Starting next Wednesday, July 28, Margaret's Consignment & Collectibles (2700 Frankfort Ave.) will begin hosting what it is calling "Wine in Wednesdays," to be held every Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Basically, there will be some snacks and, yeah, some wine and a 10 percent discount on cash purchases. The building that houses Margaret's has more than 5,000 square feet of floor space. Which sounds dangerous.

It's a billion degrees outside, and all I want to do is drink. That's where John Johnson, the owner of the Wine Rack (2632 Frankfort Ave.), comes in. To help beat the heat, Johnson suggests a 2007 riesling from New Zealand. He says that in 1973, Hermann Seifried was the first to plant vineyards in that country's Nelson region, near Marlborough on the southern island's northern tip.

There's a lot more than three reasons to cross the river this weekend - if you are a lover of the libations, that is. You see, this Saturday, Indiana is host to an alcoholic's wonderland. One could make a driving tour of it. Just be sure to find a designated driver. And a time machine or some sort of teleporter wouldn't hurt, either. These events are all on Saturday and all looks spectacular. 

This Saturday, the Harrison County Fairgrounds will be hosting a wine and microbrew festival. Oh yes, it is once again time for Southern Indiana Uncorked. 

Yes, the entire greater Louisville area seems to be talking about nothing but Thunder. Yes, it will be awesome. Yes, it will be crowded. Yes, some people just don't like that kind of stuff. But what else is there to do this weekend? Who else is brave enough to schedule activities that are entirely unrelated to Thunder? Enter the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail:

I love St. Patrick's Day in this town. So much so that last year I turned down a friend's invitation to go to Chicago, where a river running through the city is dyed green. We have our own dirty river, I thought to myself.

Saw a sneak preview of "Valentine's Day" the other night. Yeah, it's that movie your lady friend is dragging you to this weekend. The cast is packed with so many celebrities that I think the last names in the opening credits hit every letter of the alphabet.

I don't remember any character names, but I can try to give you a one-sentence synopsis.

Don't embarrass yourself and The Sweet Baby Jesus by showing up at Christmas dinner with a cheap varietal of hooch you bought at CVS. These well-priced bottles--almost all of which are less than $15--will impress your family and not leave you with a nasty hangover for Boxing Day.

Reds
Stay away from French reds--like the French army, they're weak and retreating. The Iberian Peninsula and South America don't just supply the world with many of its most beautiful women, but they also provide some delicious and well-priced red wines: