Check, Please! Bay Area's third season episode 8 (#308) profiles and reviews these three Bay Area restaurants:

1) Le Charm French Bistro: | restaurant information | reviews | [now Mathilde]

2) Vung Tau Restaurant: | restaurant information | reviews | recipe |

3) NOPA: | restaurant information | reviews | recipe |

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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. Also, in my "What to Sip" suggestions, I choose one restaurant from each show and offer tips for selecting libations to enjoy with your meal.

Wines of the Week: KQED Wine Club

From the KQED Wine Club come our selections poured on this week's show. Join the club!

Wine of the Week: 2006 Fairview Pinotage, Paarl, South Africa

Don't recognize this kind of wine? Pinotage is the homebred red of South Africa. A cross between two red grapes, Pinot Noir and Cinsault, it is both spicy and earthy. I recently visited Fairview in South Africa and I must say, it's a breathtaking spot situated near Paarl (means pearl) Mountain. The medium-bodied, red berry-scented red wine expresses the beauty of its surroundings.

What to Sip: Nopa

Let me just say it, I love this place. It's hip without being pretentious, it's classy without being uptight, but mostly, it just serves up good food and great wine. What more do you want?

The salad of duck confit, chicories, poached egg, and walnuts is a dish I dream about. Paired with a glass of Selbach-Oster Riesling Spätlese from Germany's Mosel region makes my mouth water. With much of the wine pricing hovering under or around $50, the list is a playground for those who love exploring. You won't find any boring standards here. In fact, you may not recognize many of the producers and wines, but that should only make you want to discuss your options with the sommelier and get ready for a vinous adventure.

Several stars I recommend trying includes the Emilio Moro "Tinto Fino" from Ribera del Duero in Spain ($59). This Tempranillo-based red is flexible enough to pair with chicken, fish, meat, and anything in between. For white drinkers, the Marc Colin "Le Charmois" ($51) from Burgundy's bargain area of Saint-Aubin is a smooth yet crisp Chardonnay to charm.