For winemakers in the Southern Hemisphere (specifically in South Africa, South America, Australia and New Zealand), February is a very important month -- just before the harvest in March, half a year or more before harvest time in the Northern Hemisphere.
For wine lovers, February is a good time to be near where the two halves meet. Going somewhere such as Andalusia, Malaga or Costa Brava in midwinter to savor the sunshine and, of course, wine is a sensible option.
No less sensible is trying the Marques de Caceres Gran Reserva 1989, a richly berry-flavored, discreetly oaked Rioja wine (a Spanish gran reserva must spend two years in the cask). This is the product of a fine maker. I introduced it to a large club where I chaired the wine committee, and for a few years it became the club's best seller. Attendees at my recent wine seminar went into raptures about this wine, as they should, and I implore you to go straight out and get some yourself. Try it with various medium-hard and hard cheeses, such as Spanish manchego, and with dark sausage.
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