We took a tour of “Old” Scottsdale with our hostess one day, as it is full of art galleries and similar shops.  While there are plenty of stores there, alas there were some galleries that were closing or had closed up, even in Scottsdale, and even our hostess was surprised at the numbers.  We saw some beautiful art and merchandise, but somehow my Bride showed restraint and we did not add to our private gallery at home.  This area was definitely a tourist destination by the attire of the shoppers in the area and after wandering the twenty block area we had built up an appetite and a thirst in the Arizona sun.

Our host suggested that we go to Olive & Ivy in the downtown area of Scottsdale, in fact it was kiddy-corner from the Scottsdale Fashion Square and the wait for the outside dining areas was an hour and a half.  The only area in the restaurant that was open for immediate use was a table in the bar area and we took it.  We started out with some zucchini chips that were not even on the menu, which our dear friend enjoys.  I do no enjoy zucchini, but I have to admit that this was a tasty appetizer and sure beat potato chips.  The two ladies both had a Chopped Chicken Salad with Blue Cheese, bacon, avocado, peanut granola and a buttermilk dressing.  I decided to have something low-cal as well, so I had a Bacon Cheeseburger with caramelized onions, Arugula, and aged-Cheddar cheese.

We enjoyed some Vidal-Fleury Cotes du Rhone White 2011, as I wanted to have something chilled to escape the Arizona sun.  This particular wine is made of the Viognier and Grenache varietals and was a nice crisp, light wine to enjoy on a sunny afternoon.  I figured that it would be light enough for the salads, and non-assuming for the cheeseburger.

After dinner, while the ladies were enjoying a very fine dish of Lemon Sorbet, I opted for a glass of Graham’s Six Grapes, as this is a port wine that I have not tried.  It was fruitier then an aged vintage port, but most enjoyable.  I was perplexed why the name “Six Grapes” so I did some research.  The wines blended for this wine are from the same five vineyards that Graham uses for the vintage ports from two or three different harvests with a potential of five to six years of aging before bottling, so that was not it.  So then I looked into the wine varietals that may be used in Port wines, and I discovered seven; Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Tinto Cao, Sousano, Tinta Amarela, and Mourisco Tinto.  So I shall just accept the name and not worry why and just enjoy it.