The outdoor patio at the Patio Cafe will be the center of activity at either 5 p.m. or 7 p.m. Dec. 13, for wine lovers in the area. Mark Mutz, the owner is adding windbreak walls and French doors this week so tasters and diners may enjoy the ambiance of the outdoor space. A fire will be lit in the outdoor fire pit to provide warmth. Advertisement

This coming Thursday, the wine lovers in the area will get a rare treat at the Patio Cafe.

Pierre Marc Atlan, of Las Vegas is well versed in all things wine and will journey to Pahrump to hold an upscale wine tasting of varieties from Chile, Argentina and Australia. His level of expertise has resulted in a degree in wine making from the French government.

Of his passion, he said, "I've been many things in my life. I've been a photographer, reporter and entertainment columnist for a large magazine in France, but my love of good wines has led me to a study of them for the last 40 years." Atlan is in his mid-sixties.

Atlan, an importer of fine wines from these regions plus Spain and France, is a regular guest with Les Kincaid, a radio and television celebrity in Las Vegas. He has joined Kincaid on his Internet radio show "Wines and Vines" which airs to 26 million listeners every Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m., and deals with tasting and rating wines from around the world.

He has also held wine tastings at the finest restaurants in Vegas, some of which have been televised.

The wines to be uncorked are mostly 2005 vintages. Atlan said, "Americans are under the impression that if a wine has been in the bottle for six months, it is okay to drink. That is not a true fact unless the wine is a Beaujolais. If the label says Beaujolais, drink it now, for if you wait six months, it will have gone over the top."

An education in wines is surely on the agenda for those attending the tasting. Atlan is articulate and precise, although his knowledge comes with a heavy accent. "The grapes," he said, "make the difference in how long one should wait to drink. White wines should be in the bottle at least a year and a half to soften the tannins and release the true flavors. Red wines from the cabernet sauvignon and malbec grapes must be in the bottle for at least two years and shiraz should be left for four years for the same reason."

Tasting notes will be provided and on the list are a Chardonnay from Chile, a Riesling from Australia, a Sauvignon Blanc from Argentina, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile and a Pinot Noir and a Shiraz from Australia. Atlan has promised a couple of surprise bottles, one of which is rated in the high 90s by one of the wine connoisseur publications. Atlan said, "This wine is one of the highest rated, best wines in the world today. In fact it's so good, there is none left to buy and Mark (Mutz, Patio Cafe owner) has one of the only cases left anywhere."

There is more. To go with the wines, owner Mark Mutz will provide a number of hard and soft cheeses, an eggplant tapenade and baguette toast points to cleanse the palette and a special dinner will follow. The wines will be served under the soft lights of the outdoor patio with cheery fires burning in the chiminea and the outdoor fire pit.

Those wanting to stay for diner will be treated to an addition to the menu. In honor of the evening, Mutz, will serve either Coq au Vin with noodles or Shrimp Scampi over angel hair pasta with French onion soup, a designer salad and a complimentary glass of a wine from the tasting for $18. The wine tasting alone is $6 per person or $10 per couple.

The restaurant has been open for a little over a year and is a continued work in progress. The exterior has changed with the addition of the namesake patio, an outdoor fire pit, a sunshade slat covering, misters for the summer, greenery and starting today, a windbreak enclosure and French doors will provide shelter for guests deciding to dine outdoors.

The event will be held Thursday Dec. 13 in two sittings, one at 5 p.m. and the other at 8 p.m. on the patio at the restaurant, 670 W. Basin Avenue. Reservations are mandatory. For more information, call 537-0222.