The following three wines are selected by the Giannini Family from small batch, family run boutique wineries located in Anderson Valley and Mendocino Country about 100 miles north of San Francisco, with some product from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County. Each winery has a personal story. Each wine has a unique character. Enjoy!

�� 2005 Longboard - Dakine Vineyard Merlot. Longboard was born from the passion of Oded Shakked, surfer first, winemaker later, who brings a unique perspective to winemaking, or rather winegrowing as he prefers to call it. Dakine Vineyard is nestled at the bottom of an east-facing hill on Westside Road in Healdsburg. The vineyard's original owner obtained budwood from the "3 Palms" Merlot vineyard in Napa Valley and planted 3 acres on AXR1 Rootstock in 1988. Shakked bought the property from Mondavi/Arrowood in 2005. 1,450 cases.

�� 2004 Chiarito Winery - Negro Maro. The Chiarito family tends only vines well suited to distinctive terroirs and creates limited production wines from the best and most interesting Southern Italian varietals. Using fruit grown at Lowell Stone's Fox Hill Vineyards, John Chiarito's 2003 Negro Amaro is the premier release of this wine in the U.S. This vintage is a bright ruby red. Flavors are subtle, with a floral nose hinting at almond blossom and licorice. The wine has a smooth mouth feel and is mildly spicy with a long and slightly bitter finish, a reflection of the name Negro Amaro, which means "black bitter" in Italian. The grapes were harvested by hand in the early morning on October 21, 2003. The wine is unfiltered and spent 16 months in French Oak barrels; production is 220 cases.

�� 2004 Yorkville Cellars Cabernet Franc. Yorkville Cellars has two main vineyards on the ranch in Yorkville, Mendocino County. Both are certified organic. Their Cabernet Franc, a classic Bordeaux varietal, is a delicious example of that "other" Cabernet, actually a much older grape variety than Cabernet Sauvignon. Light and aromatic, with oak, herbs, brown sugar, licorice, violets and black tea notes on the nose. Red cherry and blueberry fruit, with a violet pastille note lead to a clean, bright finish. Try serving with pork chops or lamb kabobs.