Check, Please! Bay Area: Season 3: Episode 5 (#305)

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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.

Wines of the Week: KQED Wine Club

From the KQED Wine Club come our selections poured on this week's show. Join the club!

Wine of the Week: 2006 A to Z Riesling, Oregon
If you haven’t discovered the joys of sipping Riesling yet, grab a bottle of this wine and prepare to be converted. Aromas of white peaches are followed by juicy, crisp fruit flavors in a wine that makes your mouth water. Serve well-chilled with spicy fare, salads, and even grilled sausage for a taste treat.

What to Sip: Lalime's:

Lalime's eclectic menu of Mediterranean-influenced fare layered with local flare is echoed in the classy wine list. This collection of bottles showcases savvy worldwide picks paired with California wines, all offered at respectable -- and in many cases -- highly affordable prices.

White wine lovers should look to the Italian white collection for deals, including several offerings of Falanghina (a white varietal that's fruity and fresh) for around $30, and one of my favorite Italian whites, Pieropan's zesty "Calvarino" from Soave in the northern Italian Veneto region ($57). To truly indulge yourself, order the California classic: a complex Hanzell Chardonnay from Sonoma Valley. Yes, it's priced at over $100, but it is well worth it.

Unique Spanish reds like the floral, elegant Palacios "Petalos" ($45) from the Bierzo region of northwestern Spain, made with a grape variety named Mencia, is a top pick for those who like Pinot-esque reds. For hearty, rich reds there is an extensive Zinfandel section highlighting various Rosenblum bottlings, one of the best producers of the variety. Also, not to miss in the affordable category is the Torbreck "T-Rex" Shiraz from Australia's Barossa Valley ($35). Can you say "meat lover's wine"?!