Menage à Trois 2008
How very clever of the marketing team at Folie à Deux Winery in Oakville to come up with the saucy name of Menage à Trois for their range of blends of three different wines. With its naughty connotations, Menage à Trois is an easy name to remember. Whoever came up with this name deserves free wine for the rest of his life.
The Folie à Deux California Red seemed like an appropriate wine to drink at a very sensuous evening of belly dancing—a show I went to with a couple of friends recently at Don Quixote’s International Music Hall in Felton.
I love the very eclectic mix of talent from all over the world put on by this terrific concert venue—where you can just sit with a glass of wine, or order food from the restaurant.
Sipping on the California Red throughout the evening, the three different wines that make up the blend—Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot—have a nice chewy texture of raspberry jam and blackberry. Considering the price at Don Quixote’s ($24), it’s a very pleasant wine to imbibe on during one of their shows.
From the French term meaning “shared fantasies” Folie à Deaux Winery, in the heart of Napa Valley, makes a selection of different wines under the Menage à Trois label with grapes harvested from various vineyards. It’s a lovely winery to visit, and usually you can get a free tasting by getting a coupon from one of the Napa wine tasting booklets that you can pick up at any winery. And as the winery likes to say, a playful blend of three leaves no doubt that the whole is greater (and more fun) than the sum of its parts.
Folie à Deux Winery, 7481 St. Helena Highway, Oakville, 1-800-535-6400. menageatroiswines.com. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Wine Events
The Crepe Place is putting on Bellydance Community Showcase for Sunday brunch at 1:30 p.m. on the garden stage this Sunday and during May and June, hosted by Helené. Info: Bellydance International Productions, 335-4567.
Sommelier
A sommelier is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, and passing an examination is required to become a certified sommelier. Congratulations to local Jerry Starr, who recently finished the program as “Top Somm”—winning the Broadbent Award for Outstanding Sommelier Student. Info: je********@ao*.com or (408) 313-2197.
Center Street Grill’s Pouring on the Patio every Thursday
Center Street Grill is now doing wine tasting events every Thursday from 5:30-8 p.m. on its lovely outdoor patio. Aptly named Pouring on the Patio, there will be live jazz, half-price appetizers and other food for half price. Cost: $10-$12.
Center Street Grill, 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz, 423-4745. thecenterstreetgrill.com.
