•It’s Chocolate and Wine Day. Don’t worry if wine doesn’t really match with chocolate, it’s matches the occasion.  Chocolate doesn’t make wine taste better, chocolate makes people feel good. Wine brings people together. That, my friends is the pairing, feeling good and being together.

•My friend Patrick mentioned that he sees the same usual suspects at Safeway in the greeting card aisle on February 13th every year at one in the morning. And sees them again the Saturday before Mothers Day. (I hope his wife doesn’t read my blog) I almost went last night after work, it was two am, just to see and take a picture and post it for you, my friends, on the blog but then I decided it was funny enough just to think about it. I don’t need visual proof.

•This Sunday at 6:30 on the local show, In Wine Country, a segment showcasing how to prune the vines will be shown and some of the more photogenic employees of La Toque and Press restaurants are struggling to not f-up on camera in the Oakville vineyard of Linda Neal, Tierra Roja. The Cabernet from that property is profound and everyone should seek it out. Anyone inspired by the show can contact Linda to participate 707-944-8720 in the next class of pruning on Friday Feb 20th or Sat Feb 21st. The price of the class is $150 and it includes a bottle of 2006 Tierra Roja presented to you in a unique wood box. Logo hats, safety glasses, vineyard apron. Serious refreshments will be served. (Relax and enjoy you will not be filmed.)

•If you are traveling with kids in wine country you can let them have fun and learn to roll sushi rolls at Go Fish every Thursday, classes run from 5 to 6. After class, you are in Go Fish ready for dinner. I highly recommend the sushi there. 707-963-0700