Check, Please! Bay Area Season 12 episode 19 airs Thursday, October 12 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other
television airtimes. And never miss an episode by
subscribing to the video podcast.
This week we visit with a mom, pop and their three daughters for traditional Mexican fare in Vallejo at
Los Arquitos Restaurant. Next we step into the saffron-hued dining room of San Francisco's
Lavash Restaurant for classic Persian flavors. Finally, we step back to a previous episode to revisit the Italian flair found at
Seven Hills Restaurant in San Francisco.
Host Leslie Sbrocco and guests having fun on the set of season 12 episode 19. (Wendy Goodfriend)
Get Restaurant Information:
*
Los Arquitos Restaurant (Vallejo)
*
Lavash Restaurant (San Francisco)
*
Seven Hills Restaurant (San Francisco)
Host Leslie Sbrocco tasting wine. (Wendy Goodfriend)
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, beer, and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show. I will also share some
wine, beer and spirits tips with each episode. This week I discuss:
Absinthe.
Ferrari Rosé, TrentoDOC, Italy $35
A lesser-known, but incredibly high-quality area for sparklers is the Italian region dubbed TrentoDOC (pronounced TrentoDock). Ferrari has had roots in the northern Italian growing and producing region, which surrounds the city of Trentino, since the early 1900s. Today, this Pinot Noir and Chardonnay-based bubbly made in the classic method is revered among the top ranks of Italy’s sparkling wines.
2015 Groth ‘Hillview Vineyard’ Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California $32
The Groth family began their vinous journey in Napa in 1981. Since then, they have made a name for themselves as one of California’s top family-owned wineries. I’m a fan of Groth’s sleek, powerful bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon, but this Chardonnay carries on their tradition of crafting complex wines with a high deliciousness factor. Fermentation in both old and new barrels, in addition to stirring of the lees, results in a Chardonnay with a creamy yet crisp character. The wine is balanced with fruit, spice, and oak notes forming a triangle of flavor perfection.
2014 Concha y Toro ‘Gran Reserva’ Ribera del Tinguirrica Malbec, Marchigüe, Colchagua Valley, Chile $17
Many American wine drinkers think that the Malbec is only from Argentina. Not true. There are delicious versions hailing from neighboring Chile, too. Classic producer, Concha y Toro’s lineup of wines is diverse, but their Gran Reserva wines rank among the best values on the market today. This Malbec, with a splash of Syrah,