Oscar Wilde said that, and I have to believe there was wine involved. A beautiful wine, to be sure, but wine just the same.

As it is the gorging season, what goes better with good food than good wine? Well, of course, I believe good wine goes with everything…including more good wine. My Thanksgiving included a number of good wines, two as a result of the generosity of my gracious business partner.

I was set to drive to Tampa to see mom, but concerned about the ability of my aging Rodeo to make such a journey without leaving parts on the side of I-95. Joel offered me the use of his car; a seemingly gentle, gas-conscious Honda that I knew would be reliable and comfortable.

What I didn’t realize is that this little six-speed SI is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a bad-ass six speed that left my worries about my vehicle in a very fine dust. What’s more, Joel, who is always kind and generous, left two bottles of wine in the back seat with red ribbons around their supple necks. One, the fabled BenMarco Expressivo, would have to be saved, so the woman who gave me life could sample a great wine. The other, an amazing Temperanillo called, aptly, “Loco,” would not make it beyond South Carolina. Rich and complex, with dark fruit and bold tannins, yet spicy overtones and a smooth finish, this bad boy is worth checking out for any serious wine drinker.

I also had a bottle of Seghesio Zinfandel, which I tasted with family members who claimed to have never met a Zin they liked. Well, on the day before the sacrificial turkey, they met one. Seghesio makes excellent wines, year after year. And the only Zin better, is Seghesio’s Old Vine. Elegant spice, plumy fruit, and a smooth delivery. Mmmm.

One notable white, I had Erath’s Pinot Gris with the bird, and it was delicious! Those of you who are regular attendees of our tastings may remember this Willamette Valley wine, full of pear notes and a round mouth-feel.

There were numerous others, from mimosas in the morning to Bogle’s various offerings in the evening, and some really good stuff in between. But I was drinking, not taking notes, so suffice it to say I had a good trip.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the shop was slammed on Wednesday, and again on Friday, even though the shop didn’t open until 5. Brunch, once again, drew a crowd, and John and Rhonda have obviously started to practice together. Chef Ed’s brokeback frittata has become quite popular, and we may roll something else out this week.

At the request of several customers, I made a soup (black bean and chorizo), and the weather immediately shot back into the 70’s. Anyway, Ed’s Matchstick Salmon is back on the menu, we are doing creative things with shrimp, and, well, there’s always wine.

Friday, the parade starts right at the corner of Lake Park and The Treehouse, so what better place to watch it unfold than right on our porch? Of course, seating will be at a premium, so you might want to get here early (parade starts 7-ish).

Remember, we won’t be having a wine tasting Thursday. I will tell you all about it next week. Friday and Saturday we are back to normal, and Sunday, of course, is brunch.

So, the weather outside ain’t frightful, but the wine is oh, so delightful, as long as there’s nowhere to go…come on down to the Treehouse Bistro and let the 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind pour you a glass and fix you a plate (OK, so it doesn’t rhyme…but it is deee-licious!).

Shawn