Check, Please! Bay Area: Season 2: Episode 14 (214)

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My name is Leslie Sbrocco and I’m the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I will be sharing my tasting notes about the wine the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show. Also, in my "What to Sip" suggestions, I choose one restaurant from each show and offer tips for selecting libations to enjoy with your meal.

Wine of the Week:

2004 Santi “Solane” Ripasso Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Italy $15
A value wine with complexity and class. Think of Solane as a "mini" Amarone -- the famous red wine of northern Italy made with dried grapes. This cherry scented, vibrant and succulent red is made by repouring (ripasso) regular Valpolicella red wine over Amarone’s remnants. Percolating through the dried fruit like water through a drip coffee machine, the resulting red is earthy, spicy, and fleshy. Pair it with osso bucco or a meat-lovers pizza.

What to Sip: Buckeye Roadhouse

With a roaring fire, club-like feel, and hearty comfort food, the Buckeye is a Marin favorite. Its busy bar invites perching yourself on a stool and sipping a signature cocktail like a Strawberry Mojito or a Sausalito Sidecar. The wine list is loaded with recognizable names like Shafer’s classic Merlot from Napa Valley ($75), but for the fun of it, look to their alternative white and reds sections. These portions of the wine list are organized by style from milder to stronger. For lighter styles don’t miss the D'Arie Rose from the Sierra Foothills ($35) or the luscious white Viognier from Alban Vineyards on California’s Central Coast ($42). From Spain, the sassy white, Condes de Albarei Albarino ($32) marries with shellfish or salads. Reds to look for include the elegant Marimar Torres Pinot Noir ($56) and the bold Aussie Cabernet/Shiraz blend, Penfolds Bin 389 ($46). This is a winning wine with a big Buckeye steak.