Happy belated spring, even though spring has yet to find Virginia. Anyhow, I started to put this chuckle worthy and understandable tidbit on my site, but decided to shower you guys with a little humor, much like Mother Nature is doing us.

A few weeks ago several of my friends and others were getting together for a small elegant dinner party. It was requested that a few of us bring a bottle of wine to go with the tenderloin, lamb, salmon and pork loin that were the headliners of the evening.

One of our pals, lets call him Mr. Sideways, has seen the movie about 2 dozen times and since such time refuses to drink Merlot and only drinks Pinot Noir and a few other reds. Well, since this pal has a strong conviction to Pinot Noir, it was my idea to tell him to pick up a Burgundy, a Pinot Noir, the wine he prefers. I figured he could make the best possible selection, but perhaps I should not have used the word ‘Burgundy’. I mean, Pinot Noir is most famous in, well, Burgundy.

Valentine’s Day is approaching and there are many ways people express themselves and celebrate the holiday. Some choose a nice romantic dinner; others opt for flowers and cards, but how about some decadent chocolates and wine? Some will argue that chocolate and wine are not good mates, but Dezel thinks much differently; after all, my palate has never lied to me.

When paired correctly, chocolate and wine can be a match made in heaven. Continue reading for some suggestions on selecting the right wine and chocolate combinations.

Many readers familiar with Cabernet Franc usually think of this medium bodied red wine as a seasoning of sorts in a spice rack. It is used in small percentages in some of the best blended wines of Bordeaux. Even though used in small percentages, Cabernet Franc is essential in softening tannins and adding aromatics and flavor nuances to Bordeaux and Bordeaux styled wines.

Here in Virginia, Cabernet Franc is a common red wine grape variety amongst growers and producers, and appears the best suited red wine grape for the state. The fact that Cabernet Franc ripens early and is adaptable to cooler climates makes Cabernet Franc attractive to East Coast wine producing regions.

Greetings Wine Log Community,

I’m Dezel, hailing from Northern Virginia. I have lived here for 3 years, and for the past year wine has been my chief hobby. So much so that I started my very own wine blog at www.myvinespot.com to document my wine related experiences. It was only a matter of time until I started collecting bottles and needed a way to track my sips and growing collection. Fortunately for me, I found WineLog and have been pleased to share the site with other wine enthusiast who found it just as valuable as I do.