Check, Please! Bay Area's third season Joyce Goldstein Special episode (#391) profiles these three Bay Area restaurants:

1) Medjool: | restaurant information | reviews | episode video | [CLOSED]

2) B44: | restaurant information | reviews | episode video |

3) Da Flora: | restaurant information | reviews | recipe | episode video |

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http://www.youtube.com/v/8i8Ynx7Ptxc&hl=en&fs=1

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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.

Chatting with Joyce Goldstein -- a Bay Area treasure -- was sheer pleasure. What added to our conversation was sipping bubbly during the show. I chose to pour Schramsberg, Napa’s sparkling wine star. Their selection of sparklers is world class. From the affordable Mirabelle bottling to the coveted J. Schram, Schramsberg’s lineup shines.

Recommended wines:

Schramsberg "Mirabelle" Brut Rosé, $24

Delicate aromas of strawberry and floral notes lead into a refreshing sparkler that is perfect for any holiday meal.

2005 Schramsberg "Blanc de Blancs" $35

Crisp, elegant, and complex, this lovely Chardonnay-based bubbly is a top choice for a range of shellfish from oysters to crab.

What to Sip: Medjool, B44, and DaFlora

Medjool

The hip restaurant-cum-nightclub, Medjool, has an enviable wine list. There’s much to be said for restraint when it comes to a well-chosen list. Bigger is not always better. Medjool's one-page list is organized by style category with headers such as "voluptuous whites and vivacious reds." Winners abound with pricing mostly in the under $50 category.

My don’t-miss wines include the luscious white blend of Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, and Aligote from Au Bon Climat in California’s Santa Maria Valley ($38), and the eclectic, earthy red, Cuvee Rouge from Chateau Musar in Lebanon ($38). Both of these selections are ideal with the Mediterranean-influenced cuisine served up at Medjool.

B44

Take a virtual vinous trip to Spain just by perusing the fantastic wine list at B44.