Had a long day house hunting? How about finishing with a wine tasting right in the SFV?

Looking to do something a little different in the San Fernando Valley? Perhaps after a long discouraging day of house hunting?  How about wine tasting at D'Argenzio Wines in Burbank? Although I've driven by this place on Burbank Boulevard a million times, I had never stopped in until the other day.  The room was really nice. The D'Argenzio family staff was great. The other tasters were very friendly. A flight of wines is $10, which is remitted if you buy a bottle.  I learned that D'Argenzio is a major grape grower and vintner in the Sonoma area, and is very well known for their red wines.

But how is the wine? I say really, really good.  I particularly liked the Russian River Pinot Noir and the Dry Creek Zinfandel.  Each is about $34 a bottle, so this isn't the stuff you're likely going to drink as you, say, do your laundry.  But perhaps it's worth drinking during another evening spent looking online for homes?

Every-day, all-day wine tasting in Glendale

Winos (like me) rejoice! Glendale is now a destination for us. I popped into Red Carpet Wine at 400 East Glenoaks Blvd. yesterday.  If you're not familiar with Red Carpet, they have a complete stock of everything booze, and a knowledgeable staff to help you find what you're looking for.  RC also has a cool space for wine tasting with two new-fangled automatic pour wine tasting machines, one for red wine and one for white.  Here's how it works: you buy a plastic card with a set amount of money on it, then swipe it into the machine.  Next, you pick your particular wine and your particular-sized pour -- you can get one ounce, one half-glass, or a full glass.  When your card runs out of money, you just add more dollars again, just like at Starbucks.  And you can do this during Red Carpet's hours of operation.  Red Carpet also has several "event" nights -- Octoberfest is on the 12th -- with food trucks outside and tastings inside.  Check out their website at redcarpetwine.com (and RC, I'm ready for my endorsement glass of wine now).