Austinist Giveaway: Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival Latin Sizzles Dinner Tomorrow Night

We are crushed that one of the hottest event at the Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival - tonight’s Sip and Stroll done got sold out. We are completely missing out on both champagne and chatting up the Bubbly Professor - Jane Nickles. We are also missing out on wandering down to (sometimes yay, sometimes nay) Cru Wine Bar, where we would have been force-fed white wine. We are also, alas, not heading over to Malaga where Chef Alex might have plied us with tapas and red wine.

Le sigh.

As we speak, the Sip and Stroll, (brainchild of Erika White, Festival Coordinator for this year’s THCWFF) starts off this year’s Festivities with a bang. We have the inside scoop with Miss Jane, wine instructor at the Texas Culinary Academy (aka the Bubbly Professor) and asked her for the low down on this high brow wine bar crawl which we'll include after the jump. You might have missed out on this gem, but play your cards right and you can skip the missing out on the fancy Latin Sizzles dinner at the Texas Disposal Systems Wild Game Ranch Thursday night. Such bad grammar! Such good prizes!

All you have to do is enter to win and you and a friend, or possibly a loved one, or maybe someone who is blackmailing you, may be joining us Thursday night for the wine and the eating and the people watching.

Update: Congrats, Halie!

By the way, if you’d like to sign up for next year’s Sip and Stroll, talk about bubbly, or have something to say about any other type of wine, we have it from a reliable source that Miss Jane will be hanging out under the wine tent at the Sunday Fair. Look for the blonde with the glass of bubbly in her hand. She’ll be happy to answer any wine questions you may have, or, if you prefer, engage you in a knock-down, drag-out fight over a glass of White Zinfandel. Watch out!

So we know it's too late to go, but here's the DL on what we're missing as we speak tonight, according to Miss Jane:

Lucky guests congregate at Cork and Company this afternoon, and be treated to four of the finest sparkling wines this part of Texas has ever seen, each one lovingly paired with the perfect food. So what’s on the menu?

The first wine poured will be one with a pedigree indeed, Comte Audoin Dampierre Cuvee des Ambassadors Brut Champagne. Wow…that sounds fancy! So what is Miss Jane going to pair with this bubbly? Believe it or Not…Popcorn! Explain yourself, Miss Jane!!! “I know it sounds crazy, but as far as food and wine pairings go, this is amazing! Think about it...light, airy texture on light, airy texture…plus the match of buttery-toasty-rich flavors with buttery-toasty-rich flavors…it’s the ultimate interplay of wine and food!”

Next up, it’s Piper-Heidsieck Rose Brut Sauvage Champagne. Miss Jane’s Food Pairing for this bubbly is a little easier to understand: Champagne and Caviar, of course! It’s a classic, the perfect duo of luxuries in synch. The Bubbly Professor sez, “the prominent acidity of the bubbly contrasts beautifully with the oiliness and saltiness of the caviar.” Well, all we can say is “Yum!!”

Next, it’s Gruet Rose Brut Sparkling Wine, accompanied by Parmesan-Stuffed Mushrooms. As a sweet finale you’ll get Moet Nectar Demi-Sec Champagne accompanied by White Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries.

Why didn’t we buy tickets?

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