We kicked off October with great food, great wine and great company at last night's wine dinner with the Trattoria del Corso Restaurant. Thanks to all who attended! And remember - stay tuned for upcoming wine classes in December, January and February.

This week we came across an interesting article on a new wine technology in Japan called the "Winebot," which acts as a personal sommelier, identifying a wine's flavor profile, without ever uncorking the bottle, and recommending appropriate food pairings. Could robots be the future of wine tasting? Watch out Robert Parker, Winebot might be moving in. Well, maybe not. As you'll see from the article, technology has its limits, and while a robot may be able to identify a wine, drinking it is truly a human enjoyment.

Remember also to plan early for your corporate and holiday parties - we are happy to help you provide "tasteful" gifts (wine baskets, wine club memberships, wine tasting parties) for your special clients, friends, colleagues and of course employers.

One would think that the only way to describe a wine's flavor would be to taste it... until recently, that is. A Japanese technology company unveiled 'Winebot,' a pint-sized electronic sommelier that can describe the varietal and flavor profile of wine, and certain foods, simply by using a scanning beam.

To say "simply" is actually an understatement. Although the robot looks and sounds childish, it involved two years of R&D, which might not seem like much compared to the Pharma industry's lengthy R&D phases. Using a scanner at the end of its left arm, which is an infrared spectrometer, the robot analyzes reflected light from wine. It then identifies the chemical components and describes the wine from a library of information in its memory database. It also can identify the brand and a few characteristics of the wine, suggest foods for pairing and be personalized to identify wines that suit its owner's tastes.

While the technology and capabilities are quite amazing, Winebot is far from replacing a sommelier, your local wine shop's expert or your own palate. Currently, the robot can be programmed only with a few dozen wines and cannot identify the thousands of wines currently marketed and sold across the world. In addition, after a wine is opened and allowed to breathe, the wine's chemical components change. Because Winebot is programmed with chemical information of an unopened bottle, it would have difficulty recognizing an opened bottle as the same selection. Evidently, some things still need to be worked out. It was written that Winebot identified the AP reporter's hand as a slice of prosciutto (salty, perhaps?) and dubbed the cameraman a slice of bacon. Even if these "slight" errors don't turn you off from purchasing your own Winebot, the price might. At the cost of a new car, many people would rather uncork the bottle themselves than lose their ride to work. However, its developers see a market for it in auction houses such as Christies and Sothebys, where their auctioneers could use Winebot to authenticate vintage wines without opening the bottle, thus lessening the wine's value.

Despite its faults, Winebot still provides us with an interesting dinner topic. It also makes us wonder if in the tehcnologically advanced world in which we live Winebot will play a major role in wine's future. Personally, we'd rather taste for ourselves, and talk to a human when we have questions about a wine.

Many of our customers have been inquiring about the arrival of gluten free beer. We are pleased to announce that we are now carrying Lakefront's New Grist beer, which is suitable for those with celiac disease. We also will offer gluten free snacks at our weekend wine tastings. Please call us if you have any questions.

One of the reasons that we absolutely love fall is the plethora of wine tastings that we attend! Again this week, we tasted several new and delicious selections which we can't wait to share with you. As promised, we will highlight fall tasting wines for the next few months.

Peachy Canyon Incredible Red Zinfandel - $13.99. Recently, many wine club members happily experienced this rich red. Bright strawberries, toasty vanilla characteristics, and raspberries with slight earth tones make up the deep, rich flavor of this Zin. Peachy Canyon was voted one of the hottest small brands of 2005 and we think the award is well deserved. A great Zin!

Domaine Fournier Sancerre - $22.49. With 150 acres spread across Sancerre, Domaine Fournier holds top sites in the villages of Verdigny, Bue and Maimbray. The grapes sourced from these vineyards produce a complex and sophisticated white wine that is elegant and lean, not heavy, which is a wonderful reflection of the French style and limestone soil of the region.

Foley Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills - $31.99. Another Wine Club selection with a very limited production that has shown to be a favorite. It is a sexy, lush California Pinot Noir.

Bennett Family Reserve Cabernet - $25.99. Aromas of black cherries and cassis dominate the nose and palate of this ever rich Cabernet. The supple tannins and generous body make for a wine that is enjoyable now, on release, but it also will develop additional complexity with a few additional years of aging.

Domaine Harmand Geoffroy 2000 Gevrey Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St. Jacques- $76.99. A fine, fine Burgundy that we suggest tucking away in a special place.

Red Head Yard Dog Petit Verdot - $10.99. Who else but Aussie's would create "Yard Dog Red?" The vicious-looking dog on the label may not be cute like other animals on today's labels, but it sends the appropriate message that this is a wine of menacing proportions. A big, juicy, spicy, and soft blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec, this wine has a rich texture and intense, ripe fruit that makes it a winner. It's a wine for gutsy fare.

Friday, Oct. 6 (5 pm - 8 pm)

Woman as Art - Friday, October 13, 2006 - 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Join Artist Alliance, located at 249 Main Street, for an opening reception of contemporary New York Artist Amarillis DeLendvay Kroon. Her dynamic abstract arrangements depict the grace, style and inner mystery of a woman. Her work will be showing through February 2007. Please RSVP to Artist Alliance at 885-8525. Stop by Artist Alliance and then stop in for a wine tasting at The Savory Grape.

Halloween Parade and Party - Saturday, October 28, 2006. EG's annual Halloween Parade and Party will take place on Saturday, October 28 from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm. Dress in your favorite costume and walk with the group down Main Street. Activities will also be planned at the Swift Gym that day. Canned good donations will be accepted as this is a "Helping Halloween" event. Stay tuned for tricks and treats at The Savory Grape.