46: Texas Wines and Wine Writing Ethics

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, we’re chatting with Gus Clemens, who went to business college when he was just 12 years old to learn how to type because he knew even then he wanted to be a writer. He's held editorial positions with the San Antonio Express-News and the Star Magazine in New York and has written or contributed to about twenty books about Texas and a range of other subjects. Enjoy!

Highlights

• When did wine become a part of Gus’s life?
• What led to Gus writing his first wine column?
• Why was a column about sacramental wine one of the most memorable for Gus?
• What is Gus’s best tip about writing?
• Why is the Texas High Plains AVA well-suited for grape-growing?
• What aspects of Texas weather pose a challenge to grape-growers?
• How much wine does Texas produce?
• Why is the Hill Country AVA the most visited AVA in the United States?
• Are most Texas wines consumed within the state?
• Why did Gus expand his column beyond Texas wines?
• Who were the pioneers of Texas winemaking and how did they get started?
• Where should you start a tour of Texas wine regions?
• Why is Fredericksburg such a popular tourist destination?
• How can you pair Texas wine with classic Texas foods?
• Which wine advertising campaign is Gus’s favourite?
• What is Gus’s least favourite wine advertising campaign?
• What advice would Gus give to his 30-year-old self?
• What’s the worst wine advice people give?
• Why is the farm more important than the lab when it comes to wine flaws?
• Which two people would Gus want to share a bottle of wine with?
• How can you learn more about wine?
• What are some wine hacks you can use at restaurants?

About Gus Clemens

Gus Clemens is a newspaper wine columnist, wine blogger, wine humorist and award-winning author whose wine columns appear in newspapers around the country.  Gus went to business college when he was just 12 years old to learn how to type because he knew even then he wanted to be a writer. He's held editorial positions with the San Antonio Express-News and the Star Magazine in New York and has written or contributed to about twenty books about Texas and a range of other subjects.

Today Gus owns an advertising agency, Clemens and Associates, in San Angelo and writes a regular wine column for several Texas newspapers, including the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, the San Angelo Standard-Times and the Abilene Reporter-News, that often gets picked up through the Gannett news chain of more than one hundred papers throughout the U.S. He joined me now from his home in San Angelo, Texas.

To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the https://www.nataliemaclean.com/46.