So in honor of memories of beers past and thinking of the bicycling "Cutters" from that classic movie Breaking Away, I figured we’d lead off this week’s Wandering Wino with a really fun beer event, the return of the Tour de Fat sponsored by New Belgium Beers.

The Tour de Fat will be held on Saturday, June 2, at Centennial Park with bike parade registration starting at 9 a.m., the parade at 10 and other festivities kicking off at 11 and running until 4 p.m.

The bike parade is always a hilarious display of tricked-out bikes and barely appropriate costumes, so drop by even if you don’t ride. The event benefits local nonprofit bicycle advocates, including SoundForest.org, Nashville Bicycle Alliance, Ride For Reading, Oasis Center and Walk Bike Nashville.

New Belgium also sponsors several fun pre-TdF parties the week preceding the event, so look for one that’s at your favorite watering hole:

Today, Friday, May 25
Tin Roof
Tour de Fat Promo
Fat Tire & Somersault Beer Specials
Give-aways!
6:00pm-8:00pm

Tuesday, May 29
Broadway Brewhouse Midtown
Tour de Fat Promo
New Belgium Beer Specials!
Free Give-aways
7:00pm-9:00pm

Thursday, May 31
12th South Taproom
Tour de Fat Promo
7:00pm-9pm
Win a New Belgium Cruiser!

Borovino starts at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 19, and runs until 7 p.m., at The Avenue Murfreesboro, 2615 Medical Center Parkway. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door and will entitle you to taste many great vintages at the inaugural Borovino wine festival. Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase during the event, and there will be live music from the San Rafael Band.

A portion of the proceeds goes to benefit The Power of Pink, a breast cancer awareness foundation. Tickets are available at the event website.

Also beyond the county line is Red Dog Wine & Spirits in Franklin. Today from 4 to 7 p.m. and tomorrow afternoon from 2 to 6, they'll be uncorking some wines from Columbia Crest in Washington state, specifically their H3 series. H3 stands for the region where these grapes were grown, Horse Heaven Hills.

I'm a big fan of red zin in all of its expressions. From big, bold fruit bombs to more subtle European treatments, wines made from Zinfandel, or Primitivo, have long been some of my favorites. Dashe Cellars is owned and run by a husband-and-wife team who add two unique sensibilities to the production of fine wines. Anne Dashe has a degree in oenology from the University of Bordeaux, while her husband is a graduate of the University of California at Davis. When they came together as a family and a winemaking team, each Dashe contributed the best of the New World and the Old World to their wines, with a special commitment to showcasing the elements of terroir that reflect the unique soil, climate and regional characteristics of the vineyards where they harvest their grapes.

I met Anne at a tasting at RED Spirits and Wine and found her to be a passionate and engaging ambassador for her wines. Although the Dashes don't own any vineyards, they have long-term contracts with their growers to ensure consistent supply and quality of fruit. They especially seek out plots that will help them emphasize the old-school style of winemaking that demonstrates minerality. Dashe uses all indigenous yeasts, and little or no filtration of their wines. In fact, they strive to add very little in the way of outside influences on the process. Dashe summed up her philosophy as, "Leave it alone and intervene only when needed."

In fact, the only event I have on the calendar is over a week away, but it's worth marking your calendars for. Fleming's is hosting a wine dinner featuring the wines of Francis Ford Coppola Winery and Rubicon Estate on Wednesday, May 16, at 6:30 p.m. Here are the details:

Francis Ford Coppola brings the same touch of genius to winemaking as he does to filmmaking. And like his films, Coppola's wines show tremendous range — from delicate Chardonnays to highly complex Cabs, like the 94-point Rubicon Estate CASK, made from old-growth Inglenook vines. You'll taste a bit of everything at this event, while enjoying a special 5-course menu from our Chef Partner, Tracy Riddick. A must for Napa Valley wine enthusiasts.

Wednesday, May 16, 6:30 p.m.
$85 per guest, including 5 wine pairings
Call 342-0131 to reserve

Check out the mouth-watering menu:

RECEPTION

Black-and-White Sesame-Seared Ahi with Daikon Radish
Wild Mushroom Tart
Poached Pear and Gorgonzola Crostini

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA, Director's Cut Pinot Noir
Sonoma Coast, 2008

FIRST COURSE

Chopped Salad
mixed greens, tossed with red onions, grape tomatoes, bacon, eggs, hearts of palm, croutons and blue cheese vinaigrette

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA, Votre Santé
Chardonnay Central Coast, 2008

SECOND COURSE

Seared Diver Scallops
tomato chutney, saffron beurre blanc

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA, Su Yuen Riesling
Monterey County, 2010

MAIN COURSE

Porcini-Rubbed Ribeye
truffle mashed potatoes, broccolini,Cabernet demi-glace

RUBICON ESTATE, CASK Cabernet Sauvignon
Rutherford, 2008 — 94 pts. Wine Enthusiast

DESSERT

Peach Crêpe Soufflé

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA, Sofia Blanc de Blancs
California, 2011

Until next week, pace yourself. Steeplechase is right around the corner!

Tonight, April 20, in Franklin is the annual Vintage Affair at The Factory. Kicking off the event is a Sommelier Preview Party sponsored by Tennessee Bank and Trust in the Courtyard outside Jamison Hall, from 5:30 until 7. The $125 admission (which includes a reservation to Main Event) gets you the first crack at the fine wines that will be poured at the Vintage Affair. The party will feature fine cigars, special wine tastings, champagne and fabulous hors d’oeuvres from Sperry’s Restaurant of Cool Springs.

The Main Event will be held in Jamison Hall from 7 to 10:30 and costs $75 per person. It will feature numerous wine tasting stations, several fabulous food stations and many wonderful live and silent auction items, including hundreds of desirable wines. The dress for this event is business casual. Reservations may be purchased online or at the door. (There is a $10 additional charge to purchase tickets at the door.)

But if you think that just because a supplier isn't a vintner, then the product must be inferior ... well then let me introduce you to Kermit Lynch. (Maybe not to buy his CD though...) Recently, I've discovered an American group of young négociants who have been sourcing some really good affordable wines under the label Cultivate Wines.

This team travels the world sourcing great grapes and juice from some outstanding vineyards and wineries. The resulting products are excellent bargains and very interesting examples of specific varietals and blends. If a vineyard that they sourced from last year has a bad harvest, no worries. They'll pick from somewhere else this year.

Rather than lock themselves into trying to make exactly the same wine from vintage to vintage, Cultivate Wines seeks to continuously discover interesting wines that they can sell at reasonable prices. If that's not enough to get you interested, they also donate 10 percent of their sales to a rotating group of charities that address education and basic human needs. Consumers can visit the company website to submit charities, which are voted on a quarterly basis to receive grants up to $50,000.

Their portfolio of wines is diverse and represents several price points. At the very top is a lovely red blend they call "The Feast." Retailing at around $29, The Feast is a mix of 66 percent Napa Valley Merlot and 34 percent Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The resulting wine is velvety and well balanced. The intense notes of raspberry upon palate entry fade into a nice long finish and would hold up very well against any flavorful red meat dish or even pasta with a red sauce.

If you haven’t tried the new Belle Meade Bourbon yet, Grand Cru wants to give you the opportunity, plus you’ll get to meet the whiskey wunderkinds, Andy and Charlie Nelson. This Saturday, April 14, they’ll be sampling and discussing this excellent high-rye bourbon at the store from 3 to 5 p.m.

If you prefer agave over corn and rye, Grand Cru will also be sampling some fine tequilas with Eric Rubin, Tequila Ph.D., on April 20 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and April 21 from 3 to 4:30 p..m. Drop by and you might just learn something.

Village Wines is putting on a nice tasting of Hecht & Bannier wines with Gerard Hecht at 6 p.m. Monday, April 16, at 360 Bistro. According to Hoyt Hill, these are absolutely the finest wines of the Cotes de Roussillon and are all rated in the mid-90s by Robert Parker, in spite of being extremely reasonably priced wines. Only $15 per person, and you’ll receive a 10 percent discount on your food if you stay for dinner.

Midtown Wine and Spirits is really going over the top and popping the corks on quite a few excellent bottles this weekend to help you forget your tax troubles:

Perfectly dovetailing with my post earlier this week on German rieslings, Woodland Wine Merchant is hosting a free tasting of German wines from the Mosel region this Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. Winemaker Konrad Hähn will be in attendance to answer your questions, just in case you didn’t learn everything by reading Bites. (Very likely.)

The Mosel River winds through some seriously steep valleys. Along its path, terraces have been carved over dozens of generations into nearly vertical hillsides, where the sloping land and porous slate soils allow for quick drainage. That's good, because this place sees heavy and regular rainfalls. The slate holds heat well too, better than most soil types, which allows the growing season to extend just long enough for the slow-ripening riesling. The result: uplifting wines that quench your thirst and sate your palate.

This Saturday we'll have proprietor & winemaker Konrad Hähn in the shop to tell you all about it. He'll offer up four wines from his very own Von Schleinitz. Come chat him up and let him pour you a tall sip of spring. As always, it's free of charge! Here's what he's popping:

VS Estate Riesling
Snappy acidity and a touch of sweet citrusy fruit balance beautifully in this lightly off-dry white.

VS Estate Dry Riesling
Supple and smooth, this riesling will convert those of you who "don't like riesling." Peachy and tropical fruit notes are, again, balanced nicely by lively acidity.

VS Rosé Pinot Noir
Pinot noir in Germany is lighter and more minerally than its riper, New World counter parts. Perfect for the light treatment of a delicate rosé.

VS Blanc de Noir sparkling Pinot Noir
This sparkler has the tannin structure and soft fruit of a pinot, a light mineral character, and all the tiny bubbles to make you smile. Perfect with creamy-savory dishes or with soft cheeses.

Thanks to the Wines of Germany website, all that information is in one place. Although lots of other countries are now manufacturing Rieslings, the best still come from the Mosel region. Certainly, the Alsace area of France is another good choice, but for the most part the less expensive versions from other parts of the world are generally pretty inferior.

Because of its nice balance of acidity and sweetness, Riesling is an extremely food-friendly wine and pairs nicely with fish or white meat. It especially shines through when matched up with the spicy cuisines of Thailand or even Cajun food. Riesling is usually aged in old barrels rather than new oak, so the wine tends to be lighter weight and better suited for food than other oakier whites. The aromas of citrus fruits and florals also makes Riesling a fine choice to drink on its own chilled but not ice cold.

Now about those labels, take a look at this diagram for an easy guide to what all those imposing German words represent. As one would expect from German producers, the labeling and nomenclature system is very rigorous and standardized, so once you start to understand it, you should be good to go. Don't worry about trying to pronounce everything; just memorize your favorite regions and their characteristics and which ripeness level you're looking for.

If you prefer a drier wine, the key word to look for is trocken, or "very dry." The bone-dry nature of these wines pairs well with fish dishes, especially those that are seasoned with lemon. Next up the sweetness scale is halbtrocken, or "half dry." These very versatile wines are excellent for sipping or match up with just about any food that you wouldn't reach for that big Cab to pair with.

Rieslings that are harvested later can achieve very high residual sugar levels and are more suited as dessert wines.

Woodland Wine Merchant will be having a free "Red, White and Pink" tasting on Saturday, March 31, from 3 to 5 p.m.. They'll be opening:

Tintero Grangia, $12
Bright and springy, this Italian white has all the tingly freshness to fit the season. It's something like Italy's answer to Vinho Verde, a little effervescent and a softly tropical, perfect for the porch or the table.

Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Pays D'Oc Rosé $15
Just off the boat, the Bila Haut Rose is an elegant and refreshing wine from one of the leaders in biodynamic farming in the south of France.

Cantine Valpane $15
The Monferrato zone in Piedmont produces one of the more classic expressions of barbera. This is a refreshing and very likeable style of barbera with plenty of lively fruit.