We will be taking a tour of some Austrailan wines this week. BIG WOOP WHITE - $11.99 - South Austrailian. Woop Woop is Australian slang for the middle of nowhere in the Outback as in, "just been to Woop Woop and back." From the website: High on Chardonnay and Viognier with a Pinot Gris underbelly, consensus was “like it” - yes, you’d certainly give your girlfriend one! And it was unanimously accepted that this Big Wooper is a fine white wine for a wide range of socio-economic sectors be they boogie boarders, old people who are celebrating still having a driving licence, and school teachers. A beauty for UFO sighters and lottery winners. BIG WOOP! Outstanding for off-duty police, nurses before night shift, politicians needing a reality check. In fact pretty good for pretty much everyone. Except maybe parking inspectors. BIG WOOP! This is in a One Liter bottle.

BIG WOOP RED - $11.99 - From the website: Bringing Grenache, Shiraz and Petit Verdot into one big bottle works. Just right if you’re off to Boston to further your education. Riding a dog sled, hanging out in Hollywood or gripping the handles of a mountain bike in mild fear. Or you are suburban in your tastes, habits and self-funded superannuation results, where you sit on leather couches, consume cherry ripeys, suck caramels and watch TV while an old cigar smell lingers in a nearby humidor.

SLIPSTREAM CHARDONNAY - $7.99 - "Vibrant citrus pear on the nose, with subtle accents of baking spices and white flowers. Refreshingly dry and crisp, with fresh orchard and pit fruit flavors and a lively citrus zest left on the back. This subdued but elegant Chardonnay shows very good persistence." International Wine Cellar

REVOLUTION SHIRAZ - $18.99 - "...this 'terroir-driven' wine has a complex perfume of earth, mineral, sausage, game, truffle, and blueberry that borders on kinky. This leads to a full-bodied, plush, sweet, dense wine with exquisite balance and length....excellent value" Wine Advocate --- "...Broad and rich, with deeply concentrated dark berry liqueur flavors, lightly chewy tannins and building sweetness. Turns more strongly floral and sweet with air, finishing with strong notes of bitter cherry and cassis. This powerhouse will need some serious food." International Wine Cellar

DE LISIO SHIRAZ-GRENACHE 'THE CATALYST' - $20.99 - 82% Shiraz, 18% Grenache "...offers a brooding nose of wood smoke, Asian spices, pepper, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. Lush on the palate, it has mouth-filling fruit, tons of spicy blue and black fruit flavors, enough structure to evolve for several years, and a long, fruit-filled finish..." The Wine Advocate.

We have found two more varietals to try that are not your run of the mill grapes.

Burlotto Verduno Pelaverga - $20.99 - " Pelaverga, pale Piedmontese rarity making crackling strawberrish wines. " J Robinson's Guide to Wine Grapes. ------ A little history on Comm. G.B. Burlotto, Verduno. This historical house is even today a family-business, where the owner, Marina, keeps up the traditions of the time of glory, that Burlotto had in the late 1800s. They became amongst the first to bottle Barolo and possibly were one of the first to use the name "Barolo". They supplied the wine to The Duke of Abruzzo's North Pole expedition in 1899 and also became suppliers to the Royal Court of the Savoia family. All this thanks to the 32 medals won during world exhibitions in Turin, Milan and Paris. Todays reality is that the son, Fabio, has introduced modern help, but everything is still stricktly familymade and controlled in order to keep up the high standards. Out of 12 hectares of land 10 are in Verduno, where the winery is situated, the rest in Canubbi and area of Roddi. It is crucial to mention 2 of their 5 different Barolo. Canubbi is the real top product from the famous field, but the most particular is the Monvigliero, which even today is pressed gently by human feet and ferments in open oak casks. Burlotto have also given new life to an almost forgotten grape of Verduno, Pelaverga, of which they make both pleasant red and rose' wines. (wineseasons.com)

ALBINO ARMANI VALLAGARINA FOJA TONDA CASETTA - $18.99 - With its violet aromas, flavors of sweet plum and peppery tannins, this indigenous variety recalls cool-climate syrah. The gentle texture and bright acidity suggest pouring it with savory lamb stew. (wine & spirits mag.)

More information: THE WINES OF THE ADIGE VALLEY OF VERONA produced in Dolcè, grow in a climate characterized by constant wind and the mild influence of Lake Garda. Armani chooses between different fields with porphyry-limestone soil, and the parameter for such selection are sunshine and frost, to bring out the virtues of different grape varieties. Among such varieties, the family favorite is Foja Tonda, an ancient cultivar indigenous of the Adige Valley: it was Albino Armani who saved this variety from extinction. Foja Tonda is also a symbol for the biodiversity which makes this valley so special. Wines: Foja Tonda, Corvara, Chardonnay Piccola Botte, Colle Ara Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio.

A little more history: The Casetta variety - called Foja Tonda in dialect - is a grape variety which is indigenous of Vallagarina, and cultivated since antiquity in the area of Dolcé Ala and Avio. After having been abandoned, since the market favored other - sometimes more prolific - grape varieties, Foja Tonda was destined to extinction, until Albino Armani rediscovered it. In 2002 it was reinserted among the varieties admitted for cultivation, and at present there are only 12 hectares remained. These old grapevines, sometimes with their original roots, seem to tell the story of the age-old passion for wine shared by the inhabitants of our valley. (Albino Armani website)

This weekend you can show off your pet or your car or both!

The Des Moines Pet Festival will be held Saturday August 1, 9 am until 2 pm at Beach Park. Awards will be given for Ice Cream Eating, Hot Dog Bobbing, Basic Obedience, King and Queen, Best Trick, Best Costume, Ugliest Pet and Owner Pet Look A-Like. There will also be an agility and rally training match. Join the fun and enjoy the beach at the same time.

It is also time for the Trash to Treasure Parking Lot Sale at the Des Moines Activity Center. Satuday from 9 am until 3 pm. Over 90 booths. Crafts, food, furniture, clothes, and more!!!! Proceeds support the Des Moines Senior Center.

Then on Sunday August 2 you can show off your Car or Bike at the 7th Annual Des Moines Auto and Cycle Show. This year the show will be held at Normandy Park Towne Center, 1st and 199th. This is an open show everyone is welcome! No entry fees but donations to the food bank will be appreciated. Trophies, dash plaques, door prizes, music.

We will be featuring Erin Glenn. Hope you can join us.