Anyone getting a refund? Anyone forget to file? Anyone want some widely available, affordable wines? 5

2006 Sebeka Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa - Groovy cork that furthers the allure of the label, but no real leopard skin was used to produce either. Good thing, because it would be a pity if PETA tried to ban this bright, tart, tangy white wine with fresh aromas and flavors of white grapefruit and honeydew melon. Serve it chilled as an aperitif or with seafood or vegetarian dishes. Well balanced. Reminds me why I used to hunt the South African wines at the old Kahn's at 54th/Keystone. I could find amazing wines for 4 bucks. Now I have to pay 8. But I can find them at many grocery and wine stores.

2006 Sebeka Shiraz/Pinotage, South Africa - Pinotage is a cousin of Pinot Noir. A bit lighter and tighter but bright in flavors of strawberry and cherry. Combined with the earthy, robust blackberry, peppery notes of Shiraz it makes a mouth filling dry red blend. Bold and showy and perfect for grilled burgers, ribs, steaks-it's calling for meat. Fire up the grill and answer the call.

OOPS! White Carmenere, Chile - Carmenere is the lost grape of Bordeaux. Before the big phylloxera epidemic that stymied the vineyards and economy of France several centuries ago, this grape was an abundant blender grape in the classic Bordeaux wine prescription. Fortunately some smart travelers plucked a few vines en route to Chile. Years go by and a new grape blooms and grows in South America. Locals think it must be a merlot-but its DNA differs.

Call in the wine grape CSI and voila . . . Carmenere. Its spunky, tart, deep wild berry flavors will remind you of those freshly plucked wild black and red raspberries you ate straight from the bush as a kid. Or those lush Mulberries on home churned ice cream. THESE are some of the charming flavors of Carmenere. This offering is a rose style-dry tasting but served cold. Try it. You will love it. Great sipper for patio, deck parties served with mild cheeses, fresh veggies, olives, peppers. Delicious drink with roast chicken, Thai food, Indian curries, Bazbeaux Tchoupatoupalis or Quattro Formaggio pizzas.

2004 Columbia Winery Syrah, Washington - Ripe, ready to drink. Bursting with fresh flavors of jammy blueberry, black raspberry, and subtle yet enhancing notes of white pepper. Drink now with grilled pork, grilled Italian sausage, grilled tuna.

2006 Alice White Chardonnay, Australia - New packaging and less oak makes this dry white more enticing than past product. Smooth tropical fruit flavors with a hint of vanilla cream pie makes a nice quaff for grilled, fried or baked fish or chicken.

My grandma Robbie loved The Gazette. She lived in Kewanna, which was a library, bank, barber and one restaurant kind of town with churches for most denominations - but one funeral home. And on the corner of the main (and only) intersection is The Tavern. Harley driving guys and gals from all incomes take a break for a cold beer and breaded tenderloin on their journey back to Indy from a weekend at the nearby northern Indiana lakes or an afternoon of non-policed country road riding.

When I'd go visit on the weekends she would always ask "Do you have that paper with you?" I would gleefully give her the Gazette and she would press a crisp dollar bill into my hand saying, "Get those boyz some treats". Meaning her great grand dogs Guinness and Harp.

Grandma Robbie would have been 90 today. She died last September. And three weeks later Guinness joined her.

We miss them both.

For Grandma's birthday I'm offering some local and national groups that need more of your time and "stuff" than money. Can't help? No problem. Just pass these sites on to anyone you know that appreciates four legs and freethinking newspapers.

www.friendlessanimals.com

www.fortheloveofrescues.com

www.dogster.com