Check, Please! Bay Area: Season 3: Episode 6 (#306)

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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!

Though the Australian Chardonnay we poured onset during the show isn’t available currently, here's another delicious option from the KQED wine club:

Wine of the Week: Cono Sur Chardonnay, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Crafted with organically-grown grapes, the wine’s label features a bicycle that is used as transport in vineyards of the environmentally-conscious property. Due to ageing in stainless steel and not oak barrels, this refreshing white captures Chardonnay’s bright fruit flavors with a tinge of minerality on the palate. Grab some oysters and a bottle and prepare for pleasure.

What to Sip: Stella Alpina Osteria:

If I lived anywhere near this restaurant, I would be a regular. The food is authentic Italian, the atmosphere is welcoming, the service is impeccable, and the 2-page wine list is a taste treat. It offers a selection of California classics, but I suggest sipping Italian all night long.

First, kick off with the aromatic dry rose from northern Italian wine superstar Alois Lageder. Juicy, spicy and fresh, it’s offered by the glass or bottle ($9 and $36) so you can enjoy a sip while unwinding or paired with one of Stella Alpina's beautiful salads. Next, make sure to ask for a special order of the stuffed gnocchi with truffle in brown butter sauce and uncork a bottle of Vietti's elegant red, Barbera D'Asti "Tre Vigne" ($45).

Finally, for those who crave hearty fare, don’t miss Chef Ferrari's signature Spezzatino al Barolo beef stew served over polenta. Pair it with a bottle of Sylla Sebasate Barolo Bussio, which is a well-aged, supple, and stylish red ($48 half bottle/$95 full bottle). The magnificent combination will transport you to Italy...if only for an evening.