We were going to eat at The Crazy Crab at Harbour Town which is located in Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island.  I found this restaurant on the internet, just like everyone else and Harbour Town has a bit of a reputation, as there is a lighthouse there, that was strictly built as a conversation piece and not for what a lighthouse is actually designed for, and if you want to see the view from the lighthouse, you must pay for that right at the giftshop that is located in the base of the building right off of the marina.  And speaking of paying, to go eat or shop at Harbour Town, you have to pay a toll, which everyone seems to forget to mention in the websites and brochures, etc.  I mean we have taken 17-Mile Drive at Pebble Beach, when we have stayed in Carmel-by-the-Sea, and the toll is gladly taken off at a restaurant, bar or shop after you purchase or dine there.  In Harbour Town such a service was unknown. 

We got to Harbour Town, paid the toll at “Checkpoint Charley” and proceeded to navigate this extensive, for a lack of a better term, a gated community.  The shopping area at Harbour Town looked quite expansive, so we got there early to shop and to walk, which is one of our favorite pastimes.  Even after checking all the shopping and walking around the marina, it wasn’t as large as it appeared.  We went in to The Crazy Crab to relax after our strenuous walk, gets some wine and eventually to eat.  We started off with Castello Banfi San Angelo Pino Grigio Toscana IGT 2021.  Castello Banfi was founded in Tuscany in 1978 by the Italian-American brothers John and Harry Mariani.  Its origins is in their father’s business, Banfi Vintner, founded in 1919 and at one time was the largest Italian wine importer.  The estate encompasses 2870 hectares planted with both indigenous and international varieties.  Their portfolio is huge from opening price wines to muscular and bold “Super Tuscans.” The fermentation is done in Stainless Steel tanks, and then aged on the lees for two months in Stainless Steel.  A pale straw-colored wine that offered notes of pear and florals.  On the palate there were tones of pear and citrus with nice balanced acidity and very easy to start our meal off. 

We started off with She Crab Soup which is very rich and hardy.  Then we split an order of Broiled Scallops and Jumbo Shrimp.  I am getting used to the fact that I can no longer eat like a teenager.  Then we enjoyed a bottle of St. Francis Winery & Vineyards Chardonnay Sonoma County 2020. In 1971 Joe Martin planted Merlot and Chardonnay in Sonoma Valley and by 1979 with his business partner Lloyd Canton, they created St. Francis Winery & Vineyards.  They now have over three-hundred-eighty-acres of vineyards with an assortment of terroirs.  This wine is a blend of fruit harvested from several of their estates and grower-contracts in Sonoma Valley.  The fruit is harvested at night and pressed whole cluster in the morning and fermented in different lots.  The wine then undergoes partial Malolactic fermentation and is aged for six months in French Oak.  The soft golden colored wine offered notes of butterscotch, apples and orange blossoms.  On the palate pear and almond with additional tones of almonds and lemon zest with a creamy, balanced flavor and a nice finish of terroir.