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Saturday, July 19, 2014 • Page 1B

Urban winery finds spot on T.C. Jester Live Music at By Michael Sudhalter michael@theleadernews.com

Solaro Estate Winery, which recently opened at 330 T.C. Jester Blvd. (just south of I-10), hopes to put Texas Wines on the map. “We are promoters of Texas wines – California wines started in the ‘60s, grew and had a boom,” said Robert Fritz, owner of Solaro, which makes all of its own wines. We’re working on introducing quality Texas wines to the world. All of our wines are made with Texas grapes – either from the Hill Country, or the High Plains near Lubbock.” Solaro has won more than 30 international awards for its wines, including the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Uncorked Competition, 2014 International Women’s Wine Competition, the 2014 San

Francisco Wine Competition, the 2014 Denver International Wine Competition and many more. The Estate Winery title means that wine is made from the grapes to the glass, and it never leaves. There are only a handful of them in Texas. Solaro began selling wine in 2009, and its estate location, complete with a vineyard, is in Dripping Springs, a few miles west of Austin. Since 2009, Solaro has sold 25-to-30 different wines, and they are marketed directly to high-end restaurants. They’re not found in grocery stores or liquor stores. “We make wine with an old world method – no additives,” Fritz said. “Our wine is very exclusive.” The winery is open for tastings and private events. Regular hours are 1-9 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Beer Market Co.

on Friday and Saturday, and all other times by appointment by calling 832-486-7112. The Urban Winery includes two tasting rooms, two courtyards, winery offices and an area for wine storage. Fritz said opening an urban winery near Houston was the perfect fit, given the residents of the area, specifically near I-10 and T.C. Jester. “We want people from around the world to come to Houston and leave knowing Texas Wine is world class,” Fritz said. “Texans are loyal and support local products, especially if they are shown to be the best in the world.” Solaro is also an environmentally conscious winery that is self-sustainable, said Fritz. On Aug. 2, Solaro will host a “Get to Know Your Wine Event.” For more information, log on to solaroestate.com

On Studemont, just south of Washington Ave. is Beer Market Co. with over 365 different kinds of beer and a ton of entertainment with Thirsty 30 HDTVs and live muExplorer sic during the summer months. Starting at 9 p.m., on Friday, July 25, Michael Flores will perform, and on Friday, Aug. 1, there will be a performance by The Coveralls. Beer Market Company is a relaxed, “come as you are” kind of place. After work or after your jog at the park– either way, you will feel as if you were in your own living room. But better, because of the beer, which they rotate on a regular basis so you won’t get bored. There are over 80 different beer styles around the world Thirsty and at Beer Market Co. you can try them all. If you get hungry, Explorer they have an extensive and delicious menu to complement all your beer choices. For more information about Beer Market Co., located at 920 Studemont, Ste. 900, visit www.beermarketco.com or find them on Facebook. Summer Pils Pub Crawl Saint Arnold Brewing Company will be holding their annual Summer Pils Pub Crawl this Saturday, July 19 in Downtown Houston. Get your first ticket between 2 and 3 p.m. at whichever of the six stops you decide to visit first. The first six stops are Brewery Tap, El Big Bad, Flying Saucer, Molly’s Pub, OKRA Charity Saloon, Shay McElroy’s, and Springbok Bar & Grill. At 6 p.m., everybody will gather at the final stop, Market Square Park, and that’s where they will award the prize, a glorious Saint Arnold pint glass. Designated drivers are eligible for the award and encouraged to attend. They hold those that arrange for transportation to and from or use designated drivers in the highest regard. For more information, visit www.saintarnold.com/news. Common Vision Tour hits Fitzgerald’s Handguns and Forever Came Calling will perform at Fitzgerald’s this Saturday, July 19 as part of the Pure Noise Records Presents: Common Vision Tour. Other bands on the tour include Hundredth, Counterparts, Being As An Ocean, Capsize and My Iron Lung. Fitzgerald’s is located at 2706 White Oak. For more information, visit www.fitzlivemusic.com. The Final Tapping of Station 68 Karbach has been holding Station 68 Nights all over our area to raise awareness and support the Robert Garner Firefighter Foundation. The final tapping of Station 68 will be held from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 26 at Karbach Brewing Co. Station 68 is a brew specifically designed for the foundation and named for the station where Robert Garner served. It is a bold, opulent beer featuring a refined smooth roasted nuttiness complemented by vanilla and raisin sweetness. This beer has been finished on oak, creating an enduring subtle wood character. So raise a glass and keep the glass for a good cause. Proceeds from the beer go towards the charity’s efforts to put brave individuals through training without the financial burden. For more about Karbach Brewing Co., located at 2032 Karbach St., visit www.karbachbrewing.com. To learn more about RGFF and their mission, visit www.garnerfoundation.com.

The Solaro Estate Winery has opened an Urban Winery at 330 T.C. Jester Blvd., just south of I-10. (Submitted photo)

Nibbles: Houston Culinary Awards By Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com

Dining magazine My Table recently posted the list of finalists for their Houston Culinary Awards and Leader establishments are front and center. In the Restaurateur of the Year category, the Laurenzo family (Laurenzo’s, El Tiempo), Shepard Ross (Glass Wall) and Claire Smith (Shade) made the short list. Coltivare’s Ryan Pera is up for Chef of the Year while Travis Lenig with Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette and Amalia Pferd of Good Dog Hot Dog are finalists for Up-and-Coming Chef of the Year. For a complete list of finalists in every category, visit http://www.houstonculinaryawards.com/. Mangum Food Park gone? Maybe it’s just a summer hiatus but the

Mangum Food Park’s last food truck update was on June 3. Their Facebook page status is listed as “Permanently Closed” meaning that Facebook users have reported them as permanently closed. No definitive word from the owners yet. Here’s hoping they will be back in the cooler weather. Houston, we have (more) fried chicken. The Chronicle’s Alison Cook reports that food truck pioneer Josh Martinez, along with veteran foodie Paul Sedillo will open The Chicken Ranch on North Main in the Heights, in late September. The Chicken Ranch will be the first entry for the newly formed Spindle Peak restaurant group. What’s on the menu besides fried chicken? “Super bad-ass sides” in a Southern comfort style according to Sedillo. Cowboy Surfers window gets closer Lance Fegen and Lee Ellis, owners of Liberty Kitchen in the Heights, are closer to opening

the long-anticipated Cowboy Surfers at 34th and Ella in the Oak Forest area. The restaurant will begin an estimated six months of construction this week, but there is no specific date for it to open. Fegen and Ellis have stated for a long time that the restaurant’s menu would be comprised of five food groups – burgers, fried chicken, pizza, tacos and alcohol. It’s a new line up at Houston Panini & Provisions Out with the yummy, but old, in with the yummy and new for one W. 34th St. restaurant. Houston Panini & Provisions wrote on their Facebook page that starting this week, they will have a whole new line up of Paninis. If you go, get a look at their new hydroponic garden, courtesy of Old School Produce, an Oak Forest company that designs custom gardens for businesses and individuals.

HYPO to Meet at Red Ox Bar & Grill The Heights Young Professionals Organization (HYPO) is meeting Thursday, July 31 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Red Ox See Thirsty, P. 3B

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