November 19th, 2009 Is The 5th Wine Exploration Dinner - With Alphonse Dotson Of Certenberg Vineyards

Here's a really special event. We know Brownwood is a football town and we're pretty sure Brownwood is a wine lovers kind of place. Now football and wine go together and no one has proved it more than Alphonse Dotson. He was drafted by the National Football League's Green Bay Packers, but signed with the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. He played for the AFL's Miami Dolphins. From 1967-1970 he played for the AFL's Oakland Raiders Mr. Dotson has traveled a long and dusty road from professional football to Certenberg Vineyards in Voca, (population 50) Texas. Wine, yes, wine.

There's a lot more to this story but we'll let Mr. Dotson tell you that himself while you dine and taste Gotas de Oro. Alphonse and his wife Martha have until now, sold all of their grapes to Fall Creek Vineyard. Fall Creek is Texas' oldest vineyard. Ed Auler, owner of Fall Creek has called Dotson's grapes the best in Texas. Fall Creek wines made with Dotson’s grapes have won major awards. Well, now the time has some for The Certenberg Vineyards to make it's own wine. The Turtle Restaurant is proud to present the first bottling of Gotas de Oro or "Drops of Gold." this nectarous wine has a heady peach, apple, floral nose with a long finish to match. It is a perfect foil for many kinds of spicy world foods from Thai to Indian to Latin. For our dinner we are choosing Latin. It could also be a dessert all by itself and complements many cheeses and sweets.

Other things you should know about Alphonse Dotson and proof he is an all round Renaissance man and a charming dinner companion: Mr. Dotson is on the board of the Texas Commission on the Arts. He studied Impressionistic Art with George Dureau and is (as we mentioned above) a former professional football player, teacher, and juvenile probation officer. Mr. Dotson is a cum laude graduate of Grambling College. In 2008, Saveur Magazine named Mr. Dotson as one of the Top 100 Most Interesting Personalities. Mr. Dotson served as President of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association in 2006 and 2007.

Sooo we can't think of any reason why everyone won't enjoy this event. Make your reservation now at The Turtle Restaurant by calling 325-646-8200 or online November 19th, 2009 7:00 pm

Our customer, Tom Bowden, 71 years old will ride his bicycle from Brownwood, Texas to St. Louis..

down to Natchez, MS then back to Brownwood. The Trip begins October 4, 2008 and will last about 45 days. Tom is available for speeches and discussions on the subject of Adult Stem Cell Research (or your favorite conspiracy theory, Tom is the owner of the former Dallas Conspiracy Museum). Tom is riding to raise money for The Lance Armstrong foundation. On line donations can be made at http://www.livestrong.org/grassroots2009/ahimsa one cent per mile is $35.00, two cents per mile is $50.00. Let's make it worth the old man's time. You can view trip progress at the following site http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/ahimsa

The Turtle will celebrate Tom's safe return home with kosher hotdogs, home made buns and Texas' Real Ale Beer in the garden out back of the Enoteca on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Proceeds from hotdogs and beer will also be donated to Livestrong.org to honor Mr. Bowden's spectacular ride and safe return.

We'll soon be posting pictures of his riding rig. Mr. Bowden is proof that it's not how old you are, but how old you feel that counts. Some of our younger wine bar crew are going to ride with him part way to Oklahoma. If you are interested in riding along contact Tom at the the crazyguy web site listed above.