I  had a chance to address one of my favorite topics on View from the Bay  a few weeks ago: how to find great wines at independent retailers. While I have often spoken on this topic, it was fun and interesting to go into a real shop with a wine novice–ABC reporter Nick Smith happily played the part–and help him find wine he might like based on what he likes. You can watch the segment by clicking here.

We filmed it at K&L, which is one of my favorite wine shops in the City. They  had some great wine on the floor, including some very well priced Malbecs and Torrontés from Argentina and a couple of Nero d’Avolas from Sicily. These were stacked out in the middle of the store in the staff picks section. I always love to see curious and wine savvy sales staff getting invested in sharing their favorite wines and have a hand in what’s on the floor.

Nick and I among the wines at K&L.

So Nick played the part of the curious newbie drinker perfectly. He told me he had had an Etude Pinot Noir the other night and enjoyed it. So I walked him over to the Pinot section and pointed out a couple of other great wines he might want to try–like the Hitching Post Cork Dancer–as well as some Oregon Pinots, like Domaine Serene, that might be similar in style.

We also talked about the concepts of second labels as more affordable versions of a winery’s production. I showed Nick Beyond from Buitenverwachten, which is a great everyday Sauvignon Blanc priced around $10. We also touched on Prosecco and Cava being great Champagne alternatives and did an interview with co-owner Clyde Beffa about the different wines he direct imports for the store.

So here’s to great retailers.

Cheers,

Liza the Wine Chick

 Makeup for this segment provided by Shawnté Vargas of Benefit.

“So why ruin good wine?” was the question Spencer Christian asked me when I went on View from the Bay earlier this week when I was on his show. You can watch the segment by clicking here. My response is that you are hardly ruining it. You are actually repurposing it and making it accessible to more people. Wine-based cocktails also represent a meeting of the sommelier-mixologist minds to me. It represents an area where they are getting creative and playing nicely with each other.

They are also great for the holidays because you can put them in punch bowls and have your guests gather round. You can also get your friends in on the action by having them help you shake and muddle (as I did with dubious results on this segment of View from the Bay).

So please take a look at my Examiner.com column for a couple fun holiday recipes.

I recently had a chance to go back to Sicily, where I hadn’t been since I was in college. I was absolutely floored by the sunshine, eggplant, great wine and hospitality. This region is truly emerging as a go-to destination, complete with extraordinary food and wine experiences.

I will let you know about my favorite wines in the next couple of posts, but wanted to first fill you in on a classic hotel and its new sibling. The Orient Express properties in Taormina, perched on a cliff that endures as a classic destination, are a treat. The Timeo, in the center of Taormina, is a delight with a rooftop bar and 1950s music (think classic Frank and Dean Martin). The newly opened (by a couple of weeks) Sant’Andrea is more of a beach destination with divine views.

Taormina is a beauty of a town, better visited in spring than with the hordes of tourists in summer. All the better to enjoy a classic Negroni on the roof of the Timeo with a view of the town below. Salute,

I had the fun of going on Gene Burns Dining Around last Saturday. Here you can see the host and me together:

You can listen to the program by clicking here.

Gene was celebrating the 16th anniversary of his show and we got a chance to talk about Sicily and molecular cocktails: two of my favorite subjects. I regaled him with stories of my recent trip to Sicily and adventures on and around Etna (we actually got to climb the volano itself, see below):

I also shared some of my favorite places in SF to get these wines: such as the  great, dry sparkling Nerello Macalese I had at Bar Bambino. I will share more about Sicilian wines and my experiences with molecular cocktails in Chicago in future updates. Happy Memorial Day Weekend, Liza the Wine Chick

Hopefully you tuned into Dining Around with Gene Burns to hear me discuss the delicious eggplant, piles of yogurt and great local wines I enjoyed last week in Istanbul. A journalist recently asked if Istanbul is the next Paris. My response is not only is it more beautiful and affordable, but the food is consistently better (without the attitude).

Here’s the segment live in all its foodie deliciousness.

So here’s a cheat sheet on some delicious things to try when visiting Istanbul or Turkish restaurants all over the world.

High-end Istanbul:

Kempinski Palace has views to die for, outstanding meze, fresh fish and a great baklava-focused dessert bar. Mikla on top of the Marmara Pera hotel has amazing views.

Affordable Istanbul:

Kivais a great new meze house in the hip Beyoglu neighborhood. Ciyahas fantastic meze and meats on the Asian side of the city. The street it is on has amazing food and spice shopping.

Few Turkish wines are seen in the States and it is a shame.  Indigenous grapes like Kalecik Karasi (a spicy red) and Narince (a beautiful, mineral white that works beautifully with seafood). The country is home to hundreds of local varietals and also produces wines from international varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

Also don’t miss the chance to try raki, a local anise-flavored spirit on its own with snacks or in a cocktail (the Kempinski made a great one with melon).

Places to try Turkish food and wine in SF:

Dunyafor great meze and lamb on Polk.

Troyain the Inner Richmond for meze and more complicated dishes.

Bursain West Portal for divine meze.

How important are grass-roots food and wine pairings? Many wine producers, and restaurant operators, believe they are essential. However it may be more of a European perspective (which I frequently embrace). My Italian and “honary Italian” friends almost always drink local wines with regional foods. Part of the reason for this is that is a focus on what is primarily what is available locally. It might seem like a limited perspective in this country, and justifiably so, when we have wines from around the world.

However, there is some truth to the old adage. When one of my favorite producers from the Veneto in Northern Italy—Montresor—hosted a recent dinner focused on regional food from that region in San Francisco, I wondered if it was really important to zero in on these synergies. As American consumers we tend to drink a wide range of wines with all kinds of food.

So I have to admit that the dinner was brilliant. We cooked regional foods from the Veneto in an intimate setting—guided by local Italian chefs—and the pairings were fantastic. Traditional Venetian chicchetti (small bites) like Sarde in Soar—sardines in a sweet and sour sauce—were fantastic with Montresor’s Lugana single-vinyard “Gran Guardia” 2009 and their delcious Valpolicella (perhaps the most affordable red from the Veneto) was also served.

So perhaps we need to rethink our pairing strategy here? Cin cin,

Liza the Wine Chick

I recently attended and covered a super-interesting Wine Tourism Conference in Santa Rosa. It was only in its second year but there were myriad interesting leads for many of us in the business.
Canvas, an association for Napa- and Sonoma-based concierges and other key execs in the hospitality business shared some of my comprehensive coverage in Wine Business Monthly here with their members. I would so appreciate your feedback.

Please take a look at my recent coverage in Cheers about why I believe the dining experience itself may be more important than the status of having dined somewhere chic.

How the Spanish Drink: A Look at Spain’s Local, Regional and Food-Friendly Wines with Liza the Wine Chick

Thursday January 31st, 6:30 to 8pm

An evening of tasting, food pairing, wine education and interactive wine battles matched with typical Spanish snacks and tapas at Canela

Canela is located at 2272 Market St (between Noe and Sanchez)

Please RSVP to this link

Experience a Sherry a trio of elegant, small production Spanish wines–including a Super Spaniard–not easy to find elsewhere in private setting with an experienced and approachable wine educator.

A Trio of Wines for Mediterranean Food

Sample Bold, Old World Wines from Folio’s portfolio with Noted Wine Writer and Educator Liza the Wine Chick

Thursday January 17^th and Saturday the 19^th from 5pm to 6:30pm

Enjoy the flavors of Austria, Spain and Italy at Tarla, one of Napa’s newest and most vibrant restaurants. Tastes of the fresh and fruity Laurenz und Sophie Singing Grüner Veltliner , Palacios’ innovative La Montesa Rioja Grencha blend and Tenuta Frescobaldi di Castiglioni Tuscan luscious blend will be served with small bites from Tarla’s menu.

The tastings are open to the trade and consumers and will be offered free of charge.

Tarla is located at 1480 1st Street in downtown Napa
707.255.5599

All the wines will also be featured by the glass in the restaurant from Thursday evening January 17^th through the 19^th at $7 to $11 a glass.

My good friend Philip Kampe, with whom I ate and drank myself silly in Southern France may be able to join me at the Napa Valley Truffle Festival. He posted this great story about why he loves mushrooms. He hasn’t even met Rico, the super-cute Truffle-hunting dog. 

I am so looking forward to the weekend and have to say that my appetite for mushrooms just continues to grow after a great weekend forgaging for them at Ft. Ross Vineyard followed by a great dinner at the Timbercover Inn!

A presto,

Liza the Wine Chick