Last weekend I had two really swell dates. On Saturday I drove up with Giancarlo to meet my darling wino cousins from Chicago in Sonoma County for barrel tasting. Participating wineries offer tastings direct from the barrel, before the wine’s been tweaked and bottled. There’s dancing and music and great food, a really lively celebration. And of course the beautiful Sonoma countryside. Giancarlo drove my car on the way back, as I was an enthusiastic taster and of course had to sample everything, plus I was rear-ended near Martinelli’s and still a bit frazzled, so he offered to relieve me of driving duty. Looking at him in the driver’s seat, I thought, “What a handsome man.” The sound of it coming out of my mouth as I thought I was just thinking it surprised even me.
The next morning, I drove down to Fresno to visit the Forestiere Underground Gardens, a maze of underground rooms, patios and grottos, framed and supported by Roman arches of local field stone, built by Baldassare Forestiere in the early part of the 20th century. Fruit trees and grape vines grow from the subterranean space up through circular openings in each room, creating dappled shadows, lush scents, and patches of orange-dotted sky. Señor Grant drove up from southern California to join me, once again captivating me with his wit, intelligence, and radiance.