FORT BEND ISD

Co-Chairs Gena Horak & Patti Parish-Kaminski & The Reading Between the Wines Committee Party with a Purpose Party with a Purpose for

Monday, February 21, 2022 5-7 pm

14135 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77478

Admission: $25 Gift Card Donation Complimentary Appetizers $50 Gift Card Donations Include Exclusive Party Favor Benefitting The Literacy Council of Fort Bend County Please RSVP: asanchez@ftbendliteracy.org or 281.240.8181

Earns State Award for Excellence in Counseling

The counseling programs at Cornerstone and Mission West Elementary Schools and Sugar Land Middle School were named winners of the 2021 Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas (CREST) Award for Counseling Excellence by the Texas School Counselor Association.

The Fort Bend ISD (FBISD) schools are among the nearly 200 schools recognized across the state and the 53 schools in the greater Houston area named to this year’s list of honorees.

“To say that I am proud of our schools is an understatement,” FBISD’s Superintendent Dr. Christie Whitbeck said. “This recognition is well deserved and a testament to the work our counselors engage in every day to support our students in their academic and personal growth.”

The CREST award is given to school counseling programs that are committed to using the state model to improve the lives and academic, career and social achievements of students. Through evaluation, counselors are able to gauge the effectiveness of their programs in five categories: • Introduction to the school and the role of the professional school counselor • Program implementation cycle • Foundation components • Four service delivery components • Program curriculum

“These schools join an elite group from across the state, and submitting an application shows how committed these programs are to their students and school community,” CREST co-chair Jill Adams said.

The Texas School Counselor Association is a division of the Texas Counseling Association, and supports professional school counselors by advocating for and advancing the role of the professional school counselor and the comprehensive school guidance and counseling program throughout Texas. To learn more, visit www.tsca.txca.org.

NEWSWORTHY

Oenophile

By Denman Moody

Cabernets

Brandlin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder Napa Valley 2018 Named in the recently released Wine Spectator Top 100 at $80

J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2018 Only 2,340 three-bottle cases. Best wine I have experienced from Paso Robles from what I now consider one of the great wineries of the world at $100

Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Howell Mountain 2017 Chocolate-covered blackcurrants and blackberries with firm tannic structure and good acidity at $105

Duckhorn The Discussion Napa Valley 2016 Aged in my cellar a couple extra years, this wine has developed an added, subtle seductiveness. Perfect with a rib eye steak at $140

Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2014 There is a good reason to save a bottle or two from a great vintage like this. Mature, complex, perfect with beef tenderloin at $165

Great Values in Red Wines

Winter is red wine season. On a cold night, it is hard to beat a burger, roasted chicken or a steak with a perfectly matched red wine. Here are some winners in all price ranges selected from several hundred red wines I have tasted over the last three months.

Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2018 A first growth quality Napa winner. Everything in sync for an almost perfect Cabernet at $240

Other Red Wines

La Vieille Ferme Non-Vintage While only stating “France” on the label, this is a Rhone blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault. Possibly the best red wine in the world at this price at $7.50

Gran Passione Rosso IGT (Veneto) 2020 Impressive label and bottle design. Contender for best value, all-purpose red wine at $13.99

Intercept Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2019 From famous all-Pro defensive back, Charles Woodson. Aged 18 months in French and Eastern European oak. Lovely red fruit flavors at $19.99

Green Wing Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley (Washington) 2019 Prodigious first release. With 14% Merlot in the blend, this beauty reminds me of one of the earlydrinking St. Juliens at three times the price at $30

Davis Bynum Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2018 Aged 14 months in French and Hungarian oak. Excellent balance and hard to beat at $32

Saldo California Zinfandel Non-Vintage A big, bold Zin with 15.5% alcohol. Enjoy with meat pizza at $40

Teliani Valley Separavi (Country of Georgia) 2019

Similar to a top Cotes-du-Rhone. Another great value at $15

Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2018

I have yet to meet a Gary Farrell Pinot Noir that I didn’t enjoy! A name you can count on at $40