Sunday is Father’s Day and with it usually comes warm weather resulting in several cookouts and picnics.  A considerable amount of beer and cheap wine will be consumed along with several burgers, hot dogs, sausages, chickens and ribs.  That’s okay, but why not have a better quality wine for dear old Dad? How about something delicious, versatile and memorable as well?

The Bodega Calle- Reserva Syrah 2013 is a perfect choice for this weekend.  Fermented in concrete tanks and aged for12 months in oak, this organic Syrah is bright purple with enticing aromas of blackberries, tart cherries, smoky bacon and vanilla. On the palate dark fruit continues along with a distinct dark, bitter chocolate and anise spice. The finish is round and full. Although it may be technically a “New World” style, this is definitely more like a Rhone style Syrah than a jammy Australian Shiraz. This wine will pair nicely with nearly anything you put on the grill.  This would go particularly well with grilled rib-eye steak.

When I was a little boy in the early 1960’s I remember watching a movie with my parents on our old Magnavox black and white TV that would forever change how I looked at the world. The film was To Kill a Mockingbird and I loved the fact that the story was told from the viewpoint of children, yet much of what they experienced turned out to be very adult issues. Years later I read the novel in school and have read it several times since. I have also viewed the film dozens of times as well. In fact they are respectively both my favorite film and novel. As my own children will tell you, I believe Dads and kids should share the experience of this film. Please, watch it together, not streaming or on your phone individually.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Although he is a fictional character, Atticus Finch in many ways is the quintessential father who exhibited love, compassion, courage and integrity for his children.  There are no better gifts a father can hand down to his children.