Dale Cruse’s fridge makes me happy in a way that’s quite different from my fridge. While my fridge may be loaded with 10 different types of jams and jellies, Dale’s got the equivalent in wine, many of them show proof of having been opened, sipped and, perhaps, guzzled – no judgment!

That’s a joke. Dale doesn’t guzzle wine. (I guzzle wine.) Dale tastes. In fact, he does it quite well and writes all about it on his  site Drinks Are On Me. Though we’ve never met, Dale’s awesome because he keeps his wine talk real or “without all the B.S.” He also happens to be a rock star, Website developer and helps top clients realize their Web dreams. I could tell you more about him, but he does it so well here.

Dale, thank you for sharing your fridge and your stellar wine knowledge. And in addition to all that delicious wine, I’m sort of enamored with the fact that your fridge is filled with a few accouterments for an easy wine party. A few crackers and we’d be all set!

Now to our regularly scheduled interview…

How did you find food? (You know, besides the eating-it-every-day-to-stay-alive thing…)

Since I’m much more into wine than food, I’m going to explain how I found wine. A few years ago I mentioned to a website client that I had drunk a few bottles of wine and enjoyed them. Unknown to me at the time, he was VERY into wine. He said, “If you’re going to do this [get into wine], you’re going to do it right!” He started sending me mixed six and 12 packs of wine with his own personal tasting notes. That meant the world to me and allowed me to taste fine wine and identify what it was I was tasting. I’ve had a love affair with the fruit of the vine ever since.

What three things are always in your fridge?

Besides butter, milk, and tomato sauce? I’d say bubbles (Champagne), white wine, and capers.

Is there a rhyme or reason to how your fridge is organized?

Oh yes! I’ve always been spatially organized and my dairy is all located together, as are my wines, meats, veggies, cheeses, condiments, etc.

When was the last time you cleaned your fridge?

That reminds me….

What guilty pleasure is in your fridge right now?

Hot dogs. Good ones, though!

Which ingredients in there are a fabulous meal just waiting to happen?

Chicken, capers, butter, Sauvignon Blanc. Add some pasta and I’ve got a delicious Chicken Piccata.

Do you have a dream fridge in mind for the future? Do you already own your dream fridge?

My dream fridge is a wine fridge! Though I have several small wine fridges, I dream of one day owning a Euro Cave. Anybody want to buy some smaller units so I can afford my Euro Cave?

And, in an effort to assist all those weekend grillers, what wine goes well with the stuff we throw on the grill?

Grilled hot dogs (like the ones in his fridge drawer!) go well with a tannic red wine, like a young Bordeaux or a bottle of Petite Sirah. The fat will cut through all those tannins, allowing the fruit to shine through, making the wine drinkable.