Watch Check, Please! Bay Area review: Camber Montclair, Cole’s Chop House, Wise Sons Jewish Deli

Check, Please! Bay Area Season 10 episode 7 airs Thursday, October 8 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

The stresses of the day are soothed away with the combination of Laotian, Burmese and Pakistani flavors at Camber Montclair Restaurant & Bar in the East Bay. In the town of Napa, you’ll find professional service, a relaxed atmosphere and the perfect steak at Cole’s Chop House. Next, take a trip to San Francisco’s Mission District where you’ll find house-smoked pastrami, fresh-made pickles and warm-baked bread at Wise Sons Jewish Deli.

Get Restaurant Information:

• Camber Montclair Restaurant & Bar (Oakland)
• Cole’s Chop House (Napa)
• Wise Sons Jewish Deli (San Francisco)

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. I will also share some wine tips with each episode. This week I discuss: wines from Spain’s Cariñena region.

Campo Viejo Cava Brut Reserva, Spain ($15)
This Spanish winery was founded in 1959 and ranks among the classics of Rioja. Headed by talented winemaker, Elena Adell, Campo Viejo has the rare ability to produce well-priced, world-class wines with character. This sparkler is one of my perennial favorites. Crafted in the traditional method with native grape varieties including traditional Xarello, Parellada, and Macabeo, it’s aged in bottle for 18 months giving it reserva Cava status. Crisp and dry, the vibrant flavors followed by a creamy texture make it feel indulgent to sip, but it impresses for less.

2013 Amity Vineyards Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, Oregon ($18)
Pinot Blanc (pinot white) is the least known of the trio of grapes including partners Pinot Gris (pinot grey) and Pinot Noir (pinot black). Pinot Blanc can deliver a fleshy, fruit-laden white reminiscent of Chardonnay. This classy version from Amity is medium bodied, dripping with aromatic notes of pear and peach. Try it as a partner alongside curried dishes or grilled fish topped with mango salsa.

2013 Bila-Haut by Michel Chapoutier, Cotes-du-Roussillon Villages, France ($14)
From the renowned French producer, Michel Chapoutier, comes a great-deal bottle packed with personality. This marriage of hearty red grapes including Syrah, Grenache and Carignan, grown in the sun-splashed south of France, is both earthy and fruity. Playfully expressing the region it calls home, it’s a wine for everyday drinking that will take you on a virtual vacation. Bon Voyage!

2012 Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California ($38)
Named for the grove of giant sequoias that grace the label and anchor the property, this historic winery is most well known for its structured Cabernet Sauvignon. The dash of Cabernet Franc and Merlot add suppleness and aromatics while the Cab backbone gives the wine ageability. Drink now with paired with a grilled sirloin or age for up to a decade.