After hitting the trail near sundown, lugging tons of gear uphill, and without much idea how far away The Trail was...we settled into a makeshift clearing and called it camp. Dinner was heating up, fennel chicken sausage and fusilli with peas, what better time to help lighten the load than by breaking into the vino. When I purchased Waters Crest Merlot in the East End I was nervous, the tasting room was in a strip mall -- last time I get snooty about that. It was gloriously raw, like the rich earth we had plunked ourselves on.

We then bit into Osborne's Porto. While tasty next to the stove, I must suggest a pairing with a day's long trek and an open fire.