Watch More of Season 14

Check, Please! Bay Area Season 14 episode 16 airs Thursday, October 10 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

First, we head to the Town for alaMar Kitchen + Bar in Oakland, a spicy spot where Mediterranean and Asian influences meet fresh seafood. Next, we visit Sabores del Sur in Walnut Creek for authentic Chilean cuisine from a woman-owned and run kitchen. Then it's off to San Francisco's Richmond district for Pearl 6101, a neighborhood treasure serving carefully crafted cocktails and refined American cuisine.

Host Leslie Sbrocco and guests on the set of season 14 episode 16. (Grace Cheung/KQED)

Get Restaurant Information:

* alaMar Kitchen + Bar (Oakland) 

* Sabores del Sur (Walnut Creek)

* Pearl 6101 (San Francisco) 

Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine (Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)

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.

Domaine Amirault, Les Quarterons Crémant de Loire Sparkling Brut, France $18

Crémant is a French style of sparkling wine that refers to the creamy, soft texture created by the bubbles. It’s not called Champagne because it’s not from the eponymous region, but Crémant de Loire hails from the stunning Loire Valley of France. Made from Chenin Blanc grapes in a dry – or Brut – style, it’s an elegant sparkler. When it comes to value for the money, you can’t beat this bubbly beauty.

2017 Ponzi Vineyards Arneis, Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley, Oregon $27

Ponzi ranks at the top of my must-know wineries in Oregon. Not only did the Ponzi family help create the Oregon wine industry more than 50 years ago, today Maria and Luisa Ponzi are continuing their legacy of quality. Known for world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, their Arneis shows a different side of the Ponzi portfolio. A unique northern Italian white grape, Arneis vines were planted at Ponzi in 1990. This deliciously succulent wine is citrusy but with layered complexity. It’s for drinking and thinking.

2015 Charles Krug Family Reserve 'Generations' Red Wine, Napa Valley, California $70

Talk about a rich history…Charles Krug leads the way in Napa Valley. Founded in 1861, it remains one of the most esteemed producers in California. Under the ownership of the Peter Mondavi family since 1943, Charles Krug’s Generations honors the family’s heritage and lineage. This classic Bordeaux-style blend is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon and falls on the lush side of the scale.

It’s an ideal candidate to put in your wine cellar, but if you can’t wait a few years, no worries. Served alongside prime rib, rack of lamb, or a pungent aged cheese, it’s ready to enjoy tonight (just make sure to give me a call if you’re opening the bottle).