| It's not too soon to start thinking about | | | | * You might want to consider a wine club |
| Valentine's Day. There are at least two, and if | | | | membership. Cost varies, but a budget club will be |
| you are lucky maybe more, pay days between | | | | less than $30 a month. Most clubs have a three |
| now and that blessed day. So how about some | | | | month minimum membership. The wine club I |
| budget ideas that won't require a bank loan for | | | | used to belong to cost around $28 a month |
| you and that special someone to have some | | | | included two bottles of a different varietal. Wines |
| romance on this special day? | | | | were from all over the globe. The price included |
| * Buy a gift certificate at your favorite wine shop. | | | | shipping. Sometimes I got two reds, sometimes a |
| Cost $10 to $30. Nothing says love more than | | | | red and a white. This was an excellent way to try |
| giving a gift certificate. This is a great gift, since | | | | different wines from around the globe. The other |
| you know that you will probably be sharing it | | | | nice thing about a club membership is that you |
| when the decision on what wine to buy, is finally | | | | pay for the membership each month. So it is not |
| made. The amount of the certificate can be $10 | | | | like paying $90 right now for the membership. It |
| up to whatever you normally spend for a bottle | | | | is pay as you go. Your local wine shop might have |
| of what you both like. | | | | a wine club. Ask them. Here is a GREAT idea. See |
| * Buy a really nice bottle of Cabernet. Cost will be | | | | if they will recommend two wines for you every |
| $13 to $17 depending on your area. I would | | | | month for $25 or $30. Negotiate with them to |
| recommend looking around for J Lohr. I would | | | | give you a 15% discount if you buy a case (12 |
| recommend the J Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet | | | | bottles) on their recommendation. |
| Sauvignon or J Lohr South Ridge Syrah. Expect to | | | | * I could, and probably will someday soon, write |
| pay between $13 and $17 for this bottle. If you | | | | many articles about sparkling wine. Right now, I |
| find a bottle of J Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet | | | | would recommend a nice sparkling from Spain - |
| Sauvignon, but do not want to pay $13 to $17, | | | | Cristaline Method Tradicional. It is a Brut CAVA |
| check to see if the wine store has the sister label | | | | and it is in the $6.00 range. It is not a sweet |
| - 2006 Cypress Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon. | | | | sparkling. If your tastes run to the cold duck line |
| The 2006 Cypress Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon | | | | of sparkling, don't get this one. It tends to be a |
| goes for between $7 and $10 for a bottle, and is | | | | little drier with a light sweet taste. If you can not |
| really excellent for this price range. Remember - | | | | find that one, check out Korbel Rose' Sparkling. |
| Cabernet will go nicely with red meat AND also | | | | This one is from California and is excellent. It is |
| chocolate! Oh - did I mention that it goes well with | | | | distributed nationally. I bought a bottle on New |
| chocolate? | | | | Year's Eve and only paid $9.99 for the bottle. |