The July 31st edition of Wine Spectator is devoted to the perfect summer accompaniment, white wine. According to their cited statistics, “white wines now account for 43% of global wine consumption,” which is a 10% increase in the past 20 years. While arguably more nuanced and elegant than red wine, whites shine with many dishes, including red meat (you would want to pair it with a heftier white like Chardonnay or Viognier, but I say drink what you like!). We at Steve’s Wine Bar certainly have you covered with the most iconic white grapes, like Pinot Grigio (we even have a classic version and one with skin contact in our rosé flight right now), Chardonnay (we run the gamut from Chablis to buttery California Chard), Riesling (I am excited we just brought in a bone-dry powerhouse from Alsace), and, of course, Sauvignon Blanc (we have it all – New Zealand, France, and California). We also have several of the varieties featured in Wine Spectator’s article “10 Exciting White Grapes to Know.” One of my favorite grapes, Aligoté is the second most planted white in Burgundy; you must check out the Louis Chenu, a juicy rendition. Chenin Blanc has been a staple in the bar as we have carried the Les Lys Vouvray for a long time, which is full of almond and stone fruit, finishing with the lightest kiss of honey. The opening wine to June’s wine club was the Cormòns Malvasia, a restrained, mineral-forward white grown in Friuli as well as Croatia. Finally, another white to watch is Vermentino, known as Rolle in France. We offer a California version, the Monte Volpe, which conveys electric acidity plus lime, apple, and pear. While reds far outweigh whites on our bottle menu, we have plenty of whites that will make you smile. You can also try our flight of 4 whites which changes monthly.
Jul 7, 2025 at 6:10 PM
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Good Monday afternoon!
We hope your 4th of July weekend was fantastic, and if you went out of town, your travels have been smooth and easy.
We had a great tasting event with Jeff Faber from Opolo last week. We continue to promote their products online, including their 3-wine tasting kits for those interested in doing their own tasting at home. Please visit our Specials page to order some of these tasting kits, three-packs, or just a few bottles to pick up and take home.
We wrap up the Drops of God tonight with the final two episodes. For those who have been joining us, we will be in the main room, popcorn popping, and wine (and beer) ready to drink.
We will kick off an evening Jazz Jam Session at 6 PM after Paul's Happy Hour performance.
Even though it's Summer, Tuesday is still Teacher Tuesday with Happy Hour Prices for teachers all day long.
Thursday is Half-Price Bottle Night. Each month, we select 10 different wines to feature at Half-Price to enjoy here at the bar.
Friday, the Blues Crew is back. Even though the online reservations are sold out, we still have room for walk-ins that night.
Saturday afternoon, the Irish Pub Experience is back at 3 PM with our group of musicians playing classic Irish music for you to enjoy.
Then, that evening at 7:30, we have a very special jazz piano experience with the Dave Meder Trio! There are still reserved seats available for you to grab in advance of the performance.
Check out our Events Page for all the fun activities we have scheduled for the month ahead.
Just to remind everyone, due to circumstances out of our control, we have been asked to cancel the Di Abruzzo dinner that was scheduled for tonight.
Next Monday, the 14th, we have the Bastille Day dinner. Suzanne Johnson has created a 7-course meal, and we will have select wines to pair with the dinner, all for only $70. Please reserve in advance so we know how much food to make for the group.
The Best of Denton Voting is happening again. If you have not yet voted, we are nominated in several categories in the Bars and Nightlife section, as well as Shopping. We would love your vote!
Under Bars and Nightlife, you will see us in Best Bar, Best Happy Hour, Best Music Venue, and Best Wine List.
In the Shopping category, you will find us listed in the Best Wine Shop.
Thanks for all your support!
Have a great week!
From all of us here at Steve's Wine Bar, Cheers!
Denton Chamber of Commerce: Best Small Business of the Year.
Jul 7, 2025 at 10:00 AM
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España Verde, or Green Spain, is the lush portion in the north of the country that is teeming with forests, pastures, verdant landscapes, and vegetation…believe it or not, it is often compared to Ireland and Scotland due to its craggy cliffs and foggy rolling hills. Just off the coast of the Atlantic, this is the one area of Spain with abundant rainfall; much of the rest of Spain experiences hot, dry summers and, in some cases, is semi-arid. Rías Baixas, the heart of where Albariño is made, is a cool-weather region due to its proximity to the coast; despite getting around 60 inches of rain annually (about three times the average rainfall in the rest of the country), there is abundant sunshine, allowing grapes to fully ripen. Albariño, a variety that nearly went extinct in the 20th century, is the signature grape of Rías Baixas. La Val has generous fruits like green apple, pear, pineapple, nectarine, and a touch of sea salt. Of course, it will go well with any type of sea food, but a more unconventional pairing will be the salty, tangy feta fries from Gyro 360.
The Bookwalter name is synonymous with excellent Washington wines. With nine generations of family farming, Jerry Bookwalter pivoted to grape-growing in the 1970s and 80s, and son John, who grew up in vineyards, worked at E&J Gallo and Coors before returning to eastern Washington to reinvent the J. Bookwalter brand in the late 1990s. With name play in mind, each wine focuses on a realm of literature, like ‘Readers’ but also ‘Conflict,’ ‘Protagonist,’ and ‘Suspense.’ The family’s philanthropical priority is reading and literacy, allocating a portion of their revenue to numerous local literacy and children’s charities and giving their time to community groups. With orange blossom and citrus aromatics, ‘Readers’ captivates with Meyer lemon, golden apple, white peach, a tinge of vanilla, and white tea. Plot twist: this bright white avoided malolactic fermentation, meaning it is not intentionally buttery or creamy like some Chards can be. The shrimp tacos from La Fondita will be a perfect resolution to this J. Bookwalter Chardonnay.
Croatia is home to Zinfandel, called Crljenak Kaštelanski, along with its descendent variety, Plavac Mali. It was iconic American winemaker Mike Grgich of Chateau Montelena fame who learned that the wine he grew up drinking on the Dalmatian Coast was indeed Plavac Mali, and he could sense its similarity to Zinfandel. He encouraged researchers at UC Davis to perform a genetic analysis on the two grapes, thereby uncovering the family link (Plavac Mali’s other parent is Dobričić , an indigenous Croatian grape). Grown extensively in Dalmatia, Plavac Mali is usually a bold, juicy, spicy grape; the ‘Bilo Idro,’ on the other hand, is light and approachable, a red that could certainly be chilled. When imbibing, you may perceive red cherry, redcurrant, blueberry, white pepper, and a subtle earthiness. Bilo Idro, by the way, is the name of Zlatan Otok’s gorgeous marina-side restaurant and wine bar, located in the little fishing village on the island of Hvar. The winemaker mentions a plethora of foods would work with this wine – burgers, pizza, chicken – but I suggest the unconventional route by going with pork egg rolls like you can get from The Pickled Carrot food truck.
There are four levels of prestige when it comes to Beaujolais wines: Nouveau, which are known for fresh and fruity characteristics; Beaujolais; Beaujolais-Villages; and Cru Beaujolais, like this offering from Domaine de Roche-Guillon. Even the 10 Crus are informally ranked based on reputation, with Moulin à Vent being associated with age-worthy reds. Grown on blue granite soils, which impart a mineral undertone, the wine in your glass is a series of contradictions. While fruit-forward, this Beaujolais is also powerfully structured and complex. Comprised of 50% whole cluster and 50% destemmed grapes, this wine was fermented and matured in both stainless steel and neutral oak. Lavender, redcurrant, cherry, blackcurrant, strawberry, and subtle spice linger on the palate. While this wine can be cellared, it can certainly be enjoyed now. Savor it alongside some smoked turkey from Juicy Pig Barbecue.
Della Scala Montepulciano – Abruzzo, IT (Gold)
The Etruscans lived in central Italy during the Bronze and Iron Ages. While they left very few written records, remaining a civilization we still know very little about, we do have proof that they were greatly influenced by wine. They drank it in religious ceremonies, believing wine to have mystical properties and that it could bring the dead back to life. Warriors also imbibed before battles because they believed it was a source of power. Etruscans were innovators, being the first to blend different grapes together; they also were pioneers in aging wine in barrels. Their contributions date back to the 6th century BC, making cementing Abruzzo’s importance for wine in Italy. Apparently even Hannibal, who crossed the Alps in the 2nd century BC, rewarded his troops with Abruzzo wine after the long trek. Needless to say, Abruzzo is well-known for viticulture and viniculture. And the star grape there is Montepulciano, the easy-drinking, crowd-pleasing variety that works with many different Italian cuisines. Della Scala’s version is abundant in both fruit and savory traits: cherry, cranberry, plum, and blackberry transform to tobacco and black pepper on the finish. The Garfield Lasagna from Picone would be a delicious accompaniment.
Forbes has called Susana Balbo the best winemaker in Argentina. Her parents were viticulturalists before her, and they balked when she wanted to become a nuclear physicist instead of joining the family business. To please them, she pivoted and decided to obtain a degree in enology in 1981, the first woman to do so in the entire country. Wildly successful, now her own children help her run the business. And although she is nearly 70, she is not ready to pass the baton on to them yet, staying very active in multiple wine brands, including the BenMarco line. BenMarco was created to spotlight the pure expression of each grape variety featured in the bottle. Minimal intervention is prioritized along with sustainable farming. This 100% Cabernet Franc is sourced from Paraje Altamira, a region of Mendoza’s Uco Valley known for chalky, calcareous soils and altitudes of nearly 4,000 feet. The result in the glass is a flavor bomb of fruit and savory notes: strawberry and plum evolve to vegetal bell pepper, dried grass, and balsamic, finishing with a punch of spice. A fun pairing would be Green Zatar’s Bakhtiari Kebabs, which stack chicken, steak, mushrooms, peppers, and onions in one bite.
In the land of countless indigenous grapes, Aglianico (pronounced without the -g) is Italy’s answer to big, bold reds like Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz (although you will see these grapes grown for SuperTuscans!). It is from a province many don’t necessarily think of when planning getaways to Italy: Basilicata, which is sandwiched between Puglia, Calabria, and Campania (where the variety also thrives) on the Ionian Sea. The vines are sourced from the slopes of the extinct Vulture volcano, which last erupted about 40,000 years ago. This region one of Italy’s least populated areas and is rife with pristine natural beauty and soils that contain a wealth of minerals, which impart complexity to the grapes grown here. When first taking a sip of the ‘Pipoli,’ you might notice the high acidity, present tannins, and full body first, but its structure is well-balanced by fruity traits of red cherry, plum, and sour black cherry, plus more savory notes of balsamic, spice, vanilla, and espresso. Aglianico begs for mouth-filling pasta, so if you can grab a reservation from Osteria Il Muro, enjoy this wine with a platter of Tagliatelle with a meaty ragu.
Jax is a small-lot brand using grapes in Napa and Somona that was founded by brother and sister team Trent and Kimberly Jackson who fell in love with the art of viticulture after seeing their father produce wine for fun, just for their friends and family. They branched off to create the ‘Y3’ line to showcase balanced, “true to varietal” wines crafted by icon winemaker Kirk Venge, most notably from Calistoga’s Venge Vineyards. In a nod to their family heritage, the Jacksons did a throwback to their grandparents’ ranch, called Yarrayne, by using a cattle brand with the ‘Y3’ symbol on it as their logo. This North Coast Cabernet is unfined and unfiltered, which is not the most usual of practices. Some winemakers believe that in getting a crystal-clear wine, flavor is compromised, so this wine is opaque in the glass; extended aging of 18 months in oak gives it a robust undertone. On the palate, there are layers of primary, secondary, and tertiary notes, including blackberry, blackcurrant, black cherry, cocoa nib, forest floor, spice, and cedar. The next time you see the award-winning Insurgent food truck parked out back, please order whatever meat-focused daily special they have in order to create a perfect pairing.
Jul 3, 2025 at 5:17 AM
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Learn more online at the Opolo Tasting Party!
I love a Bordeaux, and we only have two bottles left of a very special right-bank Bordeaux, the Lassègue Saint Émilion Grand Cru. Steeped in the history of Bordeaux and its classification system, which originates back to 1855 in the Médoc, the right bank was largely omitted from the rankings. Thus, in 1955, 100 years later, Saint Émilion crafted its own classification, overseen by the French National Institute of Appellations (INAO). The goal is to reclassify wineries every 10 years, but there has been some conflict and controversy since the rankings began. Most famously, Château Cheval Blanc which maintained a premier spot from 1955 until the 2021 vintage, chose to withdraw from the Saint Émilion classification in 2022. And as a complete aside, yes, it is a Cheval Blanc that Miles is imbibing out of a plastic cup at the end of Sideways (he is drinking some %$*!-ing Merlot!). Read more here...
Next Tuesday, July 8th, we will kick off an evening Jazz Jam Session at 6 PM after Paul's Happy Hour performance.
Even though it's Summer, Tuesday is still Teacher Tuesday with Happy Hour Prices for teachers all day long.
Thursday is Half-Price Bottle Night. Each month we select 10 different wines to feature at Half-Price to enjoy here at the bar.
We will be open on the 4th of July with specially priced beer and wine for the day!
Saturday, the Cats are back for a 4th of July Weekend performance!
Check out our Events Page for all the fun activities we have scheduled for the month ahead.
Due to circumstances out of our control, we have been asked to cancel the Di Abruzzo dinner on the 7th. For those who have reservations, we have offered to move their reservation to the 14th's Bastille Day Dinner.
We will be doing our Monday Movie Night at Steve's in place of the dinner on the 7th. We will be watching the last two episodes of the Drops of God.
The Best of Denton Voting is happening again. If you have not yet voted, we are nominated in several categories in the Bars and Nightlife section, as well as Shopping. We would love your vote!
Under Bars and Nightlife, you will see us in Best Bar, Best Happy Hour, Best Music Venue, and Best Wine List.
In the Shopping category, you will find us listed in the Best Wine Shop.
Thanks for all your support!
Have a great holiday week!
From all of us here at Steve's Wine Bar, Cheers!
Denton Chamber of Commerce: Best Small Business of the Year.
Jul 1, 2025 at 8:02 AM
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I love a Bordeaux, and we only have two bottles left of a very special right-bank Bordeaux, the Lassègue Saint Émilion Grand Cru. Steeped into the history of Bordeaux and its classification system, which originates back to 1855 in the Médoc, the right bank was largely omitted from the rankings. Thus in 1955, 100 years later, Saint Émilion crafted their own classification, overseen by the French National Institute of Appellations (INAO). The goal is to reclassify wineries every 10 years, but there has been some conflict and controversy since the rankings began. Most famously, Château Cheval Blanc who maintained a premier spot from 1955 until the 2021 vintage, chose to withdraw from the Saint Émilion classification in 2022. And as a complete aside, yes, it is a Cheval Blanc that Miles is imbibing out of a plastic cup at the end of Sideways (he is drinking some %$*!-ing Merlot!).
Despite the drama, having a Saint Émilion Grand Cru on our wine list is a huge coup for us. And the Lassègue is delicious! It’s a mosaic of mostly Merlot, with some Cab Franc and a skosh of Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose offers a beguiling bouquet of ripe dark fruits, including blackberry and plum, interwoven with subtle notes of cedar, tobacco, and a hint of mocha. On the palate, the Lassègue conveys an exquisite fusion of flavors. The dark fruit core is complemented by layers of earthy undertones, graphite, and touches of dried herbs. The tannins have become well integrated with time, providing a structured framework for the wine's nuanced profile.
When you try the Lassègue, you are drinking history! And if you are interested in reading more, check out bordeaux.com/us/Our-Terroir/The-Libournais/Saint-Emilion-Grand-Cru.
Jun 30, 2025 at 8:30 AM
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Happy Tuesday!
We are closing in on the end of the month, and we hope you will stop by and help us close out the month with a bang! Well....at least the pop of a cork or two. :-)
We have some great experiences on the calendar for you. So, visit our Events page to see all the details and reserve seats for your favorite experiences.
A couple of events we are adding to our schedule in July, which you may want to mark your calendar for:
Make sure you check out our Events page to learn about our schedule of events.
Visit our Events page to see all our upcoming events.
Cheryl will be joining us on a regular basis to share fun facts, cool stories, and interesting information about wine in our emails.
This month, we are featuring aroma kits to go along with our featured wines. As you know, I often like to inject a bit of education into the club tasting experience (although there are months where we simply enjoy the wines without thinking too hard about them!). In picking aromas, I chose professional-grade scents, mostly food flavorings, that should hold up throughout the month, one per wine. The biggest question is not to guess what you are smelling, although that does become a quandary, but if you agree with the winemaker that the scent is indeed in the wine.
Have a great week!
From all of us here at Steve's Wine Bar, Cheers!
Denton Chamber of Commerce: Best Small Business of the Year.
Jun 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
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This month we are featuring aroma kits to go along with our club wines. As you know, I often like to inject a bit of education to the club tasting experience (although there will be months where we simply enjoy the wines without thinking too hard about them!). In picking aromas, I chose professional-grade scents, mostly food flavorings, that should hold up throughout the month, one per wine. The biggest question is not to guess what you are smelling – although that does becomes a quandary – but if you agree with the winemaker that the scent is indeed in the wine.
Upwards of 90% of what we taste is actually through smell. While there are six primary tastes surmised by our tastebuds (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, fat, and umami), on average we can detected around 10,000 odors. And sorry to say this, but women are usually better sniffers than men. When we are tasting a wine, the retronasal passage, which connects our mouth to our nose, receives scents emitted from the wine. This is the same passageway that causes kits to shoot chocolate milk out of their nose! But this is the biggest reason why we ask you to swirl your wine and stick your nose in the glass before taking a sip – we want you to really get in there and assess aromas and see if what you are tasting truly matches what you are smelling.
Of course, this is easier at the beginning of a tasting before the alcohol mushes up our brains! So for the remainder of the month, if you haven’t experienced the aroma kits yet, ask for you and do a little comparative analysis between the scents and the club wines. And always feel free to let me know if you think the aroma kits were an enriching experience for you! I always appreciate your feedback.
Cheers!
Jun 24, 2025 at 5:56 AM
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Happy Tuesday!
We are halfway through June and heading straight into summer!
We have a fun week ahead, and a couple of dates you should put on your calendar.
We had a fun night last night with the Monday Movie Night. The popcorn machine was working, and we showed the first two episodes of the Apple TV program, Drops of God. We will continue that next Monday with episodes 3 and 4.
Thursday night, we have live music with an amazing young performer, Margaret Nicholson. She will be doing a solo piano show. This last month, when we first had her on stage, the place was packed, and she wowed the crowd. We still have a few open reserve seats that you can grab, or simply walk in and join us on Thursday.
We will be back at Discover Denton on Thursday from 6 - 8, sampling a few wines for the last Twilight Tunes of the season. Please stop by and say hello if you are in the area.
Friday night, we have another young lady, Julie Coggiola, who has performed here in the past, but as a member of other groups. She will lead her own show entitled "The Men I've Loved".
Saturday at 3 pm, Off The Rails is back with another round of Blue Grass and other fun tunes. No reservations or cover charge required.
Saturday evening, The Cats are Back at 7:30. We still have several reserved seats available, and we do have room for walk-ins with seating at the bar and high tops around the bar.
Sunday is our monthly Wine Club Group Tasting event starting at 3 PM. You don't have to be a club member to enjoy this experience. Pack up some snacks and join us! Reserve your table for two online.
A couple of events we are adding to our schedule in July, which you may want to mark your calendar for:
Make sure you check out our Events page to learn about our schedule of events.
Visit our Events page to see all our upcoming events.
Did you know that one of our stellar staff members is leaving us? Dean is moving on to another career, and his last night with us is this Friday, June 20th. Stop by and have a glass of wine or two and wish him well on his next stage of life. He is scheduled to serve until 9 pm, so if you want to be served by Dean, come early. If you want to come and drink with Dean, show up after 9. ;-) We will miss Dean and his amazing knowledge of wine, his style of sharing his experiences with our guests, and his desire to make you, our guests, feel special.
Have a great week!
From all of us here at Steve's Wine Bar, Cheers!
Denton Chamber of Commerce: Best Small Business of the Year.
Jun 17, 2025 at 3:48 PM
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Happy Thursday!
We hope this email finds you well and you are enjoying this "cooler weather".
We will be back at Discover Denton tonight from 6 - 8 doing some sampling of wines for Twilight Tunes. Please stop by and say hello if you are in the area.
We also have a special event tonight at the bar. If you are interested in learning more about Wills and Trusts, we are hosting an event with attorney Brett Bussan. It will be a fun gathering, and the first glass or two of wine is on Brett. :-)
Friday night, we have music with the DJ Rice quintet at 7:30. We still have a few reserved seats available.
Saturday at 3 pm, you can visit and enjoy an Irish Pub Experience. No reservations or cover charge.
Saturday evening, we have the Brad Leali Tentet Jazz Band starting at 7:30. The reserved seats are all claimed, but we do have room for walk-ins with seating at the bar and high tops around the bar.
Sunday is Father's Day, and we will have a fun afternoon scheduled with live music and some opportunities for people to get up and share their favorite Dad Jokes. So stop in after 4 PM and join the fun. :-)
Make sure you check out our Events page to learn about our schedule of events.
For those who would like to reserve for the Di Abruzzo dinner, you can find that online at Dinner with Di Abruzzo.
Visit our Events page to see all our upcoming events.
Have a great weekend!
From all of us here at Steve's Wine Bar, Cheers!
Denton Chamber of Commerce: Best Small Business of the Year.
Jun 12, 2025 at 12:15 PM
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Our Denton Community is Amazing!!!
We have an Italian Dinner planned for Monday, June 9th, with our friends from Di Abruzzo. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to move the dinner to July 7th. What is amazing is that we reached out to a couple of folks here in Denton, and within an hour, we had Suzanne Johnson stepping in to help craft a menu for those who reserved space for the 9th.
With this change, we do have a few seats that have opened up for our Monday dinner. If you would like to join us, visit our website at www.steveswinebar.com to see the menu and reserve your seats.
For those who would like to reserve for the new date with Di Abruzzo, you can find that online at Dinner with Di Abruzzo.
Tonight we have a special performance with Cassandra Berry. She will be performing a piano bar experience along with showing her movie, The Take Away. Reservation fees and cover will help her and Susan participate in the coming festivals, which are showing her movie. If you can't attend, feel free to contribute through the online reservation and make a note that this is for a contribution only, or leave a Band Tip.
Tomorrow afternoon, Off the Rails is back with Bluegrass and more at 3 pm.
Saturday night, Hannah Claire Goodwin performs. For those who have attended our last couple of performances with our young singers, Georgia Barge and Margaret Nicholson, this will be another wonderful night of music.
Visit our Events page to see all our upcoming events.
Have a great weekend!
From all of us here at Steve's Wine Bar, Cheers!
Denton Chamber of Commerce: Best Small Business of the Year.
Jun 6, 2025 at 12:39 PM
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