Check, Please! Bay Area, season 19, episode 5, airs Monday, July 22, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other television airtimes.

First up, East Coast meets West Coast at LITA in Walnut Creek, where guests enjoy Caribbean-Latin staples with Miami influences. Then, in Emeryville at Simurgh Bakery & Cafe come Turkish delights featuring twists on baklava, bagels and borek, all made fresh daily. Last up, guests visit Porterhouse, a classic steakhouse nestled in San Mateo that serves up dry-aged steaks and sensational flambées.

Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Tina Wentworth, Justin Mallet and Thuy Nguyen from KQED in San Francisco.

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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’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.

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Located on the southeastern tip of Australia, Victoria is home to more than 21 wine subregions. These include famed places and styles from the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Rutherglen. A coastal area where mountain ranges lead to expansive plains dotted by lakes, creeks, and rivers, this cool-climate growing region produces wines known for their diversity, intensity, and elegance.

2023 Zilzie Sauvignon Blanc
Victoria, Australia $19
Four generations of the Forbes family have lived with their agricultural roots firmly planted in Victoria. In the early 1980’s Ian and Ross Forbes planted vineyards, which redefined their family’s future as vintners. Their wines hit the mark with mouthwatering complexity. This crisp, zesty Sauvignon Blanc smacks of citrus with hints of herbal freshness. It’s a perfect pairing with spicy fare, grilled fish, and green or fruit salads.

2021 Fowles ‘Ladies who Shoot their Lunch’ Wild Ferment Chardonnay
Victoria, Australia $35
Having fun with wine is a Fowles family trademark. Their ‘Ladies who Shoot their Lunch’ wines pay tribute to the family’s farming and hunting heritage. They are crafted with the goal of complementing the earthy, intense flavors of wild game. This full-bodied Chardonnay overflows with tropical stone fruit aromas of peach and mango tempered on the palate with a kick of minerality and a kiss of spicy oak. Fermented with wild yeast, which adds layers of flavor, this delicious Chardonnay is ideal to sip alone or with hearty fare.

2021 Fowles ‘Farm to Table’ Pinot Noir
Victoria, Australia $18
The Fowles are a family of sheep farmers and grape growers. Dating to the early 1830s, their homestead in Victoria gives a rare glimpse of Australia’s agricultural past. Located in the rugged Strathbogie Ranges, the wines hailing from this cool-climate region capture food-friendly vibrancy along with palate-pleasing ripeness. This strawberry-scented beauty is layered with spice and a hint of rose petal earthiness. Elegant and juicy, it not only pairs with pork (as the whimsical label indicates) but also with fatty fish dishes and grilled mushroom and red pepper kabobs.

2021 Chalmers Nero d’Avola
Heathcote, Victoria, Australia $29
Not only winemakers, the Chalmers family also sports titles of sustainable vineyard growers and grape vine nursery owners. They focus on crafting and growing Italian grape varieties out of passion and serendipity. Nero d’Avola normally hails from Sicily in Italy, but the Chalmers’ unique version captures the light and lovely side of the hearty red grape. Bright berry flavors combine with earthy aromas and a touch of floral notes in a racy red that can be chilled and enjoyed for warm weather sipping.

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Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: LITA, Simurgh Bakery and Cafe, Porterhouse