Check, Please! Bay Area Season 13 episode 5 airs Thursday, May 24 at 7:30pm on KQED 9. See other television airtimes. And never miss an episode by subscribing to the video podcast.

Bubbles, wine and southern smoked ribs make for a winning combination at a Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin' BBQ in downtown Napa. Next it’s Parisian classics like steak frites, coq au vin and duck confit at RÊVE in Lafayette. Finally, we settle in to a hip Italian spot with wood-fired pizzas at Fiorella in San Francisco.

Host Leslie Sbrocco and guests having fun on the set of season 13 episode 5. (Wendy Goodfriend)

Get Restaurant Information:

* Bounty Hunter Wine Bar & Smokin' BBQ (Napa)

* RÊVE Bistro (Lafayette)

* Fiorella (San Francisco)

Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine on set (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: Merlot.

Enza ‘Extra Dry’ Prosecco, DOC Italy $15

When I think of Prosecco, I imagine a taste similar to Enza. Light, refreshing and juicy. This easy-drinking bubbly captures the friendliness of Prosecco at a price that pleases. Made from Glera grapes – the true name for the Prosecco grape variety – in north east Italy’s Prosecco DOC region, it's a fun wine to sip on a summer day.

2016 Mt. Beautiful Sauvignon Blanc, North Canterbury, New Zealand $17

The name of this winery describes its wine style – beautiful. Mt. Beautiful is located not in the familiar Marlborough region of New Zealand’s South Island. Rather, it's situated further south in the North Canterbury region. Their range of wines all display a streak of elegance and restraint, but this Sauvignon Blanc truly displays the winery’s philosophy. Not overtly green and grassy, it captures the sun-splashed, citrus-scented fruitiness of Sauvignon Blanc grapes. A classy white.

2014 Domaines Barons de Rothschild ‘Légende’ Saint-Emilion, France $35

The name is lauded in the world of wine – Barons de Rothschild. Most often thought of with high-dollar amounts next to their wines, their Légende’ series is well-priced and educational. By that I mean the goal of the set of five wines is to showcase the diversity and personality of Bordeaux. From their easy-drinking Bordeaux Rouge and Blanc bottlings to the more focused appellation bottlings from the Left Bank classics of Médoc and Pauillac, drinkers can experience a sense of place in the glass. This stylish Right Bank red from Saint-Emilion is a traditional blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes. Smooth and supple, it’s like drinking silk.

2015 Pollack Vineyards Cabernet Franc, Monticello, Virginia $30

Cabernet Franc is a grape that I love.