With Texas temperatures in the 90-degree range lingering into autumn, you might not need a lot of coaxing to pour a chilled glass of rosé to enjoy with the setting sun. But we’ll give you one anyway. The 2023 Wedding Oak Castanet Rosé has been bestowed with the Best of Show Rosé Wine award at the prestigious 2024 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo International Wine Competition.
Hats off to their winemaker Van Johnson, and the entire winemaking team at Wedding Oak Winery for this accomplishment. The winery’s continued success is a driving force behind the Texas wine industry’s growth and its increasing visibility on the international stage.
This isn’t the first accolade for this outstanding wine. Wedding Oak Winery’s 2023 Castanet Rosé was recently recognized with a Grand Star Medal for Rosé and a Gold Medal at the 41st annual Lone Star International Wine Competition. A Grand Star is the highest award given to the wines with the best scores in each class at competition. It also was recognized with a Gold Medal scoring 94 at the 2024 Experience Rosé Wine Competition. You know you are getting something special when you open this bottle.
A Stand-out On an International Stage
Winning “Best of Show Rosé” at the renowned San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo International Wine Competition is no small feat, and it speaks volumes about the increasing respect that Texas wines are garnering on a national and international level. A highly experienced and professional panel of 60 judges were invited to taste ad score 1,025 wines to select the award-winning wines in a blind tasting format. To stand out in this crowd, a wine must show exceptional quality, craftsmanship, and an authentic sense of place.
This recognition not only highlights Wedding Oak Winery’s commitment to quality, but also emphasizes the growing prominence of Texas wines on the international stage.
The Winning Wine: 2023 Wedding Oak Castanet Rosé
The 2023 Wedding Oak Castanet Rosé is a vivid expression of what Texas terroir has to offer. Grown in the Texas High Plains, this rosé has benefitted from the region’s perfect balance of warm days and cool nights, allowing the fruit to develop rich, concentrated flavors while retaining crisp acidity. The wine draws from the unique climate and soil of the 20-acre Lilli of the Vine Vineyards in Lamesa, Texas, which is known for producing exceptional fruit. The Cinsault grapes grown by Garrett Kellermeier for this vintage once again delivered balance, freshness, and vibrant flavor profiles.
Characterized by its delicate pink hue and bottled at 12.9% ABV, the 2023 Castanet Rosé offers bright, alluring aromas of strawberry, raspberry, and citrus, making it a refreshing yet complex wine. Its well-rounded palate, with notes of tangy lemons, strawberry, cantaloupe, watermelon, and a hint of minerality, makes it a perfect wine for casual sipping or pairing with a wide variety of foods. The mid-palate is balanced with a touch of residual sugar that enhances the fruitiness without overwhelming the natural acidity. This balance results in a smooth and satisfying finish, leaving a pleasant aftertaste that lingers, inviting another sip.
Gold Medal-winning Wines
Wedding Oak Winery is thrilled to be recognized with gold medals for four of their outstanding wines at the 2024 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo International Wine Competition.
• 2023 Wedding Oak Winery Castanet Rosé — Double Gold / Best of Show Rosé
• 2023 Wedding Oak Winery Riesling — Gold medal / Top of Class Champion
• 2023 Wedding Oak Winery Grenache Rosé — Gold medal / Texas Class Champion
• 2023 Wedding Oak Winery Chenin Blanc — Gold medal / Texas Class Champion
Get a Bottle and Raise a Glass!
This Best of Show Rosé Wine sure looks good on the shelf draped with its medals. But you know what? It will look a lot better on your kitchen table. Interested shoppers can buy it by the bottle or by the case at any of the three Wedding Oak Winery tasting rooms in Burnet, Fredericksburg, and San Saba, Texas. They can also order it from the Wedding Oak Winery website.
Pour a glass with your friends and toast to the success of Texas wine on an international stage. Cheers!
(Image courtesy of Wedding Oak Winery of their award-winning 2023 Castanet Rose)
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