Have Wine, Will Travel
 The holidays are definitely about taking time around the family table and connecting with loved ones. Sometimes it is also about making new friends. And what better way to make new friends than to bring an old friend -- a nice bottle of wine.
I choose a 1998 S. Anderson Napa Valley Blanc de Noirs sparkling wine to share with the hosts of Shastao Philosophical Hermitage, an interesting bed and breakfast located in Mount Shasta, Calif. Since part of my Christmas celebration included the worship of nature's wonders, I found myself headed to the mystical Mt. Shasta in the northernmost reaches of the state for a day of communing with the environment (oh, and snowboarding).
Shastao provided an evening of philosophical conversation, a sumptuous vegetarian holiday meal, and a cozy wrought iron bed in a room filled with books dedicated to spiritual exploration. The wine was a perfect fit; toasty and dry enough to suit Sherry's taste, balanced with fruit to please mine. Hosts Sherry and Alexander like to serve Crane Lake, which is locally available and always consistent. Sherry said she knows Crane Lake is not going to let her down.
I preferred the sparkling (but, then I almost always do). Regardless of whether you pass the wine or pass it up, the comradery was not to be missed. If you are interested in a stay at Shastao, call (530) 926.4154 and say "hello" for me.
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Something's Brewing in Mendocino
There's a great wine pairing for every dish, but sometimes your heart cries out for a crisp, cold bottle of beer to accompany your meal. For the Wine Country traveler, it can be hard to tear yourself away from the glorious wineries, but it's worth it for those of you visiting Mendocino, home to the Anderson Valley Brewing company.
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