24 happy people enjoyed the annual Valentines Dinner at Perk Up Cafe. I was happy to help serve food, wine and beer along with Veronika from Perk Up, and Dulce and John Albers of Crush and Brew. A craft Kolsch from local Bier Brewery and a California Cabernet Sauvignon from the Central Valley were the most popular pours of the night. Several white wine fans discovered the crisp refreshing taste of Seaglass Pinot Grigio, (a label that also produces a vegetarian food friendly Sauvignon Blanc.) Alice and Jeanette cooked up a 4-course meal with Southern food as the theme. Diners enjoyed shrimp, okra, collard greens and baby back ribs in a whole new way. A chocolate pecan bourbon pie and an assortment of Perk Up's hand roasted coffee rounded out the meal. As usual, the real show stopper was the hand made valentine made by Alice's husband Inacio. Each year he makes 12 intricate, puzzle like, pieces of art, for each couple. Every year we are amazed at the beauty and thought he puts into each one. We are encouraging him to have a show of his work at Perk Up soon. We all know how fresh, unique and delicious the breads, rolls, cakes and tortes that Alice and Jeanette make on a daily basis. To see them turn their charming, casual Cafe into a fine dining room one night a year is a real treat.

I poured a Mardi Gras Celebration in northern Indiana last weekend that featured wines from Vino Indiana, and craft beers from Peoples Brewing in Lafayette. The plum and blueberry wines from Two EE's Winery (located in Huntington, owned by wife and husband Emily and Ed, hence the name) and the Country Heritage Red from the same named winery in Morocco were the favorites. On the dry side, a merlot and pinot noir from Oakwood Wines in Sonoma county, and a 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon from Silver Creek Winery in San Jose kept those who love smooth dry reds very happy. Vino Indiana mainly distributes in northern Indiana, but you can find some of their great value wines in the Indianapolis market.

This Friday (March 3, 2017) I'll be pouring a selection of wine flights from Italy, France and Spain at the WFYI Ice Miller Indy Wine Fest being held for the first time at the Old National Center downtown. Tickets are still available www.wfyi.org