Flash is often necessary, but casts a harsh illumination, especially in close quarters (like the food pictures - light TOO low in the dining room to shoot without flash, and plates TOO close to soften the light, but heh, it is what it is). Actually, now that I have digital, I am inclined to take two pictures in low light conditions - one with flash and one with ISO=1600 (or 800) - then delete the less satisfying shot.
Click here for food shots where natural light is a big factor - the California Grill,
especially these:
In answer to the wine-tasting question....
Wine tasting was very enjoyable. Spoke with the wine lead (never actually referred to himself as a sommelier, but he may have been one) after - asked him if / when they are going to offer wine flights with dinner - he said that it is in the works.
We did the wine package - 4 premium bottles of wine (roughly, one bottle per meal). You can consume it however you want - they will re-cork between servings - even between meals). They were very good about pouring a glass for lunch and one for dinner (we don't really want more than one glass per meal). Also able to take glass out of dining room, which worked out well for an evening drink we could take into theater / show rooms.
I had just attended a wineGLASS tasting the night before we left, in my hometown. RIEDEL glasses - really a smart set-up. The company has put together a sample set of glasses. You sign up for the tasting, and keep the glasses. The local sponsor produced 4 good bottles of wine (enough for 3 oz per person per glass), which you smell / taste from a standard dining room wine glass, then from the RIEDEL glass. Big difference, would not have thought! I am winding back to the original topic - what does this have to do with the Wonder wine tasting / package? The glasses DO make a difference - and they have a different (STODT?) brand in Palos - but they don't stock them in the non-Palo's dining room. HOWEVER, you can ask your dining room server to GET you a glass from Palos - which they do, willingly, quickly, no questions asked.
My suggestion - if you like wine:
1. choose the premium wine package add-on
2. study the wine list (will give you a sense of price range - may help you make selections - I tried bottles that I probably would not normally order because of price)
3. ask for GOOD wine glasses from Palos
4. know that your bottle can be corked for future use (next meal) or taken back to room
5. feel free to empty the bottle in your glass (good wine glasses can often hold an entire bottle) and take into the evening