Check, Please! Bay Area Season 12 episode 8 airs Thursday, June 1 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

Wine Country favorite Bistro Don Giovanni showcases traditional Italian cuisine in Napa. Find authentic, award-winning and vibrant Mexican flavors at a roadside eatery in Sonoma called El Molino Central. Finally, it's all about the ingredient-driven small plates and artisanal wines and cocktails at 1760 in San Francisco.

Host Leslie Sbrocco and guests having fun on the set of season 12 episode 8. (Wendy Goodfriend)

Get Restaurant Information:

* Bistro Don Giovanni (Napa)

* El Molino Central (Sonoma)

* 1760 (San Francisco) [CLOSED]

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: the wines of Sicily.

2013 Stemmari "Cantodoro" Rosso Reserva, Sicily $16

On a recent trip to Sicily, Stemmari was one of my most memorable visits. The winemaker, Lucio Matricardi, is passionate about his wines, which are made at their beautiful Feudo Arancio property. What's impressive about this blend of primarily Nero d'Avola with Cabernet Sauvignon is that it acts (and tastes) like an expensive wine, but in reality ranks among my top-value picks. Notes of dark, saturated fruit and savory earthiness swirl together in a funnel cloud of flavor. The texture is supple yet vibrant, which makes it an ideal pairing for the tangy Sicilian dish, Caponata, or fish simmered with tomatoes. Pick up a few bottles and see if you don't get transported to Sicily with a sip.

2015 Tablas Creek "Patelin de Tablas Blanc" Paso Robles, California $25

As an icon in the Paso Robles region, Tablas Creek is a winery I look to as leading the Rhone-style movement in California. Founded by the Perrin family of France's Chateau de Beaucastel and Robert Haas of Vineyard Brands import company, the winery crafts the best domestic wines with a French Rhone focus. This blend is my favorite of their lineup. It's an ode to the white grapes of the Rhone marrying Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne from a selection of noted vineyards in Paso Robles. Stone fruit and nutty aromas are backed up with a smooth yet vibrant mouthfeel making it a wine not only for the dinner table, but also for cocktail hour.

2015 Il Pogg...