Through our partnership with non-profit environmental conservation organizations, Vina Robles plants trees with a portion of the proceeds from every bottle of The Arborist sold.
Partnering with One Tree Planted and the Arbor Day Foundation is a natural extension of the winery’s passion for trees and sustainable viticulture. One Tree Planted is a non-profit organization on a mission to make it simple for everyone to help the environment by planting trees. Founded in 2014, One Tree Planted has doubled the number of trees it has planted every year.
"The Arborist, a dynamic red blend, is dedicated to our founder Hans Nef, and named for the arborist who saved the life of the iconic 300+ year-old oak tree featured on our label. Mr. Nef was known for his love of trees; he named the winery for them (robles is Spanish for “oaks”) and put an oak tree on the first Vina Robles wine label. That same tree still exists and is rooted in our estate Jardine Vineyard. Which is rather profound, as its health was declining when Mr. Nef purchased the vineyard in 1997. We are grateful to the arborist who was able to save it in 2014, allowing us all to continue to benefit from its beauty and positive environmental impact."
Apr 28, 2023 at 8:41 AM
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Garnacha Blanca is a drought-resistant, warm-weather grape that is a mutation of the Grenache Noir grape we all know and love, heavily grown in the southern Rhône as well as Spain. This wine from Navarra, Spain, is more precisely from the tiny area of San Martin de Unx, an idyllic town with an alabaster church on a hill. While the region boasts a handful of wineries, Hacienda Uvanis is a boutique winery operating under the larger label of Bodegas San Martin. This Garnacha Blanca is light and fruity, with an abundance of white floral notes on the nose along with stone fruits, green pear, and minerality on the palate. It will be delightful paired with an ahi tuna poke bowl from Po-K Loco.
Some people buy wines just because of the famous wine distributor on the label. We chose this wine because of the name (Bruno LaFon) and the desire to bring an unoaked, clean Chardonnay to the wine club since it’s been a minute! While we know many will choose almost any wine but a Chard, we want you to give one of the most widely planted grapes in the world a shot today, especially with warmer weather ahead. The P’tit Chardo has a playful label, but the wine itself is crisp, tangy, and on the cusp of elegant. It hits you with citrus and tropical notes of pineapple and peach, finishing with some nutty flavors. The next time you head to Shuck Me, try their chilled boiled shrimp with a glass of Le P’tit Chardo.
Winemakers Xander Grier and Nathan Valentine named their label “Salt Rock” to denote the coastal influence of the South Atlantic ocean on Stellenbosch. Pét nats (pétillent naturel) are the “cool kids” of the sparkling world because they are bottled before the first fermentation is complete, and the wine is left to do its thing, unveiling flavors that literally change from day to day (but beware: pét nats should be drunk within a few months). The Salt Rock pét nat is a delightful pink-salmon color, and it a swirl of watermelon, raspberry, strawberry in the glass, with more sophisticated notes of Country Time lemonade and a bit of salinity. It is the perfect picnic wine (you only need a bottlecap opener!) and would be fabulous paired with minty tabbouleh from Layalina Mediterranean Restaurant.
The House of Mommessin just exudes fancy French winemaking from their logo, a crest with a golden key, and their austere website which boasts that “exactitude, respect, [and] transparency are the crucial principles of our philosophy.” This particular wine, made from the “sovereign” Gamay grape, is from a Beaujolais-Villages, a vast area that surrounds that 10 cru of Beaujolais. Mommessin strives for minimal intervention in their winemaking techniques (hence, exactitude, respect, and transparency). Prominent Beaujolais techniques include hand-harvesting the grapes, semi-carbonic maceration, and a devatting during fermentation to gently extract flavors. The wine shines with red and black fruits, alongside subtle spice. While a charcuterie board would be a great pairing, something more substantial like a rotisserie platter from Cowboy Chicken would certainly hold up to the Beaujolais.
Picture it—Sicily…hopefully, you get the reference (or maybe “The Golden Girls” is on my TV too often)! The most widely planted grape in Sicily is Nero d’Avola, locally known as Calebrese. This wine has an interested story as it uses partially withered grapes in its second fermentation. This process contributes some body and flavor to the wine while not adding excess alcohol (this one clocks in at 13.5%). Mulberry is a key descriptor for Nero d’Avola. Also present are notes of dried fig, prune, vanilla, and something close to “fruit roll up.” The next time you are in Aubrey, head to the World Famous Moms, and grab some of their meatloaf to try along side the Torre dei Giganti Nero d’Avola.
Verdant landscapes abound in Tuscany, of course, and the wine producer Avignonesi wants to ensure that the rolling hills stay green. The company boasts multiple certifications that show their dedication to eco-progress, including organic, biodynamic, and vegan production; they were also named a Certified B Corporation (a global movement supporting inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economic systems). The Cantaloro Rosso, a Super Tuscan, is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. While the Sangiovese weighs in at 57%, the Bordeaux varietals amp up the flavors, contributing cherry, blueberry, menthol, and sweet spices. A glass of the Cantaloro Rosso would measure up to the decadent meatballs (or beyond meatballs if you want to go vegan!) from Graffiti Pasta.
The Zolo Signature Red flew off our shelves several months ago, so we wanted to entice you with the Mendoza’s most popular grape variety, a Malbec from Zolo head Patricia Ortiz. A former endocrinologist, Ortiz is also president of Bodegas de Argentina, a sort of wine chamber of commerce. She enlisted big names Fabien Valenzuela and Jean Claude Berreout, of Petrus fame, to work their winemaking alchemy. Dark and rich, the Malbec does not disappoint with its in-your-face black cherry, blueberry, and plum flavors that are harmonized with sweeter notes of violet and mocha. This Reserve Malbec would pair amazingly with spicy and umami-rich food; try it with the California Black Bean Burger from Seven Mile Café (yes, it’s okay to have some wine for lunch!).
The Shannon Family of Wines owns some pretty well-known brands: Ovis, Clay Shannon, Buck Shack, the more restrained Steele, and, of course, Shannon Ridge. The Shannon Ridge ‘High Elevation’ Cabernet utilizes several different appellations to bring ripe, bright fruit together in a mix of phenolic euphoria. The mission of the Shannon Family is to focus on organic and sustainable farming, which is never easy at 2,600 feet above sea level! This Cabernet, with touches of Malbec and Petite Sirah, plays into the decadent nature of the fruit and oak: cranberry, blackberry, black cherry complemented by sweeter allspice, black pepper, and toast. It is time to take out your wet naps because this wine could definitely benefit from a plate of St. Louis style ribs from Juicy Pig Barbecue (or for our vegetarians, try it with the smoked jackfruit sandwich).
If you like richly hued, concentrated wine and really cool label art, you will love this wine! We have had the “I’m the Boss” Chardonnay at the bar in the past, and this cheeky wine is a fun addition to our portfolio. It is technically an “SGM” because there is a predominance of Syrah (60%), along with 30% Grenache, and 10% Mourvèdre. The “double ripasse” from the title—not a common wine term—is in reference to an extended maceration on the pomace (basically the deflated grape skins after the pressing) to get as much color and flavor as possible (it is probably a naughty pun as well, given the title). The wine gratifies with smoke, pepper, chocolate, and dried herbs along with juicy black and red fruits. It will stand up to a bold beef entrée, like brisket burnt ends from Prairie House. This wine is limited in quantities as only 10 cases made it to the United States. We have committed to 5 of those cases and may be able to get our hands on a couple more if we run through our inventory early in the month. For those who have not been around for our Big Dog wines in the past, this is an $80 bottle of wine and you will be able to take one of these as your club wine for the month.
Apr 7, 2023 at 6:00 AM
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So….how are we doing?
Is the new format of the email working well for you?
Are you finding the information you are most interested in more quickly?
There is so much going on and so little “time” to share the details.
So here we go….
Upcoming Events
Get your advance seating online.
You can learn more about all that is happening this month online at Events.
Cigars: We have restocked the humidors with many of the customer favorites we were either out of or very low on inventory. With the weather improving, we are ready for those wine lovers who enjoy a nice cigar on the patio. Smoking is available on our Russell Street patio.
Speaking of Patio Weather….we have our outdoor glass covers available for sale to keep those annoying critters out of your glass of wine or beer. You can pick up a single cover or a set of 4. Come check them out here at the bar, or order online for pick up here at Steve's. Our-Wines-and-Products/Merchandise
Travel Events: We are excited to be working with Walter and Kim Eagleton on a trip to France in 2024 for Steve's Wine Bar guests. Specifically to the Burgundy and Beaujolais regions. We have booked the chateau for two weeks. There is still room available for those interested in spending the first week of the trip with us in October of 2024. You can learn more online at Artistic Gourmet Travel October 2024.
Paso Robles Tastings: We are headed to Paso Robles the week of June 4 - 10. We have been in contact with some of our favorite wineries plus several we have not yet visited. If you are interested in joining us for tastings in Paso, send us an email and we will let you what the plans are as of the time of the email.
March Birthdays: We are going to add a little more fun to this month. March is Steve's birth month and we want to invite everyone who has a Birthday in March to come out on Sunday, March 26th from 5 to 7pm for a Birthday drink. We will have select wines available to enjoy as a complimentary glass of wine for your Birthday. Prefer a beer? You can enjoy a beer on us for your Birthday as well. So mark your calendars and come join us for a Sunday afternoon party.
In closing, we thank you for your amazing support! And to all the new (and old) customers visiting us for the first time here on Industrial, thanks for visiting with us. We are so pleased to hear all the positive comments about the space from those who are seeing the space for the first time. The patio on the front and back, the space in general, and how much everyone appreciates the musical experiences we have put together.
Have a great day and we'll see you soon!
Cheers!
Steve, Karen and the entire Steve’s Wine Bar Team.
Mar 21, 2023 at 11:40 AM
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When people consider Vinho Verde, they usually think of a unique style of zesty wine associated with the northernmost region of Portugal (technically, it is named after the physical location itself, not the wine). The Minho and the Lima flow through the area (also named the same as nearby locations—yikes!), and verdant hillsides abound throughout Vinho Verde. Geography lesson aside, this wine spotlights the indigenous grapes of Loureiro, Trajadura, Pedernã, and Alvarinho. Pale straw-green in hue and slightly effervescent, there are aromas and flavors of lemon, verbena, gooseberry, and grapefruit. An order of Baja shrimp tacos from Rusty Taco would complement this easy-drinking white from Portugal.
Highly rated by James Suckling, the Olema Sauvignon Blanc is both quintessential and unique. Olema’s goal is to feature well-known regions like the Loire and Sonoma which produce solid varieties without sticker shock. They market their wines as suitable for both everyday imbibing and special occasions, and the Sauvignon Blanc does not disappoint! Teeming with zippy acidity, the wine is aged in stainless steel to maintain the aromatic quality of the grape. On the nose, citrus, and jasmine emerge upfront, culminating in a balance of lemon-lime-kumquat goodness on the palate. Sauvignon Blanc can withstand an equally high-acid partner in cuisine, like the Insalata Caprese from Giuseppe’s.
It’s a love story for the ages: in 1908, founder Giovanni Cielo became smitten with a small estate overlooking the castles of Romeo and Juliet in the Veneto region near Verona and Vicenza. Three generations later, the Cielo family has grown the business into a success story. Displaying love for their community, the Cielo family gives to the charitable organization winetowater.org with every bottle purchase. The Rosso, a proprietary red blend, is a lighter, fruit-driven red, with an ABV of 14%. With medium tannins and medium acidity, the Rosso pops with red fruits: red currant, raspberry, and red cherry delight the senses, with additional notes of violet, mushroom, and walnut on the finish. Enjoy this red blend with the Meat Me pizza from Crooked Crust.
It’s an oversimplification to say the French know a little something about wine. Bordeaux, off of France’s Atlantic coast, encompasses over 50 appellations and crafts 65 different wine styles. The Gironde Estuary, north of the city, has created the concept of “left bank” and “right bank” wine. This blend consisting of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon is decidedly “right bank.” The Merlot contributes blueberry, plum, black cherry, and mint, while the Cab balances the vintage by adding a bit more body, tannin, tobacco, and spice. A Bordeaux blend is as classic as a wine lover can get for a bolder red. Sip this wine with an entrée of Chicken Biryani from Green Zatar Mediterranean Cuisine.
Husband and wife Francesco and Pauline head up Tenuta Foresto, a vineyard set in the idyllic Asti hills. They farm in Nizza Monferrato, a UNESCO heritage site, in Piedmont. This 100% Barbera is unfined, unfiltered, and aged in both cement and old oak as the winemakers prize holistic and organic practices. In fact, they promote Raw Wine fairs, which are two-day events where hundreds of like-minded grape-growers, vintners, and wine lovers get together to showcase low-intervention, biodynamic, and natural wines (the next fair is in Los Angeles on April 23-24!). Delicate wild red cherry, strawberry, and herbal notes permeate ‘La Ideale.’ On the palate, flavors of blackberry jam, plum, violet, and rosemary abound. While Barbera easily marries with Italian food, experience ‘La Ideale’ with a GreenHouse’s seasonal salad, a tangy mix of greens, goat cheese, cherries, walnuts, and roasted sweet potatoes.
Elizabeth Rose is part of a family-run empire that also includes Oakville and Ghost Block. The namesake is a reference to managing partner and grape grower Andrew Hoxsey’s eldest daughter (her husband is the winemaker, so they really keep the business in the family!). Cooled by the San Pablo Bay, the vineyards are swathed in generous sunlight, resulting in balanced, ripe fruit. The ‘Chockablock,’ a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, is certified organic and aged in neutral oak for 12 months. On the nose, the wine offers a bouquet of strawberry, red cherry, rose, and violet. Once tasted, the ‘Chockablock’ expands into a dark fruity delight with hints of vanilla, cedar, and mocha. If you’re wanting some soul food to enjoy with this wine, order a chopped beef sandwich combo from Clara’s Kitchen, and smile as you imbibe.
Following up the huge success of December’s the ‘Bishop’ Shiraz (Svetlana and Matt’s choice) comes the ‘Wallace,’ a Shiraz and Grenache blend from Barossa Valley. These two varieties naturally complement each other: Shiraz brings power and body while Grenache, a workhorse of a grape, adds softness and juicy fruit. The ‘Wallace’ is named after Colin Glaetzer’s wife, whose ancestors hail from Fife, Scotland; thus, the Celtic cross, thistle, and knot on the label are an homage to her Celtic roots. The Shiraz is matured in old oak barrels for 16 months, but to preserve the structure of old vine Barossa Grenache, oak contact is avoided. Red fruits from the Grenache dominate the nose, rounded out by licorice, star anise and smoke from the Shiraz. Bright red cherry and red plum give way to blackberry, currant, and black pepper on the palate. Chargrilled veggies are a perfect pairing for the ‘Wallace,’ so swing by Café Brazil and try it with their Southwest vegan burger.
People love their Paso Robles wines, and this one in particular has an environmental and philanthropist twist: as of the writing of these notes, 32,727 trees have been planted in a partnership between Vina Robles and a non-profit with the goal of preserving the planet. Vina Robles specializes in Rhone and Bordeaux varieties due to proximity to the Santa Lucia Mountains, which trap heat during the afternoons, resulting in ample sunshine in the vineyards and ripe, juicy fruit. ‘The Arborist,’ so named for a horticultural magician who saved the tree featured on the label, is a unique blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, and Tannat. The wine is aged for 18 months in small- and large-format French, Hungarian, and American oak to smooth out the tannins. Notes of blackberry, black plum, strawberry, mocha, black pepper, and cedar dominate the palate. Pair this with something as equally decadent, a black and blue ribeye from Cartwright’s Ranch House.
Mar 6, 2023 at 9:52 AM
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Welcome to March! Well, for those reading this on February 28, farewell February!
We are trying a little different format to the email today. Quick hits first, then a brief written update.
Blind Tasting Events: They start tonight. If you are considering attending all 4, grab the "4-pack" reservation today as it will go away after the tasting tonight.
The first blind tasting is 7 - 8:30pm tonight, and the theme is "Where is this wine from?"
Go online and reserve your seats at one or more of these tastings.
Upcoming Events
Get your advance seating online.
You can learn more about all that is happening this month online at Events.
Live Music and the Cover Charge: We have been asked several times by guests who come into the bar when we have live music if they have to pay the cover charge for the band if they are here to "just drink". The simple answer is yes. We find that most people do come in during live music to enjoy both the wine and the music. But, if they are truly here to just have a glass of wine, people can sit on the front patio without having to pay a cover charge. In the past we have charged cover to sit on the back patio as we normally broadcast the show to the patio so people can enjoy the music outdoors.
Our Monday Night special listening events have been quite well received and we have two more coming up in March. The first is next Monday, March 6th with the Greg Waits Nonet - Small Big Band. Seats are avaialble to reserve online for the event. The next one will be March 27th with a special performance with Rosana Eckert. We will have more info and reservations online soon.
Blind Tasting Events: We are kicking off our Blind Tasting series tonight at 7pm. We still have seats available but get your reservation in early today as we will be ordering the cheese board from 10:1 Artisan Cheese at noon today.
We have four weeks of blind tasting events each Tuesday evening starting on the 28th. Each week we will have a different "theme". On the 28th, we will focus on 4 wines from 4 distinct regions of the wine world, and the challenge is to identify where each wine is from. On March 7th we will be looking at "what grape is in my glass?" The following week will be "Is this sweet or fruity?" And the final week we will taste 4 wines and the challenge will be to identify what price range each wine falls into. You can register for one or more events individually, or if you like, you can purchase the 4 weeks up front and save a few $'s. Along with tasting the wines, we will be working with our friends at 10:1 Cheese to have something to pair with each wine.
Travel Events: We are excited to be working with Walter and Kim Eagleton on a trip to France in 2024 for Steve's Wine Bar guests. Specifically to the Burgundy and Beaujolais regions. There is still room available for those interested in spending a week with us in October of 2024. You can learn more online at Artistic Gourmet Travel October 2024.
Wine Club: The March wine club wines have been chosen and are being delivered this week. We will be kicking off our March club tastings this Friday afternoon! For those club members who missed the February tasting, you can taste through Friday and after that, you can still come in during the month of March and pick a couple of bottles from the list. We will have a couple of the wines still open by the glass in March as they were a hit this last month.
Not a wine club member? You can learn more online at Steve's Wine Bar Wine Club.
Have a great day and we'll see you soon!
Cheers!
Steve, Karen and the entire Steve’s Wine Bar Team.
Feb 28, 2023 at 9:30 AM
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Time is moving forward and February is wrapping up in just 7 days. Over the next several days we have some fun things happening here at Steve's as we look forward to amazing music, fun tastings, and great friends.
Live Music: This last week was fantastic! With the great music from all the musicians who came in to perform, especially the Tixier brothers on our special Monday night event. We continue that musical experience this week with The Pan-Tones Wednesday evening, then Friday with special guest artist from NY, saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk, Irish music Saturday afternoon, and the Ed Soph Trio on Saturday evening. You don't get much better than that anywhere in the country.
Our Monday Night special events have been quite well received and we have two more coming up in March. The first is on March 6th with the Greg Waits Nonet - Small Big Band. Seats are avaialble to reserve online for the event. The next one will be March 27th with a special performance with Rosana Eckert. We will have more info and reservations online soon.
Blind Tasting Events: We are kicking off our Blind Tasting series on the 28th. We will have four weeks of blind tasting events each Tuesday evening starting on the 28th. Each week we will have a different "theme". On the 28th, we will focus on 4 wines from 4 distinct regions of the wine world, and the challenge is to identify where each wine is from. On March 7th we will be looking at "what grape is in my glass?" The following week will be "Is this sweet or fruity?" And the final week we will taste 4 wines and the challenge will be to identify what price range each wine falls into. You can register for one or more events individually, or if you like, you can purchase the 4 weeks up front and save a few $'s. Along with tasting the wines, we will be working with our friends at 10:1 Cheese to have something to pair with each wine.
Go online and reserve your seats at one or more of these tastings.
Special Wines: We purchased a special wine from Piattelli Vineyards in Argentina for Valentines Day called the Arlene. It was a hit by the glass and several people have purchased a bottle. We still have a few bottles left, so consider grabbing one for your next special dinner or party.
"The Arlene is an elegant and rare vintage like none we have released or experienced at Piattelli." - Alejandro Nesman, Winemaker, Piattelli.
We also picked up a really fun Cabernet from our friends at Vina Robles in Paso Robles, CA; the Mountain Road Reserve Cabernet. Another big bodied, full flavored Cabernet Sauvignon. Quantities are limited, so make sure to grab a bottle or two in the next couple of weeks.
Check out the calendar online to see what events and experiences we have scheduled in the days to come and make your reservation.
We hope to see you this week, and if not, then some day over the next couple of weeks.
Upcoming Events include:
Get your advance seating online.
You can learn more about all that is happening this month online at Events.
Have a great day and we'll see you soon!
Cheers!
Steve, Karen and the entire Steve’s Wine Bar Team.
Feb 22, 2023 at 7:23 AM
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Happy Super Bowl Sunday! We hope your day is a going well, and if you have a "horse in the race" we wish you good luck on a big win!
Even though we do not have Big Plans for today, we will have the game on our TV's with sound and we will be pouring amazing wines, and plenty of options on beer too! Looking to enjoy some patio time? We'll have the TV and sound going on the back patio and if you wish to enjoy a cigar during the game, we have a nice selction to consider. So come join us if you do not have any party plans in place today, or you just need to get away from house. Don't forget, you can bring your own food, so feel free to order up from one of the restaurants around us, or bring in your own Sunday game-day spread.
Tomorrow (Monday) we have the amazing Tixier brothers performing at 7pm. We have sold out of the advance reserve seats, but we still have room available if you desire to stop in and join us for the concert. Doors will officially open at 6pm and the music is planned to start at 7pm. This is not a "business as usual" night as will not be doing wine tastings and other activities so we can create a quiet space to listen and enjoy these amazing musicians.
Tuesday is Valentines Day. We have some fun options for those looking to have a very special glass of wine with their loved one, plus a cholcolate and a rose.
We have purchased a special wine from Piattelli Vineyards in Argentina. High in the Andes surrounding Salta, Piattelli’s Cafayate wines are made from select estate fruit grown at over 5,900 feet elevation. The splendor of this area, with its pure water and extreme thermal amplitudes produce grapes bursting with flavor, which make this not only one of the most beautiful, but also one of the premier grape growing regions in the world. The Arlene is an award winning red blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, aged 18 months in French & American oak barrels.
"The Arlene is an elegant and rare vintage like none we have released or experienced at Piattelli." - Alejandro Nesman, Winemaker, Piattelli.
When we had a chance to taste this wine a couple of weeks ago with the representative from the winery, we felt is was special enough to bring in just for this Valentine's evening. Plus the story that goes along with it is perfect for Valentine's Day. So stop in and hear the story and have a glass or two with us this Tuesday.
We will have a "package" that includes 1 glass of the Arlene, chocolate from Candy Haven, and a yellow rose (you will know why when you hear the Arlene Story) for $35. If you wish to simply enjoy a glass sans chocolate and the rose, it is $25.
Prefer a different wine from a red blend? We will be doing a similar package with any of our wines on our By-the-Glass Menu with the chocolate and a rose for $25.
On Wednesday night we have a special performance with Ginny Mac. We have sold out of all our table seating for the evening, but like our Monday concert, we will have room for people to sit at the bar, the patio, and the tasting room.
We hope to see you this week, and if not, then some day over the next couple of weeks.
Upcoming Events include:
Get your advance seating online.
You can learn more about all that is happening this month online at Events.
Stay tuned for a special announcement about our blind tasting events coming soon.
Have a great day and we'll see you soon!
Cheers!
Steve, Karen and the entire Steve’s Wine Bar Team.
Feb 12, 2023 at 12:06 PM
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It is hard to believe we are just a couple of weeks away from the Denton Day of the Dead Festival and Halloween. Are you planning to host a party, or go out and enjoy the festivities with friends? If so, we have some fun wines for you to order and show your "holiday spirit"!
We are ordering a few cases of wine from the Paso Robles Winery, Chronic Cellars. There is a limited amount of product here in Texas and we want to give you a chance to grab a few bottles that are ideal for your spooky experiences.
Go online to check out our specials on six different wines. They are all very tasty Paso Robles wines and are super friendly to the pallet and the eye.
The labels are all ideal for the Halloween and Day of the Dead festivities. And bonus, the juice in the bottle is pretty tasty too!
2015 Dead Nuts Zin Blend
2020 Pink Pedals Rose
2020 Purple Paradise Zin Blend
2020 Sir Real Cabernet
2019 Sofa King Bueno Syrah Blend
Spritz and Giggles Sprakling Wine
2020 Suite Petite Sirah
As an incentive to jump online today and purchase some wine, we are pricing them at a very low price. And each day they will increase in price by $1 until the 27th. Order online ASAP and pick up the wine at Steve's Wine Bar October 27. We will be doing a pick up party and special tasting with the wines that evening (10/27) 6-8pm while Twilight Tunes is happening in the park across the street from our place. You can come in and pick up your wine anytime after 2pm that day or over the weekend to be ready for your parties that weekend and Halloween night. We will also be selling the wine by the glass and bottle that evening for Twilight Tunes and over the weekend for Day of the Dead October 28 - 30th while supplies last.
Order your wines today at Our-Wines-and-Products/Specials
Again, each day our price will go up by $1 on each bottle until the 27th, so get in early to get the best pricing.
There is limited availability in Texas, so take advantage of this opportunity today!
Oct 17, 2022 at 6:06 AM
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DENTON, Texas -- The streets are quiet on the Denton Square, normally bustling during this Thursday lunch hour, and most businesses are operating on limited hours due to COVID-19, which has affected musicians and small business owners alike.
Marked by red framed doors and windows on a near empty Industrial Street is Steve’s Wine Bar, doing the same to limit the spread of novel virus COVID-19 and allowing only to-go orders of their selections of beer, wine, and cigars. On a normal night, glasses clinking and the smooth sounds of jazz would ring through the air. It’s a hotspot for jazz. Now, it’s dark inside, as it’s not yet open, dimly illuminated by the light falling through the windows.
At the back, a silver-haired man clad in khaki shorts and a light blue shirt arranges the patio seating. He’s the namesake of Steve's Wine Bar, Steve Severance. Before COVID-19 forced gatherings in public places to be reduced significantly or stopped completely, Steve had booked performances up until May for the bar. Though concerts can no longer be held with a live audience, Steve and his wife, Karen Severance, still find ways to accommodate the new changes and offer some sense of normalcy to customers and performers.
“I actually made an offer, just kind of a general public offer, to people out there if they’re looking for a piano to play on,” Steve said. “And they want to practice or play while we’re open, they’re more than welcome to do so.” Steve said there were no takers at the time, but wouldn’t mind having someone playing as customers come in to pick up their to-go orders.
Since then, Steve’s Wine Bar has streamed a couple of musicians playing live on Facebook. Karen, who Steve calls the face of Steve’s Wine Bar, said social distancing and not being able to sit and talk with customers has been hard for them since they’re sociable people.
“We’re like ‘that’s to-go, you can’t stay here.’ They want to stay and talk. We had a woman yesterday who just lost her sister, and I gave her a glass to-go,” Karen said. “She just wanted to talk a little bit, so keeping our distance, we let her talk. It's really hard on her because she’s not able to be around anybody.”
Staff have also had to deal with the effects of COVID-19, adhering to social distancing and limiting the amount of people in one space. Therefore, only one employee a day is scheduled to come in for a shift. For some of these employees, this is their sole source of income, and COVID-19 has brought unforeseen circumstances.
“We base everything on, not so much the wine, but coming in to enjoy your company, your friends, so that’s what makes it difficult,” Karen said. “I feel really bad for our staff. For them, we’re hoping that maybe we could come back and work out something if we
could get one of the loans that are available to us so that way we could take care of them in this time.”
Before the declared pandemic caused by coronavirus, Steve had a 12 hour workday that he spent the first half tending to the business’s social media page and website and other tasks related to the bar. The other half was spent servicing the bar and interacting with patrons. “I’m always working on something for the wine bar,” Steve said. “My day just kind of flows from about 8 or 9 in the morning until the time I get home about midnight. The morning is spent at home.”
But when Steve isn’t working on something for the wine bar, he’s playing his trumpet. Steve said he prefers big band jazz, and it has been in his life from an early age. He got his degree in music performance and really enjoys big band jazz, which brought him to L.A. after college. “That's kinda the background on jazz is I grew up with it by listening to lots of big bands,” Steve said. “Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, you name it.”
Steve is also plays trumpet for the First United Methodist Church in Denton with a group called Mosaic, which has been together 4 years and he sometimes has the band play at the wine bar. “I play at the First United Methodist Church, 9:45 service is called the Mosaic Service, and we’ve got a 13-piece band,” Steve said. “It’s got 6 horns in it, and I play trumpet. We do a fun variety of music that is written specifically for the band that we do at church. Then we also do other fun things, funk and blues, and lots of mixed stuff.”
Jeffry Eckels, a full time musician and friend of the Severances, met Steve around when the bar first opened in 2016, is another part of the Mosaic ensemble. Before COVID-19, they’d perform every Sunday. Prior to that, during their encounter in 2016, Steve saw Eckels playing at a coffee shop on Wednesday nights and wanted him on board as a jazz bassist at the wine bar. “The gentleman I knew who was performing every Wednesday night at a coffee shop, called the White House, when they shut down, he lost his Wednesday night gig,” Steve said. “When I approached him and said, ‘hey, i’m opening a wine bar, would you like to move your gig from there over to my place?’ that kind of kickstarted the idea of some jazz.”
Eckles describes Steve’s trumpet playing happily, remarking on his humbleness when it comes to trumpet. He said Steve is an incredible trumpet player and performer but won’t admit it. In regard to performing together, Eckels said he was discussing options for live streaming with Steve at the wine bar and giving the people something to enjoy. “We’re in the process of fixing, in fact, you beat me to the punch, I was gonna call him this morning trying to figure out the best way to get audio into the video and we’re thinking about doing the “COVID Sessions,” Eckels said. “We physically distance, of course. But he’s got a beautiful grand piano there. Maybe a duo or a trio and Steve and the engineer and we stream live from there.”
There are many musicians who want to play at the bar, and it has been a go-to spot for many UNT jazz professors. With a welcoming, familial atmosphere where locals flock, Eckels has described the bar as “Denton’s ‘Cheers." With the role Steve and Karen play in contributing to Denton’s noteworthy music scene, giving musicians a platform to perform is still important. While the music scene has gone quiet in Denton, as has much of the life here, jazz still finds a way at Steve’s Wine Bar.
Steve has always been a dreamer. In the future, he hopes to spice up the Denton Jazz scene even more, maybe introducing new events. Like many other small businesses in the area, he’s got big plans he wants to put into motion. “I’d love to come up with a little Industrial Street Jazz Fest,” Steve said. “I think that'd be a lot of fun.”
Jeffrey Eckles passed away in July of 2020. We all miss him very much. He was the driving force behind the musical experience people now have when visiting Steve's Wine Bar. Some of the most incredible music happens during the live performances and customers are always amazed at the talent and music they see and hear while enjoying their evening at Steve's.
The Mosaic Service continues at FUMC but is now at 9am.
Steve's Wine Bar is still hosting live music on a weekly basis. The schedule of events can be found on their webiste under Events or on their Facebook Events page.
Jul 8, 2022 at 8:01 AM
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Apr 19, 2022 at 9:32 AM
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