Luckily the crack IT team here at the Scene had some badass digital Drano to fix the problem, so now you can just sit back and enjoy while we clean out what might be the fullest Wandering Wino inbox ever.

Leading off this week is an invitation from Fido head chef John Stephenson to a Spanish Wine Dinner with Omni Beverage on Sept. 24 starting at 7 p.m. The excellent menu will run you $50 (including tax and tip). Check out the bill of fare:

NV Conde de Subirats Cava Rosado
local arugula, country ham, black pepper

2009 Mar de Vinas Albarino
local prawns, coconut, roasted garlic

2008 Colinas del Ebro Syrah Garnacha
patatas bravas, carrot

2007 Vivir Vivir Tempranillo
smoked trout croquetas, aioli

2007 Arrocal Tempranillo
medjool dates, local chorizo, chile pepper

2005 Vega Escal Priorat

Make your reservations ASAP to john@bongojava.com or call 777-3436.

Right around the corner from Fido, Hoyt Hill at Village Wines would like to invite you to two fabulous tastings coming up at 360 Bistro. The cost is $15 per person with a 10 percent discount on your food if you stay for dinner.

Thursday, Sept. 9, 6 p.m. at 360 Bistro — Fabulous California reds Xtant, Petit Batard and Saxon Brown wineries with winemaker Aaron Horton

Thursday, September 23, 6:00 at 360 Bistro - Rare old Madeiras among other treasures with Blake Murdoch from Rare Wine Company

Hoyt Hill
Village Wines
2006-B Belcourt Avenue
Nashville, TN 37212
383-2102

I know it's still a little early but when someone tells me to save the date for an Oktoberfest beer tasting. I perk up and take notice.

So, SAVE THE DATE for:

Saturday, Oct. 2
4th Annual Oktoberfest Beer Tasting @ W.O. Smith School
8th Ave South & Edgehill

Taste over 80 beers, fine cigars, and award-winning BBQ from Carey Bringle and the rest of the "Pegleg Porkers."

Tasting Line-up:
Boulder, Abita, Chimay, Stone, Dogfish Head, Avery, Boulevard, Brooklyn, Delerium, Erie Brew, Lion, NEw Belgium, Grimbergen, Mionette, Mojo, Karmeliet, Ommegang, Orval, Rochefort, Scaldis, rogue, Sam Adams, Schlafly, Saison, Sierra Nevada, Shiner, St. Bernardus, Urthel, Three Philosophers, Witkap Poter, Victory, Viking Blood, Yazoo and many more.

2-6 p.m.
$25 per person
$30 at the door
Tickets on sale now here.

Another great charity event in town, the Franklin Wine Festival is holding a Taittinger Vintner's Dinner on Tuesday, Sept. 21, from 6-7 p.m. at Sperry's Cool Springs, 650 Frazier Dr.

Cool Springs Wine and Spirits and Sperry's Restaurant invite you to join them for this special dinner to benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Ambroise Bobtcheff, the Export Director for Champagne Taittinger, will be on hand to present the following wines:

Aperitif Wine — Taittinger Brut La Francaise

First Course — Taittinger Prelude Grand Cru

Entrée Course — Taittinger Brut Millisime

Dessert Course — Taittinger Presitge Rose

Tickets are $125 and reservations can be made by contacting Sarah Beatty at Big Brothers Big Sisters 552-5659 or sarah.beatty@bbbs.org.

Put on your drinking boots, because next weekend you'll have the opportunity to travel the world with Nashville's largest wine-tasting event. That's right, it's time for the Eight Annual Wine On The River next Saturday, Sept. 25 from 3-7 p.m.

This year, the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge takes on a "World Tour" theme featuring 10 different regions spanning the globe. Each region will include wine, beer, and/or spirit samples specific to that region, and a restaurant featuring a regional themed menu. All attendees will receive a souvenir wine glass and a "Wine On The River World Tour Passport" at the entrance to guide them around the wonderful world of wine.

Featured Regions
Australia / New Zealand
France
Germany
Italy
Spain
South America
South Africa
California
Tennessee
Washington / Oregon

All wine, beer, and spirit samples will be included in the price of admission. Food will be available for purchase. Tickets are $45 advance (plus tax) and $55 day-of (plus tax) if tickets have not sold out in advance.

Live music featuring the Nashville Symphony Quartet and local Jazz musicians on the Branson Air Express Stage will help set the tone atop the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge overlooking the beautiful downtown Nashville skyline.

September Norman at September's Restaurant in Hendersonville wants to add a little shine to your moon with her first Kentucky Moonshine Tasting on Tuesday, Sept. 21st at 6 p.m. Her food pairings sure look a lot better than the Vienna sausages we used to enjoy with that Mason jar of white lightning in a duck blind on Reelfoot Lake.

True Kentucky Shine
Watermelon & citrus salad with Feta, lemon-thyme vinaigrette

White Dog
Cornmeal crusted fried fish with sweet corn & lima bean succotash

Pink Lemonade
Pink lemonade glazed chicken cutlets with lemon pan sauce

Strawberry Apple Pie
Andouille Sweet Potato pie with Tangy Apple Salad

Black Dog
Smoky Shrimp & Grits with bacon

$24 per person
September's Restaurant
300 Indian Lake Blvd.

Call 822-5323 for reservations.

Our SouthComm corporate sisters at HER Magazine would really like you to attend their Palate Party next Thursday, Sept. 23 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Cabana, 1910 Belcourt Avenue.

Call 577-2262 for reservations or RSVP to the events page at facebook.com/bluejeanwines.

$20 in advance
$25 at the door

Wines To Be Tasted
Purple Cowboy
Middle Sister
Monogamy
Promisquous

All retail under $20, so you can enjoy them later at home too.

Jeanne Boone at Boonedocks Distribution wrote to let us know about four upcoming wine tastings, including three that feature the same guy.

Monday, Sept. 20 — Anura vineyards — South African winemaker Tymen Bouma at Boxwood Bistro

Tues. Sept. 28 — Steve Sterling of Esterlina Vineyards at 360 Bistro

Wed. Sept. 29 — Wine Dinner with Steve Sterling of Esterlina Vineyards at Franklin Mercantile

Thurs. Sept 30 — Wine Tasting with Steve Sterling of Esterlina Vineyards at Boxwood Bistro

That Steve Sterling guy sure gets around. Contact the individual restaurants for details and reservations.

Speaking of getting around, in celebration of Jack Daniel's 160th birthday this September, the "Back Jack" campaign is rolling out of Lynchburg on Saturday and making the trek to our nation's capital to call on Congress to make Jack Daniel's birthday a national holiday. Here are the details from Mr. Jack's press release:

For our nationwide petition drive, supporters have been participating in a viral/virtual campaign by signing the petition via Facebook at www.JDBDay.com or by texting JDBDay to 68405 since Sept. 1. And since the "Back Jack" campaign would not be complete without a little of Mr. Jack's famous product, we're toasting with "Jack & Gingers" (the perfect running mate) and a special commemorative bottle arrives in stores this month in honor of his 160th birthday celebration.

We are preparing for a 10-city bus tour from Lynchburg, Tenn. to Washington, D.C. collecting signatures from our supporters before we culminate on Capitol Hill at the end of September. Once in D.C., brand representative will deliver the signed petition to Congress. Our grassroots journey starts with a rally at the Jack Daniel Distillery Visitor's Center (182 Lynchburg Highway, Lynchburg, TN 37352) on Saturday, Sept. 18 from noon till 2 p.m. Additionally, we will be tailgating in Downtown Nashville from 10 a.m. till noon Sunday, Sept. 19 before the Titans take on the Steelers on lower Broad in front of Rippy's Ribs. Lynne Tolley-a JD Master Taster and the great grand niece of Jack Daniel-will be on-hand at both stops to start our tour off right.

Spreading the love for Black Jack abounds as The Rymer Gallery downtown invites you to:

SEE
SIP
SUPPORT

as they celebrate their third anniversary and Jack Daniel's 160th birthday.

Friday, September 24, 2010
6 P.M. - 9 P.M.

Featuring new works by Charles Clary and benefiting The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

SEE
Enjoy an evening at The Rymer Gallery with Tennessee-based artist Charles Clary as he discusses his newest series of work, Flamtastic Ejections. Clary's work has been exhibited in Nashville, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Paris and has been published in premier art publications around the world. Clary's works are in numerous individual and corporate collections in Asia, Europe, and North America.

SIP
Taste Jack Daniel's Single Barrel, Gentleman Jack, and Jack's 160th Birthday Bottle throughout the evening.
Learn about the delicate process behind this esteemed Tennessee whiskey and the man who started it all.

SUPPORT
Last May, Middle Tennessee was devastated by major flooding. To date, $3.1 million in flood relief grants have been awarded to more than 80 organizations from The Community Foundation's two disaster funds, but many still need your help.

The Rymer Gallery will donate 10 percent of all art sales from this event to The Community Foundation's Flood Relief Fund.

Please RSVP to tonia@therymergallery.com by Wednesday, Sept. 22.

That's enough for this week. Now, has anybody seen my plunger?