A new year is upon us, and it is time for new beginnings and to reflect on the year past, the good times and celebrations made even more special with the addition of wine or Champagne.

Looking back, 2007 was a great year. Many great wine dinners and tastings took place at Neiman Marcus, where I work in the Epicure department. It was a great chance to share some choice wine with my customers.

Personally, the greatest occasion of the year was the 50th wedding anniversary of my parents, Ginny and Wes. We flew to San Francisco and gathered with family and friends for a surprise reunion. The weekend was celebrated with champagne toasts and, since it was held at my parents' favorite Italian restaurant, the Chianti flowed freely.

One thing could have kept the toast from happening. Many years ago when I was just starting to learn about wine, my mother found out she was allergic to grapes. I could not share my passion for wine with her anymore. So I set out on a mission to discover alternative wines for her .

There are several fruit-based wines that she can enjoy, but one has to be careful: many of these are grape juice based with flavorings. We have found some nice raspberry and loganberry wines but many are too sweet to go well with a meal.

For many years, we have been buying the macadamia nut honey wine from Volcano Winery. It has a slight sweetness but not so much that it overpowers food.

On a recent trip to Volcano, my father and I stopped by their tasting room and learned that the wine is created from honey that bees have taken from the blossoms of the Big Island's macadamia nut trees. We had a case shipped to my parents' house in San Diego to give my mother for Christmas. Next time you're on the Big Island, I highly recommend a visit to this very friendly tasting room located near Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

As for the champagne toast, on the 50th anniversary, I took over a bottle of Hula O Maui sparkling wine from Tedeschi Vineyards in 'Ulupalakua. This crisp, sparkling pineapple wine is made by inducing a secondary fermentation in the bottle. It has ripe pineapple and tropical fruit aromas, and a crisp flavor. I was able to toast my parents, and my mom's glass was filled with bubbles.

As for a fresh start to a new year, I cannot think of a better way to kick off a healthy lifestyle than to try Licious Dishes.

Owner Sylvia Thompson puts together a series of three or five dinners that you pick up on Friday and assemble at home. The food is technically raw, prepared in such a manner that it never reaches a temperature of more than 115 degrees, keeping the enzymes (proteins), nutrients and anti-oxidants intact. Investing in these (about $100 for a week's worth of meals) saved me a lot of time over my long holiday work schedule. We are finding that we enjoy a glass of riesling with most of the dishes. She is also starting a grab-and-go service so if you just want a quick, healthy snack on the run, stop by her shop at Dole Cannery, 650 Iwilei Road, or call 536-9680.

Whatever your dietary restrictions, don't despair! Many times you can find a suitable and enjoyable alternative.

Cheers to you and have a happy and healthy 2008!

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