IF YOU CAN’T HEAD FOR THE HILLS, LET WOLF MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS SEND A BLEND TO YOU
Corks are popping under the gold dome of Georgia’s state capitol and throughout the state thanks to a new law, effective July 1, 2008, that allows Georgia wineries to ship to Georgia consumers.  Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery , the 25-acre family-owned and operated wine-growing estate located in the Georgia mountains outside historic Dahlonega, can now ship their award-winning handcrafted wines to Georgia customers.  Cheers to being able to stock up from home, spending more on wine, less on gas!  Wine lovers of legal age can order up to 12 cases of wine a year by Internet or telephone from wineries inside and outside of Georgia and have it shipped directly to their home or office.

Mull over these European-style wines, log on, order up and enjoy!
Plenitude – Crisp, dry stainless steel-aged blend of Chardonnay and Viognier
Chanteloup – Reserve blend of French oak-aged Chardonnay and Viognier
Sunset Rosé – Dry, Rhone-style rosé, the perfect picnic wine
Coupage – Lighter-styled Bordeaux blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
Instinct – Estate blend of Syrah, Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon and Touriga Nacional
Claret – Reserve Estate blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre

WMV Demi-Sec – Semi-sweet German-style Chardonnay and Viognier

Sparkling Wines:
2006 Blanc de Blancs Brut - Dry sparkling chardonnay
2006 Brut Rosé - Traditional rosé
2006 Sparkling Demi-Sec – Half dry, medium sweet wine

Cabin fever?  You can still visit Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery for lunch, Sunday brunch, special winemaker events and inspiring views: 180 Wolf Mountain Trail in Dahlonega, Georgia; 706-867-9862. 

GO KROGERING FOR BACON SALT!   
Who let the pig out?  Reverse that question.  Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow took the bacon flavor out of the pig and launched Bacon Salt , which is, as of September 1, running wild with flavor in Kroger supermarkets nationwideand in other major retailers.  Add the -- zero calorie, zero fat, kosher seasoning that makes everything taste like bacon -- seasoning to your grocery list and pick up some on your next jaunt down the grocery aisle.  Toss one in for the kitchen, one for the camping gear, one for tailgating, and one for your vegetarian friend . . . yes, herbivores rely on Bacon Salt to get their bacon fix without breaking their vows.  Don’t hog the flavor.  Spread it around using these easy recipes! 

SUNNY ITALY SHINES AT PORTOFINO BISTRO IN BUCKHEAD
TheTuscan sun shines on a quiet side street in Buckhead, touching down at quaint Portofino Bistro.  Unassuming, but not unknown – Portofino is celebrating its eighth year.  Regulars know it for its charming stone and brick patio, fresh and satisfying Italian bistro fare, and the thorough, reasonably priced wine list that covers all of Italy and then some.  Zuppa and insalate, antipasto, mezzo, pasta, pesce, carne and vino will woo you and lead you on to the delightful after-dinner menu of traditional Italian desserts, liqueurs and wines.  At lunchtime, Portofino is the ultimate Italian vacation on a plate!  Open for lunch weekdays and dinner nightly. 

Portofino Bistro:  3199 Paces Ferry Place; 404-231-1136. 

YELP REVIEWER WANTS TO MARRY HOLEMAN & FINCH
Not a case of polygamy, but a case of Polly-gone-crazy over the environs, service, food and drinks at Holeman & Finch Public House .   Actually, the Yelper’s name is not Polly, it’s Lauren S., and she is head-over-heels in love with her Buckhead dinner date as you can see on her Yelp entry: 

Can I marry you Holeman & Finch? Can you come cook for me every night? I can't believe I've yet to review a place that always promises a good drink, a good time, and some yummy food.

To start, the design of this restaurant is my style to a "T". It is literally as if the ai3 architecture firm that designed it went in my complicated little head and said "this is the place she dreams of, but can't communicate on paper." I guess that's why I'm not a cool architect at ai3.....but I digress. I love everything about the atmosphere. The lighting, the warm wood, the bathrooms, the pendants above the bar. By the way, if you dream of carrying those pendants home with you, you'll have to go to Italy to do so since they aren't available in the US. How do I know? I asked. I'm a design nerd like that.

Now, on to the drinks. Creative cocktails with ingredients you probably haven't heard of. A drink that tastes like Coca Cola but packs quite a bit more punch than what you would get for $1.00 out of the vending machine. A drink that tastes like blackberry Kool-Aid but you shouldn't share with kids. A drink mixed with their house brewed ginger beer. *Le sigh* And if it isn't on the menu but you had it in some bar some random place and can even vaguely remember the name or a few ingredients, THESE are the people to try and recreate it for you.

And the food. Swoon. Everything here seems to have that "melts in your mouth" quality. My new personal fave being the Hen of the Woods mushroom dish.But the burger....OHHHHHH the burger. Word has gotten out, and they sadly disappear lightning fast and I am very often disappointed. NO BURGER FOR YOU! Okay, they're not that mean. It's more like "I am so so so sorry to tell you, but we are *sigh* out *sigh* of the burger" as the waiter hangs his head in reverence. Fear not, there are several other options that are delectable but I just can't get that burger out of my head.

I never walk out of here wishing I had gone somewhere else, spent my money on other things, or cursing bad service. And that, my friends, is why Holeman & Finch will have a very very long life in Atlanta.

Holeman & Finch :   2277 Peachtree Road, NE; 404-948-1175.

DAILYCANDY WORD OF THE WEEK TAKES ON A FEMININE TWIST
We’ve selected a “green” entry from The DailyCandy Lexicon to add a new demographic term to your vocabulary this week.  Salad Spinster – n.  a girl who sits at home eating healthy dishes for one. 
Lean, green Sveltlana the salad spinster was content to let us hit the all-you-can-eat salad bar without her.   

SECOND HELPINGS: ATLANTA ON THE CHEAP OFFERS MORE THAN TWO CENTS WORTH AS BLOG OF THE WEEK

Hmmm…sounds like another way to free up cash to order wine in (see above).  Blogstress Jennifer Maciejewski has the skinny on trimming the fat off the price of extracurricular activities.  Atlanta on the Cheap serves up plenty of free and low cost entertainment options in and out of Atlanta, cheap eats and priceless links to advice on frugal (yet still fun) living.