Thai One On with Fetzer Valley Oaks Riesling

I was recently in the beautiful country of Trinidad and Tobago enjoying the spicy pleasures of Tamnak Thai, a wonderful Thai restaurant in the city of Port of Spain. The ambience was great; the food was magnificent. Not much could have made the experience better, but wait ..... something did ....

I asked the waitress to bring a nice riesling for the table and was surprised to see this Californian wine end up next to me. But, being the good sport that I am, or perhaps it was the issue of not wanting to look snobbish in front of my dinner companions, I did not protest .... and I'm glad I didn't!

Surprisingly, this was one of the best food parings I've ever experienced. The gentle sweetness of the Fetzer Riesling was the perfect match for the spicy Thai we were feasting upon. With aromas of pear and apricots and tastes of peaches and apricots, this is one enjoyable wine.

If you're not lucky enough to be having Thai, especially from Tamnak Thai, try this wine on its own. I'm betting it'll surprise you.

Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio Still Hot After All These Years

Are you looking for a great tasting, very food friendly wine to impress your dinner party guests? It's hard to go wrong with Santa Marherita's Pinot Grigio from Trentino-Alto Adige appellation, near the foothills of the Alps. And don't just take my word for it ... this has been an incredibly popular wine for quite a long time. In fact, for the last 13 years Wine & Spirits magazine has listed Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio as the most popular imported wine sold within the top restaurants throughout the U.S.

This wine goes great as an aperitif or pairing with fish, chicken and rice dishes. I love to keep life's decisions simple, so wines that you can drink both before, during and after dinner work well with me. This is a wine to drink young; only cellar for 2-3 years. If you're looking to have it chilled just right to really impress your guests, serve between 50-54F (10-12C).

You're going to love the fruity ("golden apple" says the manufacturer) aftertaste, so just remember ... if you're the one cooking the dinner, don't drink this wine until dinner's served ... otherwise, you might just forget about the dinner.