Ira, you have a way with words....

when are you going on another trip, so that we can look forward to another trip report?

My blushes, Riffic.

(Head downcast, toe scratching in the dust.)

Been told that the extra buck on $2 Chuck is the cost of shipping.

Hi Joe - Thanks for the tip on the wine, I might get tonite and celebrate with my future wife, as she just found out that her mom got the visa for permanent residency to come to the States from Poland.....she's been trying to get reunited with her for the past 12 years......YEAH!!!

LOL...Two buck chuck on the west coast and three buck chuck on the east coast. I guess the extra buck covers the cross-country shipping. Still a cheap deal, and I believe the only place to get it in NJ is at Trader Joe's in Westfield

Here's what TJ's has to say about it on their site: http://www.traderjoes.com/new/chuckshaw.asp

I like the Merlot better than the Cabernet, and the Sauvignon Blanc is not bad either, has spicy finish. Not a big Chard drinker so haven't tried that one.

Beg pardon, it was threeandahalfbuckChuck at TJ's in Seattle last time I looked. Taxes happen.

Guten Ahbend Riffic,
I am hoping the 528 wireless/free IP phone is on line next week in SMdA - I have e-mailed unisono.net.mx repeatedly without reply - typical of C. MX, lol.
Anyway, a recent '01 Hiedler (Austria) Gruner Veltliner - trocken - was VG.
I just opened a '01 Quinta do Alqueve "Tradicional" Ribatejano, PT - pretty one dimensional - many Chile and Argentine reds for 1/2 price - despite Bobby Kacher's involvement!!!
M

Signing off now... early tomorrow, we're headed to Bamberg--the Franconian city championed by one RufusTFirefly--for a long day trip. Forecast for all of Bavaria is rain tomorrow, so I might as well see a new city, instead of sitting infront of the TV.

Rufus, we'll try and hit the Rathaus Schänke for lunch and we'll definitely visit the vierzenheiligen, a boroque cathedral outside of the city a bit.

Ira
It's not my birthday but you've just given me a great idea of what to have tonight. That dessert sounds absolutely fabulous!!
Thanks!

Just got home from work and came here for my fix. Had been wondering what we could have for dinner that can go on the grill or in the microwave since our kitchen is under "deconstruction," but the phone rang and we have been miraculously invited to dinner. Will be drinking beer, but I like beer more than wine on these hot, humid and stormy days.

I tried (almost successfully) to concentrate on work until time to leave. Now I am going to leave because the weekend is here! This is the weekend we need to make some progress on plans for our trip to France and Spain - 5 weeks from today we will be in Paris!

Working on resume and taking periodic mental breaks with this site.

Taggie- Have a great trip! Can't wait to hear about it!

Scarlett- I live in Portland, and will agree with starspinners re. the weather. It has been in the 80's or 90's for at least the last three weeks. We are hoping for some rain this weekend. I will check the names of some of our favorite wineries and forward them on to you later.

To all the 2/3 buck Chuck fans, It's $3 here in Oregon too! I will let mr. pandaschu explain- he works for trader joes and gets this question all the time:

The varying prices of the Shaw wines is a result of shipping and/or state liqour laws. In Oregon the $2.99 price is due to the liqour laws.

Sipping Yellowtail Chardonnay ($6.99 here) while preparing my family specialty of chicken Italian style with pasta while watching the several severe thunderstorms which have just passed by us.

Two buck Chuck is three buck Chuck here in the Boston area and not all Trader Joe's have it. It's not bad for three bucks. I pour it into my best glasses and it tastes okay!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Waiting until it's 5:00 pm here (about 40 minutes to go) so I can start cocktail hour.

Spent the afternoon planning Paris for one of my friends who's going on the first of September, and in exchange for all my help, she's bringing me back a treat from Paris. Something edible and/or drinkable! ;)

Thanks pandaschu! I'm in the "running around like a chicken with its head off" mode right now... sure I've forgotten something.
I posted late last night that I was leaving today and got no response... boo hoo.
I need a sendoff ... so I'm going to repost.

tpatricco, thanks for the two buck chuck link...that was interesting.

Yellowtail isn't bad at all. Very popular with some of our neighbors and friends. Oddly enough, I've never met anyone in Australia with it in the house, even though family and friends there have always had a variety of local wines arounds. Could just be a fluke. Had some Bonny Doon reisling (CA) the other day that was very good for a sweet white which surprised me as I pretty much stay with dry reds.

Clifton, my Australian friends had never even heard of Yellowtail, and one of them lives near serious wine country. He was thinking that maybe it's one of those things that's created for the mass markets from who knows what? I don't remember the bottle saying where in Australia it is bottled, but I'll go home and take a look....

Scarlett, I live in Portland also, and while it's true that we've had a warm summer (for us), the humidity is nothing like you have in Florida. And September is my very favorite time of the year here. It's usually in the mid 70s in the daytime, dropping down to low 50s at night. Vine maples just start to blush at the higher elevations, complemented by the warm riot of autumn flowers and grasses. You'll absolutely love it!

There are a wide variety of wonderful wineries. As you probably know, Oregon is renowned for producing really fabulous pinot noirs. Here are a just a few ideas for fun places to tour and taste:

-> Willakenzie Estate (they have an email newsletter with updates on the harvest, recipes, interesting tidbits, etc...) write to [email protected] to subscribe.

-> Archery Summit (primo pinots)

-> Argyle (yummy sparkling wine)

Also check out these very informative web sites: www.oregonwine.org (maps, lists of wineries, etc...) and www.avalonwine.com.

There are some nice restaurants in Dundee, too. I'll post them when I find the names.

Maybe we should consider a Portland-area GTG?

Clifton, I'm a big fan of Bonnie Doon's wines. Their Big House Red and Malvasia Bianca are also good, inexpensive wines for everyday drinking on a budget.