On today's Travel Planners Radio Show, we interviewed a representative of the California Wine Regions. Their Fall festivals are well underway and DiscoverCaliforniaWines.com has a listing of the different festivals, many of which can be viewed virtually. They also have a large number of recipes that pair well with California wines. There are more than 50 recipes from breakfast items, small plates, gourmet meals, and desserts that are nothing short of incredible.

That sparked me to do a nice dinner tonight for Sue. We started with a toasted pretzel bread with warm goat cheese and sprigs of fresh fennel with a cinnamon/pear balsamic vinegar dressing.

Our main course was a braised pork shoulder with butternut squash, bacon bits, chopped onions and prunes. Seasonings included fresh garlic, and ground fennel seeds. Our wine choice was a 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Dessert was a pear poached in watermelon wine, with whipped cream, caramel sauce, browned butter toasted walnuts, fresh ground nutmeg and fresh mint leaves. Sue said it passed inspection.