Cheese and crackers, quick!

San Benito County vintners are working hard to market the region as a destination for wine lovers. From comedy shows at Leal Vineyards and summer concerts at Guerra Cellars to wine tasting in the picturesque hills south of Hollister (see http://www.sbcwinegrowers.org)/ a complete list), grape vines are dotting hills that once were the sole domain of cattle and hay. But as of this week, the county can honestly say that wine is so plentiful here that it flows in the creeks. As reported by the Free Lance a truck hauling 6,400 gallons of wine overturned south of Paicines this week and much of its precious red cargo flowed into a gutter and drained into a dry creek. The county's environmental health division was dispatched to the site, reportedly armed with a tray of cheese and crackers, but quickly determined that the best course of action was to let the wine dissipate. No need to cry over spilled wine, it seems, at least when it returns to the Earth from which it sprung. A second party foul occurred early Thursday when the Columbus Salame plant in San Francisco burned in a four-alarm blaze, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Socialites are bracing for the inevitable completion of the triumvirate of stuffy party item disasters. A shortage of tuna tartare? A recall of pate? Some fondue miscue? I am so glad parties at my house are limited to beer, chips and salsa. (photo courtesy of Gunnar Grimnes)