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I promised a fishing and wine report from my trip to Matlacha, Florida, but I am sorry to say that all I have is a restaurant and wine report. Just as it was here in Atlanta last week, there was a heat wave in south Florida with temperatures between 95 and 100 the entire time we were there. We caught a few small trout but all of the big ones were out in the deep blue ocean trying to stay cool!

However, there are many really good seafood restaurants in the the Matlacha area, where we caught really good fish and shellfish inside, where it was air-conditioned. At a place called Red's, we feasted on the local Pine Island Clams steamed in butter and garlic, with a very good bottle of 2007 Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay. If you have never had Pine Island Clams, then you are really missing out on a wonderful treat, which was complimented by the citrus and apple tones of the Kendall Jackson Chardonnay.
 
The best meal of the trip was at our old standby favorite, Moretti's Italian Seafood Restaurant. I had a seafood platter piled to the ceiling with fish, shrimp, scallops, oysters and calimari. These treats are fried in a delicate almost Tempura-like batter, and served with marinara sauce and spaghetti on the side, with a big Ceasar salad and fresh baked bread. This may be the best calimari west of the Mediterranean. To accompany this extravaganza we chose the 2007 Maso Canali Pinot Grigio.

This was a perfect choice with swirling flavors of tropical fruit mixed with pear undertones, and a clean and crisp finish just begging for another sip!

WORLD BEVERAGE 400
6190 Highway 400
Cumming, GA 30028
(678) 513-6284
www.worldbeverage400.com