Wine Pairing Ideas for Valentines - 

If you want to avoid the crowds, bad service and "special menu" that is inflated for 24 hours, celebrate at home.

• Plank roasted copper river salmon    /     Hahn Family SLH Pinot Noir $30

Oysters on the half shell    /

     Montmassot Picpoul de Pinet $10(Ask Your Wine Shop For Languedoc Wines For Big Value)

Roasted rack of lamb        

Landmark Vineyards Overlook Pinot Noir $30

Steamed Lobster with drawn butter    

Balleto Sparkling wine $42

Balletto Rose is for drinking while you cook, light meals, salads, or aperitif. $20 

Pan seared filet mignon crusted with fresh ground pepper, rosemary ...

I just returned a few days ago from a half day in Napa and two days in Sonoma. I'd been to both regions before, but not during harvest. This time was different. It could be seen with the tractors driving on the main roads, and in some cases pulling grapes in loaded bins just harvested. It could be heard from the back of wineries as new barrels were filed and fork-lifts brought in grapes. It could be smelled around the tasting rooms, that harvest was here. I could sense, see, and hear from winemakers walking by, with a disheveled ...