Shannon Ridge wins honors in wine competition

CLEARLAKE OAKS – Local winery Shannon Ridge has won several awards in the San Francisco Chronicle's recent wine competition.

In the price range from $15 to $24.99, Shannon Ridge's 2003 Zinfandel won gold, and its 2005 Syrah, 2005 Wrangler Red and 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon all won silver.

Fifty-five professional wine judges representing trade, education, media, retail and restaurants from throughout the United Sates evaluated more than 3,800 wines from over 1,500 wineries from 20 states. The judging took place at the Cloverdale Citrus Fair during the week of Jan. 8.

Clay Shannon started producing wines in 2002. Shannon Ridge grapes are grown in the High Valley appellation at Shannon Ridge Vineyards in Clearlake Oaks.

Complete results will be published in the Chronicle on Friday, Feb. 16.

Visit Shannon Ridge online at www.shannonridge.com.

Lucerne has a new pizza parlor

LUCERNE – Firehouse Pizza has opened at 6232 E. Hwy. 20, Lucerne, the former location of Paradise Pizza.

Owner Bryon Martinez, who spent 10 years working at Marco’s Pizza in Corning, reports he expects a beer and wine license in early March.

Besides pizza, the menu includes salads, wings, burgers and sandwiches. Winter hours are 2 to 9 p.m.; summer hours will be 2 to 10 p.m.

Firehouse PIzza can be reached at 274-7117.

Snake Lady Yvonne Cox at home with one of a menagerie that includes dogs, cats, a desert tortoise and exotic birds. Photo by Lenny Matthews

Shop changes its stock

LUCERNE – “Snake Lady” Yvonne Cox, whose import and gifts shop has been open at 6014 B E. Hwy. 20, Lucerne, since last summer, is changing her stock.

Street clothes will go, belly dance costumes will stay, along with swimsuits and coverups, jewelry and a variety of candles and gift items.

A new smoke shop, open only to those 18 and over, has been added in the rear and carries knives, swords, hookahs, pipes and other smoking paraphernalia.

Cox also will soon start a longtime dream, a soup kitchen called R U Hunger, or Really Understanding Hunger.

The planned first night is Tuesday, Feb. 13, 5-7 p.m., at Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, Country Club Drive at 10th Ave. Donations and volunteers are welcome; call 274-8821 and leave a message if you have food to donate or want to help cook and serve.

Tuesday night belly dance classes will continue at the senior center following the soup dinner.