Check, Please! Bay Area's third season Joyce Goldstein Special episode (#391) profiles these three Bay Area restaurants: 1) Medjool: | restaurant information | reviews | episode video | [CLOSED] 2) B44: | restaurant information | reviews | episode video | 3) Da Flora: | restaurant information | reviews | recipe | episode video | WATCH THE EPISODE ONLINE! http://www.youtube.com/v/8i8Ynx7Ptxc&hl=en&fs=1 Other ways to watch the episode online (and on video iPod): Download episode (requires iTunes or QuickTime) Subscribe to Video Podcast View photo gallery (flickr.com) Contribute your food photos! (flickr.com) 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. Chatting with Joyce Goldstein -- a Bay Area treasure -- was sheer pleasure. What added to our conversation was sipping bubbly during the show. I chose to pour Schramsberg, Napa’s sparkling wine star. Their selection of sparklers is world class. From the affordable Mirabelle bottling to the coveted J. Schram, Schramsberg’s lineup shines. Recommended wines: Schramsberg "Mirabelle" Brut Rosé, $24 Delicate aromas of strawberry and floral notes lead into a refreshing sparkler that is perfect for any holiday meal. 2005 Schramsberg "Blanc de Blancs" $35 Crisp, elegant, and complex, this lovely Chardonnay-based bubbly is a top choice for a range of shellfish from oysters to crab. What to Sip: Medjool, B44, and DaFlora Medjool The hip restaurant-cum-nightclub, Medjool, has an enviable wine list. There’s much to be said for restraint when it comes to a well-chosen list. Bigger is not always better. Medjool's one-page list is organized by style category with headers such as "voluptuous whites and vivacious reds." Winners abound with pricing mostly in the under $50 category. My don’t-miss wines include the luscious white blend of Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, and Aligote from Au Bon Climat in California’s Santa Maria Valley ($38), and the eclectic, earthy red, Cuvee Rouge from Chateau Musar in Lebanon ($38). Both of these selections are ideal with the Mediterranean-influenced cuisine served up at Medjool. B44 Take a virtual vinous trip to Spain just by perusing the fantastic wine list at B44.