Check, Please! Bay Area: Alhamra, Mandalay, Cafe Gibraltar

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. I will also share some wine tips with each episode.

2009 Trefethen Dry Riesling, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, California $20
Riesling is undergoing a renaissance and with its racy, refreshing character, this wine is one of the reasons why. A poolside sipper extraordinaire or a match for lighter-style salads and piquant cuisine, it ranks among the most versatile of wines.

2008 Gainey Merlot, Santa Ynez Valley, California $20
With a velvety texture and vibrant fruit flavors, Gainey captures the appeal of Merlot. Hailing from Santa Barbara County's Santa Ynez Valley, the family-owned winery focuses on sustainability in its grape growing and winemaking. Their whole range of must-buy wines combines value with quality.