The small town of Castroville is gearing up to celebrate its 175th birthday on September 12, and what better way to do it than with a Vintage Castroville food and wine tasting event.
A Taste of Hillside Vintage Castroville will actually take place at Texas Bistro in the charming Hillside Boutique Hotel on September 10, at 6 p.m., taking guests on an edible adventure focused on the French influences that have helped shaped this historic town, which was established in 1844.
An empresario of the Republic of Texas, Henri Castro, brought families to Texas from the fairytale-like French towns of Alsace and Baden to create a new community on his land grant along the Medina River, just 20 miles west of San Antonio.
“Castroville is one of the most historically significant towns in Texas. We are so excited to be part of the city’s 175th birthday celebration and honored to be able to tell our piece of the heritage through excellent wine, culture, and cuisine,” Jana Winkler said. Winkler owns the Hillside Boutique Hotel and is a member of the Alsatian Pioneers Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.
Chef David Hill’s four-course menu includes a Tarte Flambe, Alsatian Meat and Vegetable Stew called Bacheofe, Sauerkraut with Pork and Sausage, and, finally, a Texas Mustang Grape Crostata for dessert. Each dish will be artfully paired with an Alsatian wine.
“Located on the border of Germany and France, Alsace boasts near perfect conditions for wine growing with ancient soils, noble grapes, and with one of the driest climates in France,” Mathiew Muckensturm said, district manager on-premise of Wine Republic National Distributing Company. “Few wine regions can claim pure expression. Alsace is an exception. Every swirl of the glass releases layers of pure fruit, flower, or spice, and every sip reveals fresh minerality. We can’t wait to share the wines of this region at Hillside’s Vintage Castroville.”
Muckensturm, Hill, and Winkler, will also be guest speakers that evening, sharing their expertise on the food and wine of the Alsace region as well as enlightening stories from Castroville’s long history.
Even if you cannot attend the event, Castroville and the hotel are worth a visit – a great day trip for many Texans. In fact, the town has more than 300 historic buildings, including the oldest structure in Texas called The Steinbach House. Now a tourist’s information center, it was originally built as a residence in Alsace between 1618 and 1648 and shipped to Castroville in 1998.
For more information on A Taste of Hillside Vintage Castroville and to see the full menu call (830) 538-3200 or visit hillsidetexas.com. Seating is limited, so be sure to reserve your tickets as soon as possible.
