Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Proof.
When a Drunk Driver Crashes into Your Living Room (While You're in It)
Everyone has that one crazy night in college. Mine is just a little different. My roommate Paul, his girlfriend Miranda, and I had just gotten home from a night out. We (being responsible young adults) took the local shuttle bus to the downtown area where we enjoyed a couple drinks. After arriving home at 1:55 AM, we went inside and sat down in our living room. Five minutes later, a middle-aged (irresponsible) woman apparently wanted to join us and crashed her Mercedes into our living room.
By David Parks8 years ago in Proof
Old World Versus New World Wines
There is a common debate among wine drinkers all over the world about which are the superior wines: Old World or New World. People will often voice their preference for one over the other. In fact, people who favor Old World wines are often condescending toward New World varieties. The current trend of wine connoisseurs is a preference for Old World wines as opposed to New World wines. This is due in part to the heritage, nostalgia, and romance associated with Old World wines. However, tastes change over time. It may not be long before people favor New World wines again as they did after the 1976 “Judgement of Paris” blind taste test that put California wines on the map. (For those not familiar with this reference, watch the movie Bottle Shock.)
By Tiffany "Texas Wine Woman" Proske8 years ago in Proof
Best Smoked Beers You've Never Heard Of
You've had smoked bacon. You've had smoked salmon. But smoked beer? Probably not. This is one of the newest beer trends hitting the craft beer world, and it's beer that has been created with malted barley, that's been carefully roasted over flame.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart8 years ago in Proof
An Afternoon in Driftwood, Texas
During my quest to learn more about Texas wines, I picked up my Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil and turned to the section about Texas wine regions. MacNeil references the founders of Fall Creek Vineyards, Ed and Susan Auler, as being one of the first in Texas to elevate grape farming and winemaking to a serious endeavor. The Aulers were inspired to start their vineyard and winery in 1973 after they toured numerous vineyards in France. They noticed similarities between their ranch in the Texas Hill Country and the terroir of the French wine growing regions. Drawing on their inspiration and Texas ingenuity, Fall Creek Vineyards was planted in 1975 and was the first Texas Hill Country winery. After getting this fascinating glimpse into the history of Fall Creek, I decided to journey down to their tasting room in Driftwood, Texas. Driftwood is only 22 miles southwest of Austin in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.
By Tiffany "Texas Wine Woman" Proske8 years ago in Proof
My Appreciation for Texas Wine
This past summer, I received an invitation to attend the 10-year anniversary party for two good friends of mine. They were hosting it at the Austin Winery, an "urban winery" and "tasting lounge" located in South Austin. I had never heard of the Austin Winery, and was immediately intrigued. I eagerly submitted my RSVP because let's face it — when someone invites me to a winery, I'm in! I was also researching Texas wines for a fiction novel that I recently became inspired to write. So, in the name of friendship and research, I made my way to the event.
By Tiffany "Texas Wine Woman" Proske8 years ago in Proof
Best Scotch Whiskies Under $40
Scotch whisky doesn't have to be incredibly high-brow and outside of the normal price range. You can get your hands on a terrific single malt Scotch from the Scottish Highlands without busting your entire budget. Believe me, it's entirely possible these days to get well crafted Scotch whiskies for under $40.
By Joseph Farley8 years ago in Proof
Southern Hospitality and European Sophistication
Autumn is just now beginning to cast its spell on the Texas Hill Country, with burst of burnt orange and gold scattered among the evergreens. Cruising down Highway 290, also known as the Texas Wine Trail, on a busy Saturday afternoon I encountered party buses and limousines full of eager wine enthusiasts being ferried to their next tasting. With five million annual visitors, the Texas Hill Country wine region is the second most popular wine tasting destination in the United States, Napa Valley being the first. There are 52 wineries in the region, which stretches from Austin to Fredericksburg and Lampasas to New Braunfels. On this day, I visited two wineries each offering its visitors a distinctive tasting experience.
By Tiffany "Texas Wine Woman" Proske8 years ago in Proof
Best Gifts for Craft Beer Lovers. Top Story - November 2017.
Craft beer, along with other types of alcohol, is certainly looked at as a form of art. And those who are huge fans of craft beer can certainly agree with me here. There's a lot when it comes to craft beer from both taste to presentation. Those who are very articulate in the field know how to appreciate different types of craft beer. These type of people certainly deserve the best gifts to feed their passion about beer. I'm not talking about buying them a six pack, I'm talking about gifting them handy beer gadgets that they can always use.
By Rachel Blanchard8 years ago in Proof
Best Beer Growlers to Buy Right Now
Beer growlers not only look really cool, they also make you look cool. This is by no means in the sense of being a so-called 'rad dude,' but rather that you and your beer remain chilled at all times. No matter what type of brew your lugging back, these vacuum insulated stainless steel containers will keep your craft brews refreshingly cool and aired to the most tasteful percentage.
By George Herman8 years ago in Proof
Always Have a Drink Handy
Drinking was considered the number one cardinal sin in our home growing up. My father's first wife was an alcoholic, which caused him to start drinking, and by the time they divorced he had an issue with alcohol that he resolved by replacing drinks with milk. My paternal grandfather was quite the drinker, as were my uncles on my mother's side, just to name a few, so it is in my genetic makeup to want to drink.
By Denise Willis8 years ago in Proof
