Fall Creek Vineyards, Texas (United States) Chardonnay 2019

 This is a Chardonnay that has never seen oak, but it is not a simple wine.  It spent five months sur lie, mingling with the yeast cells that tuned grape juice to wine.  That time together created a mosaic of ripe apple, citrus flavors with chalky mineral notes and bright, lively acidity wrapped in a creamy texture.  It invites contemplation, but is at its best with sauteed red snapper or grilled shrimp.   Ed and Susan Auler traveled to France to look at cattle that might be good for their ranch in the Hill Country of Texas near the state capitol of Austin.  While there, they became acquainted with French food and wines.  Two years after their return they planted a test vineyard and a few years later they were able to enlist Andre Tchelistcheff, Dean of American Winemaking, to advise them.  At the Les Dames d’Escoffier Conference last week in San Antonio,  Susan discussed their efforts to create an AVA, American Viticultural Area, for the Texas Hill Country.  Learning that it is important for an area to be recognized as a wine region, she worked to create the Hill Country Wine and Food Festival  in 1986.  The AVA was established in 1991.