers offering antiques and collectibles from the earliest American styles through Biedermeier from Europe, lacquered furniture from Asia and even some of the later industrial fashions for the home and workplace.

Begun as a venue for American country-style antiques in “The Big Red Barn,” the show has expanded over the last five years with the addition of the air-conditioned marquee Continental Tent and the Big Red Barn Tent to allow for expanded inventories and styles, including many dealers that specialize in Continental, industrial and even some later Nineteenth Century styles. Carmine Dance Hall, located just over the hill, also offered air-conditioned space as part of this show……”  Read more of what was sold and what was available.

The next edition of the show will be April 4–8. For more information, 512-237-4747 or www.RoundTopTexasAntiques.com .

Pleasant Hill Winery in Brenham Texas

Pleasant Hill Winery introduces 2010 Sangiovese with Caprese Bruschetta.

Italian diced tomatoes have been marinated in olive oil and basil , spooned over bread slices, topped with Mozzarella and toasted to perfection.

(Enjoy a glass of Sangiovese 2010 and the food pairing for $12.)

The Sangiovese Food Pairing is a 2-day event.

Enjoy it Saturday, January 21, 2012 11:00 – 6:00 and Sunday, January 22, 2012 noon – 5:00

Texas Antique Shopping Winter Extravaganza

BIG RED BARN WINTER ANTIQUES SHOW

JANUARY 14 & 15, 2012 with show hours Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 10-4………stay at the ranch for a really great weekend escape!  We are just a cool easy drive away….. more info

Wine Walk Downtown Brenham

Brenham Uptown Swirl – A Wine Walk…….January 14, 2012

Shake off those after-holidays blues on Saturday, January 14, from 2 – 7 pm (MLK weekend.) Kick off the New Year with an afternoon and evening of wine tasting in quaint stores and other locations around Brenham’s downtown district.

With the purchase of a beautifully boxed, one-of-a-kind keepsake wine glass, visitors can collect tickets to sample 20 wines, varieties both local and from around the world. Wine glasses may be purchased in advance online at Brenham Uptown Swirl, at several locations in downtown Brenham or on the day of the event at the downtown Ticket Booth. A map of tasting locations will also be provided. For more information, call 979-337-7384 or visit Brenham Uptown Swirl.

Stay with  us at the ranch and enjoy one of our Romantic Texas Getaway Packages to make it a completely memorable weekend getaway Texas style!

This is one  of the coolest things to happen lately in Brenham, Texas, the historical hub of Washington County!  If you love history and architecture, you don’t want to miss this during your stay at the ranch…….

Visitors view an underground cistern in Toubin Park after a dedication program Tuesday. The program included a historical recreation of “The Burning of Brenham” by post-Civil War Union troops occupying the town, which led to installation of a series of cisterns for fire fighting. Arthur Hahn/reprints at www.brenhambanner.com

By ARTHUR HAHN/Managing Editor

Mark Denton of the Texas Historical Commission’s archaeology division said he’d never seen anything like it.

“Not many cities call the historical commission and say, ‘Hey, come look what we’ve found in our street,’” Denton said at Tuesday’s dedication of the new Toubin Park in downtown Brenham. “It truly is a unique thing. I’ve seen no other examples like it in the rest of the state.”

“It” is an underground cistern, discovered in 2000 by a city of Brenham street crew doing repairs at downtown intersection.  Realizing what had been found……..

Holiday Simmer

3 cinnamon sticks
3 bay leaves
1/4 cup whole cloves
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 lemon slices
2 tablespoons orange peel
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 quart water

Mix all ingredients in medium saucepan. Simmer on low heat. Add water as needed throughout the day. I leave the same batch on the stove for a few days!

Round Top Texas Holiday Event

Traditional holiday carols with follow the performance accompanied from the stage by James Dick, the Institute’s founder and artistic director. Following the carols, make sure to join us for wassail and treats at our free Annual Holiday Reception in the School Building across from the Festival Concert Hall.

Get your Christmas shopping done in downtown Brenham before enjoying  the festivities in Round Top!

Bayou City Chorale & Guests,  Saturday, December 10, 2011 @ 3:00PM, Festival Concert Hall | Tickets: $20/$10

Tickets are available online or by calling (979) 249-3129.