Russ "winehiker" B.'s Profile

If I was to combine the best of the European sense of community with Silicon Valley sensibilities, I would present healthy, well-prepared foods and fine locally-made wines in an atmosphere that promotes easy relaxation and stimulation of the senses, and have it all be very affordable. And to top that off, I'd want passion and education to be a part of the mix.

Thank goodness I don't have to do that now, because it's just what Randy Robinson has done with Vino Locale of Palo Alto, California.

On the surface, Vino Locale is what its Italian name implies - a purveyor of local wine. But it's so much more than just a cozy little nook off a major Palo Alto thoroughfare. What it's not is a typical wine bar, restaurant, or bottle shop. With artisanal cheeses, breads and meats, a fine selection of wines lining the shelves - all produced within a 100-mile radius - plus local artists' crafts on the walls and a Victorian house to show it all off in, Randy's got something worth waxing passionate about.