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.

Yellow Tail Shows There's More to Bubbles Than Just Blowing Them

After sampling (or perhaps indulging in) a few of the [yellow tail] wines, their popularity should really come as no surprise; the Casella Estate just makes great, affordable wine. This is certainly

evidenced by the rate at which these wines have been flying off the racks; in fact, the [yellow tail] shiraz is the top selling red wine in the US and [yellow tail] also enjoys its perch atop the best selling merlot category.

There's no question those are two great wines, but I've got a secret to tell you (which means this must stay between you and I). I know [yellow tail] Bubbles has become hugely popular with the young ladies, and I know that my manhood may be questioned by some (who have not tried it) after this, but I've got to admit it ... I'm crazy about the Bubbles. [yellow tail] Bubbles is a sparkling explosion of fruity heaven in a bottle and I can't feel as though things are right in the world if I don't always have at least a couple of bottles on hand.

If you're going out on the town and are looking for a fun, inexpensive wine to drink on its own, look no further. BUT heed this caution .... unless you bring extra bottles with you, don't let anyone else convince you to let them try it or you'll quickly be drier than a ..... well, I'm sure you get the drift.

As for food pairing, like most sparkling wines it's very versatile. It goes great with seafood, chicken, appetizers or dessert. Give it a try and let me know what you think.