Your Austin Holiday Gift Guide

With mere days before the big day we’ve amassed a shopper’s shortlist of our favorite local goodies to put more fa-la-la-la-la in your holaday gift giving. ❄️ ❄️❄️  These gift ideas are sure to delight the senses!

Owl bet you have someone on your list who would love one of these granite owls. Perfect for the garden! Available at Hill Country Water Gardens – our go-to place for inspiration for special things inside and especially outside the home!

Show them the love for your favorite state! These one-of-a-kind works of art are made from recycled wood. Gift cards, T-shirts and more available at Hemlock & Heather online.

Don’t just give them a present – give them an *experience* to remember! Boating Lake Travis is one of my family’s favorite things ever. Gift cards are available beginning at $60 at QuickGifts. Surf’s up!

Kiss goodbye to dry lips and give a hello kiss to a great smile, compliments of Austin-based Lizard Lips! This stuff heals, moisturizes, and protects for life’s greatest adventures (like when you’re enjoying the lake). Available online or at our favorite home away from home… Buc-ee’s! 

“Create world peace one backyard at at time!” Wind chimes from Music of the Spheres are tough as Texas nails but create etheral sounds that delight. You can purchase these online or swing by the East Cesar Chavez showroom to get yours. *And theirs!*

It may be local honey but you’ll send their taste buds into outer orbit with Round Rock Bourbon Barrel Honey. This stuff is the bomb diggity that’s fresh. Raw. And local. Score it online! Plus try our honey-roasted cashew recipe that was inspired by this tasty liquid gold.

What do super Texans drink? Super Texan wine, of course! This wine hails from Flat Creek Estate and it’s won several awards including “most romantic wine,” from the Home Style Austin Team. Available at select HEBs, online… or via short drive to the wine estate. From Cedar Park head west on 1431 for about 30 scenic minutes.

Gift them comfort food for the soul! Soul Popped is a small biz on the rise with Texas-sized flavors like Chicken ‘n Waffles, Banana Pudding, and Heavenly Macaroni & Cheese. Dash to Barton Creek Square or the Soul Popped website to get your groove on.

Dorothy won’t be the only one claiming “there’s no place like home” when your lucky gift recipient lights one of these “Home Sweet Home” soy candles! Vanilla bean, spice, juicy raisins, and oats will ignite the heart and home. We score ours regularly at Honey & Hay in Cedar Park.

They’ll always be able to find their way home with this Austin’s Neighborhood poster. Maybe it’s the Realtor in me but what a fun way to celebrate the neighborhoods that make Austin so great. Available on Etsy.

All the best for the happiest of holidays from us to you!

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty

Email: JoePaul@KW.com
Mobile: 512-222-3302
Web: JoePaulReider.KW.com

Texas Wine Country

Texas. Is. Wine. Country!

As a native Texan who’s been lucky enough to live on an Italian vineyard for a few weeks, I thought I was pretty familiar with what to expect when in wine country. Turns out I had a lot more to experience and enjoy.

At first blush, while Texas wine may not seem as impressive to some as Napa, Italian, Spanish or French wines, it wasn’t until this spring when Wine Enthusiast named our very own Texas Hill Country a 2014 Top 10 Wine Travel Destination in the world when I became promptly determined to make an in-person visit into our nearby wine country. Oh sure, I’ve enjoyed Texas wines over the years (usually buying them from the market) but this newborn acclaim left me thirsting to learn first hand about why the Texas Hill Country had so much to offer.

Setting The Stage

First off, let’s take note of some interesting stats about Texas wines that may surprise you (they surprised me):

• Texas is the site of the 1st vineyard established in North America by Franciscan priests (circa 1662). Texas wasn’t founded until December 29, 1845, almost 200 years later! 
• Texas is currently the No. 5 wine-producing state in the U.S.
• Texas has 8 AVAs (American Viticultural Area) across 5 distinct regions in the state. The Texas Hill Country alone is the 2nd largest AVA in the nation, boasting over 9 million acres.
• There are 420 growers covering 4,400 Texas acres. Over 270 wineries contribute more than $1.83 Billion of economic value to the State of Texas.

Strolling along a sea of blue at Flat Creek Estate

A Texas-Sized Wine Experience

Day 1 into Texas Wine Country I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but our well-seasoned friends escorted us for our first outing.

We soon discovered that the wineries are as wildly unique as the wines they produce. Some are simple tasting rooms while others are fully operational vineyards that grow, harvest, craft and sell from the same location. My Wine Country cheat sheet:

Vineyard ~ A farm or plantation that grows vines; when a wine is labeled as coming from a “vineyard” it means that the winery and vineyard are on the same property.

Winery ~ A facility for the processing of grape fruits to become wine; it may not always be in the same place as that of the vineyard and it may process grapes from a different vineyard.

Tasting Room ~ Usually a part of a winery where guests may sample the winery’s products.

We experienced live music, great vistas, gift shops, a few food trucks and lots of conversation and drink. People were relaxed, approachable and happy. Hill Country charm is abundant here. I think one of our favorite moments was at Hilmy Cellars when we looked down and saw live chickens at our feet!

What’s all the cluckin’ about? Hilmy Cellers, that’s what! Cluck!

Tastings are a great way to sample the wild assortment of wines, often costing about $8-$12 for 5-6 samples. You may even be able to score a free sample or two if you’re specific about what you want to try. Some wineries will let you keep your etched wine glass, which will likely become a cherished memento and a beacon to return. You can often join a winery’s wine club which offers various perks including discounts, special picks or a “free” tasting or two for members’ friends each year. And of course bottles are available for purchase to enjoy live or to take back home.

You’ll likely find red and white varieties and the selection will vary throughout the year so check online before you go if you’re selective about your wine options.

Jetting along curvy FM 1431

Wine Country Tips

Here are a few of my tips for how to best enjoy wine country.

• Plan Your Visit. With over 40 wineries in the Hill Country alone there is no possible way you can consume them all in a day or in a weekend! Visit TexasWineTrail.com and use their handy interactive map to plan your route. We picked 3-5 wineries per day which allowed enough time to relax, unwind and enjoy the music and scenery. October is official Texas Wine Trail Month but special events are held throughout the year.
• Start Early / End Early. Some vineyards start pouring early in the day – actually the morning – at 10AM or 11AM. They also close shop around 5PM or 6PM, so don’t plan on heading out for a night of wine country.
• Expect Crowds. Wine Country is a communal experience and that means there will be other people around – possibly even cats, dogs and chickens. There’s no surprise that when the weekend weather is nice and in full bloom, so too, are the crowds. If you’re into more intimate experiences try going Monday – Thursday as you may find the crowds more palatable.
• Plan A Picnic. Some vineyards and tasting rooms offer light foods. Many have an open policy with regard to you bringing in food and light snacks (please, no B.Y.O.W.). We made a run to Central Market and grabbed some artisan bread, crackers, cheeses and pestos which everyone really enjoyed.
• Drink Responsibly. Nobody likes a sloppy drinker. If you’re making a day trip to Fredericksburg remember you have to get home safely so don’t put your life or the lives of others at risk in the twisty, curvy Hill Country roads which are sometimes hard to navigate fully sober – especially at night! Appoint a designated driver (and designated drinkers) – Even better yet there are tour companies that range from the fancy limos to the larger tour buses that can whisk you around and return you safely to home base. A super-tip from Home Style Austin follower Marcia from Grapevine: Did you know that Texas deer come out in droves after 5PM and it’s extremely hazardous on the roads? Drive safe!

I hope you have the chance to enjoy the special place that is Texas Wine Country!

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

Email: JoePaul@KW.com
Mobile: 512-222-3302
Web: JoePaul.KWRealty.com

Handy Links

Our Pick For 2014 : Most Romantic Texas Wine
Texas Wine & Grape Growers Association
Texas Hill Country Wineries
When In Texas Wine Country : Wildseed Farms
An Award Honoring Texas + Italian Wines

A little slice of wine life at Becker Vineyards

 

Inspired by wine country? Learn more about how Texas and Italy are connected at our other passion site ForTheLoveOfItaly.com. It’ll make you a better Texan! :)

Grape Creek Vineyards ~ A fun day trip from Austin will land you in wine country enjoying a nice slice of Tuscany under a Texas sunset.

View More Pics Of Wine Country On Our Pinterest Page

Valentine’s Day The Home Style Way

❤  Valentine’s Day 2014 Featured Post  ❤

Our Heart’s At Home

Our finest suggestions follow for how to make your own bang-up Valentine’s Day evening for your special ones in your very own home sweet home! Plus, discover our picks for two “Best Romantic Wines” perfect for Valentine’s Day and beyond!

We’ve paired our favorite music, appetizer, main course, desserts and wines with some great “at-home” movie recommendations sure to melt hearts. Fun doesn’t start outside the home – it starts inside the home, with you! Let’s check out this year’s menu board:

Below are the easy-to-follow instructions for a great Valentine’s Day (click the links for the recipes):

1. Set the mood with some great music by legendary greats like Andrea Bocelli or Frank Sinatra. Need a little candlelight? This DIY project for some mercury glass candles will surely put some sparkle in their eyes.

2. Pour some red. We’re diehard fans of the two great lands of Texas and Tuscany so we’ve selected two great reds that perfectly embody the deep, bold romanticism ideally suited for Valentine’s Day: the Super Texan® from Flat Creek Estate and the Piccini Chianti DOCG from Tuscany, Italy. Both wines are tastefully affordable and available at fine wine and spirits retailers like Twin Liquors throughout the Austin area.

3. Tickle the tastebuds. For the antipasto, check out my favorite tomato bruschetta recipe which will surely impress. Take note: In the recipe I’ve included my special secret for how to serve this dish extra-special!

4. Make it movie time. Right about now it’s probably a good idea to turn down the music and pop-in a movie. The Home Style Austin team picked three movies sure to keep hearts happy – Lady and the Tramp, The Princess Bride and our personal all-time fave Under The Tuscan Sun. Why not make it a triple feature and make it a night to remember?

5. Make it red. We bring on the main course with my delicious red sauce atop spaghetti. If you’re watching Lady And The Tramp, you’re probably feeling pretty awesome right about now. Pssst! Cupid’s Secret ~ If you’re one of the first 10 Texans who promise to send me a pic of your own Valentine’s Day meal, I’ll send you a heart-shaped cookie cutter used to make my spaghetti dish and our rice krispies treats! Pinky swear. Here’s how. 

6. Score sugar points! Perform the evening’s perfect touch with some super easy-to-make sweets including Valentine’s Day Rice Krispies Treats or our signature Cupid Cups. Treats made from the heart? Pure gold!

Until the big day, keep your heart in check – visit our Pinterest “Holidazed” pinboard with some Valentine’s Day inspiration for you and yours … we’re adding new pins until the big day!

“Home” truly can be found wherever we hang our hearts and we hope these tips make your Valentine’s Day 2014 the very best ever!

Happiest Valentine’s Day from your friends at Home Style Austin,

~ Joe Paul Reider

Home Style Austin Founder
Austin Realtor®
Keller Williams Realty, Inc.