Quick Bites: Mid-life crisis wine, Entourage at the Aquarium and more.

As results of mid-life crisese go, the emergence of a Monterey County wine seems to beat quitting the job to grow beans or hauling off and buying a spendy Jaguar convertible.

Austin Harlow Winery is the area's newest wine operation, and part of a line called Mid-Life Crisis Wines.

The lineup consists of Monterey County Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay, Monterey County Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir, San Benito County Zinfandel, Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi Petite Sirah and Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon, and hits a price point around $20.

Owner-Winemaker Bill Austin developed them because he wanted people in his age group to have good juice at a manageable price that allows for a little wine every night.

They are available at Zeph's One Stop and Star Market in Salinas, and will be available soon at other wine shops, liquor stores and restaurants

Austin's winemaking team consists of Anthony Pessagno (the late Steve Pessagno's son) and Russell Joyce (of Joyce Vineyards). The wines are produced currently at Joyce.

More quick news nibbles appear here; send yours to edible@mcweekly.com

• The city of Monterey's City Council approved long-term mobile vending. In English, that means food truck are OK at 10 locations for more than an hour. Those spots include Del Monte along Window on the Bay and Ryan Ranch Office Park.

• There’s some sizzle to the latest food news from Marina as construction for the restaurants at The Dunes began April 11, and developer Scott Negri says the project is remaining on schedule—and that most of the businesses should be open by Black Friday. Negri adds that he recently signed a lease with Smashburger, which will fill one of the few (yet to be built) spaces that haven’t already been leased. Founded in Denver, Colorado in 2007, Smashburger has several locations in California, but none between San Jose and Los Angeles. The company’s motto is “Smashed Fresh, Served Delicious,” and per its website, “Our smashed burgers are always made-to-order, never frozen, smashed and seared to perfection on our grill. Our menu is also kid-friendly, vegetarian-approved and topped off with frosty milkshakes.” The menu features a large selection of burgers (with chicken or black bean patty options too), a handful of salads, lots of fried bites—fried carrots and green beans?! garlic fried pickles?!—and milkshakes made with Häagen-Dazs ice cream.

• MYO’s dynasty celebrates seven years of glorious DIY froyo and seemingly limitless toppings with free schwag and 50 percent off yogurt Thursday, April 28.

• Strawberries have displaced apples as the worst produce item to buy conventionally because of the amount of treatments used on them. Understand why with the blog post "The Dirty Dozen: the best fruits and veggies to go organic."

• De Tierra Vineyards (229-2105) does Earth Day 4-8pm Saturday, April 23, at Russell Vineyard (503 Corral de Tierra Road) with a lady bug release, picnic games, its newest wines (including its organic Merlot and Cab) and snacks from Chef Soerke Peters of Basil Seasonal Dining in Carmel—which just happens to be the rare green certified restaurant.

• Heller Estate (659-6220) practiced organic growing far before it was cool. Friday, April 22, it celebrates both Earth Day and 20 years of pesticide-free grape growing with a free noon-4pm April 22 tasting room open house complete with tastings, organic bites and a complimentary artist-designed 
Earth Day poster. (The tasting room is the first you encounter in Carmel Valley, at 69 W. Carmel Valley Road, RSVP to 659-6226 requested.)

• Sonny Petersson is leaving his GM post at Portola Hotel and Spa (647-4434) to move the fam back to his native Sweden. Brian Hein, most recently was the GM at the Sardine Factory and a veteran of Monterey Peninsula Country Club and at the Inn at Spanish Bay, steps into the role.

• Lonely Mountain Farm pop-up dinner happens 6pm Friday, April 22, at Happy Girl Kitchen ($55, 373-GIRL) with Chef Matt Millea doing all sorts of vegetarian ambrosia like green garlic-and-almond pesto, goat whey with polenta and wild greens, and spring salad with pickled green strawberries.

• Actor, filmmaker and ocean advocate Adrian Grenier, whose Lonely Whale Foundation works to advance education and empathy for ocean health, will receive the 2016 Paul Walker Ocean Leadership Award from the Monterey Bay Aquarium. You may know him as Vince Chase in Entourage.

• After 10 months of rehab following two floods from a neighbor above, Bistro Beaujolais (624-5600) is back at full strength in the Carmel Plaza shopping center.

• The relaunch of Pacific’s Edge at Hyatt Carmel Highlands is currently scheduled to hit by mid-June.

• The local American Institute of Wine & Food hosts Bubbles of the World ($125) 4-7pm Saturday, April 30, at a swanky private home provided by Alain Pinel Realtors. Anticipate fancy sparklings hand-picked by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis, hourly saberings, live music worldly tapas (622-9124).

• TusCA at Hyatt Regency Monterey (372-1234) has quietly promoted Ross Kilkenny to the position of chef de cuisine, fresh of representing Hyatt Regency Monterey in a regional Hyatt cooking competition and winning, then placing fourth internationally. 

David Schmalz contributed to this report.