Wine Whines

We live in wine country.  Wikipedia says, "San Luis Obispo County is the third largest producer of wine in California, surpassed only by Sonoma and Napa Counties".  Paso Robles to the north, Edna Valley to the south, and all points in between.  It's a requirement for residents to drink wine. 

The Man and I have been drinking cheap inexpensive wine occasionally with dinner. We offer the better stuff to guests, usually gifted wine from more knowledgeable people.  Before the holidays we made a visit to Trader Joe's and picked up several Charles Shaw wines, Two-Buck Chuck, for $1.99 per bottle.  What a deal.

Last night we had the Two-Buck Chuck Cabernet Sauvignon with leftover McClintock's pork and beef ribs.  (The Man went to SLO Farmer's Market the night before.)  It wasn't bad and my usual 1/2 glass of wine was refilled while we ate chocolate for dessert.  I woke at 1:30 am.  Heartburn.  Two fruity TUMS and back to bed.  Wine and TUMS, a most unusual pairing.

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The Man's sister brought a special wine suitcase to carry her Central Coast wine haul back to Denver.  We made a trip to Costco where she found a very good selection of local wines.  She narrowed her long list of Paso wineries down to two that she wanted to visit.  Both places were busy with out-of-town visitors.  I followed her lead and tried the wines she wanted to taste.  One special reserve had a most unique aroma: full bodied, robust, with just a hint of bleach.  The wine glasses were not rinsed out well.  We left; she didn't buy anything there.