Monday = Date Night and Half Price Wine Night!

Mondays are back to work, but at Villa Pellegrini, it's also Date Night! We discovered that River Oaks Restaurant has half price wine night on Mondays. In Memphis, a lot of restaurants are closed on Mondays, so this is a double bonus! I phoned ahead and confirmed that the minestra del giorno was Lobster Bisque. Sold!

The Pinots on their list were a 2006, two 2007's, and a pricey (even at half) J. We decided on a Chardonnay, which pleased me since we were having the bisque and sharing a sea bass entree. We got the 2006 Ferrare-Carano Tre Terre. Another Russian River Valley wine, which seems to be the source of my favorites. This one was served at a nice temp--not too cold. That's rare, because they usually come out so cold that we decline the ice bucket and cup the glasses to get the wine to open up. It was more crisp than buttery, but good fruit and a very nice pairing with the foods.

In 2008 we went to Santa Rosa and stayed at the Vintner's Inn, owned by Ferrari-Carano and visited the tasting room.