The Wine Guide: 001 - The Intro

Hey there!

This started as a wild idea - get wine pros to actually tell us what they drink when no one's watching. No more menu anxiety, no more overhyped bottles - just real bar conversations from industry insiders who are tired of the pretense.

Sure, we'll keep you in the loop on local wine events, but let's be real - most weekends you'll find us at Elephant Room or Quality Seafood Market, not some private event. We're here for the hidden gems, the sommelier secrets, and the bottles that are actually worth your money.

This is about building a BS-free wine community in Austin. You're our founding crew, and we're just getting started.

Coming your way each week:

• Unfiltered conversations

• Hidden gems on local wine lists

• What industry pros actually drink at home

• The real deal on trendy wines

• Secret spots wine insiders love

Quick ask: Know any wine pros with great taste and strong opinions? Hit reply and let us know - we'd love to feature their unfiltered takes.

Let’s get into it.

Austin Wine Scene Update

Hill Country's Newest Player: Llano Estacado brings their 48 years of wine-making chops to Fredericksburg. They're dropping a tasting room on Main Street this year, with a full-blown winery experience coming in 2026.

The Wine & Food Foundation Said "Hold My Glass." They just dropped their 2025 lineup and... wow. Here are our two favorite events so far:

• Big Reds & Bubbles (March 28): 100+ wines + Austin restaurant bites at the revamped LZR

• Toast of Texas (June 8): 20 local wineries showing off at Assembly Hall, plus BBQ and paella because... Austin

A New Secret Wine Cave! Cork & Barrel's new speakeasy, the Dead Poet, is playing hard to get. Hidden in their old wine cellar, you'll need to crack their website's secret code to get in (hint: click the black and white door). Make a reservation and they'll tell you the secret handshake... or at least how to find the entrance.

On the way:

• Our first insider interview drops next Friday

• Catch our first picks hitting our Instagram this weekend

• Much, much more... stay tuned 🍷

Want more? Hit reply - we’d love hearing from you.