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Folie à Deux: Ménage à Trois

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When I was in graduate school studying Clinical Psychology I happened across a book titled Uncommon Psychiatric Syndromes which included the syndrome Folie à Deux. I was fascinated by the concept and ended up writing a paper on it. When I moved to the Bay Area and discovered the winery Folie à Deux I was compelled to check it out -- the Rorschach-like logo of the dancing inebriated nymphs (you see that too, don't you?) touched my psychological and artistic sensibilities as I am a big fan of the Rorschach inkblot test. So, to compound my obsession, the winery came out with a wine series called Ménage à Trois. Now I would guess most people over 18 know what this French phrase refers to and it is always a treat asking for it in a store. In addition to loving twinship (wonderfully depicted by Diane Arbus and Mary Ellen Marks), I am also into triangulation. So, of course, they produce three varieties: red, white and rose and each one is a blend of three wines. My fave -- the red -- is a blend of Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet. Here is how Folie à Deux describes it, "Surrender to the seduction of dark, rich blackberry with a hint of pepper and a lush, lingering finish leaving you wishing for more..."

And this threesome is cheap too!

You can buy it online at the website for $12 a bottle and I have found it for about $11 at Whole Foods in Mill Valley, Andronicos on Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley, and Bi-Rite in San Francisco.

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Another interesting note is when you read the history of the winery online it says it was started by "two close friends." We just visited the winery and when we asked the wine server the story behind the name he told us a different tale...he said Folie à Deux was started by two psychiatrists, a husband and wife team who ended up hating each other, bitterly divorcing, and ended up selling the winery. So, what really happened? Could it have been the Ménage à Trois?

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