There’s a romantic meal coming up for you on the 14th, and your date likes wine. Problem is, you’re not really up on the wine/food pairing thing.

Allow us to present the Swirl Girls’ Guide for the Clueless Guy. We will take the guessing out of it, so you can either show up with a good wine under your arm, or you can help order one at a restaurant. A great meal and a good wine choice can send your dinner from the ho-hum into the heavenly sphere.

From appetizers to chocolate, here are the tried-and-true pairing, as well as some we’ve marked “adventurous” that will both taste great and impress your date with your considerable (!) wine knowledge. We’ve covered both vegetarians and carnivores in our listings and we included wines for every taste in the under-$25 wines on a budget and over-$25 wines-that-impress categories.

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Even as we enjoy the best weather of the year, it’s hard not to start the new year without dreaming just a bit about upcoming vacations. While Napa, Sonoma, Bordeaux or Tuscany are no-brainer wine-lover winners, maybe you’d like to step off the beaten path and explore a different wine region. We applaud you.

While this is by no means an exclusive list, it should be enough to get your imagination running wild.

1. Argentina
Why not combine your sipping with travel to one of the most beautiful, romantic countries. If you stay long enough, you should spend some time in Mendoza and the Andes. And stay a little longer and you’ll be dancing the tango and drinking Malbecs by the gallon.

But don’t take my word for it. Take Dry’s: Read the full story

Whether you’re rooting for the Saints or the Colts, we’ll bet chips and dip, chicken wings or chili is on the menu, too. It’s logical to expect beer served alongside them. But how about guests who prefer grapes to hops? With the help of Dry and Earthy, here’s some help in that area.

Comeon and kick it up a notch – match what you’re eating below to our wine suggestions. We guarantee you’ll win “best host!”

In trying to match wine to traditional dips, such as salsa, guacamole and bean, the pairings can be wide ranging. The one constant to keep in mind, however, is the spiciness of the dip.

Salsa:
It has the acidity of the tomatoes to contend with and the level of heat you prefer. For a hot salsa, your best best would be a slightly sweet wine, such as a spatlese Riesling. The residual sugar and lower alcohol level helps tame a spicy dish.

For mild salsa, try a Chianti (or sangiovese) to pair with the tomatoes; or if it’s got a heavy dose of cilantro, try sauvignon blance or vinho verde with the herbs and acidity.
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The first annual Latin American Vinofest kicked off at Delray Beach’s Art & Jazz on the Avenue on January 28. I’ve certainly never seen so many malbecs or carmeneres in one tasting and it was a great opportunity to try these lesser-known varietals.

The event closed down a few blocks of Atlantic Avenue. There was plenty of room to stroll from table to table or to dance an impromptu tango to live music on the street. I was disappointed to find very little in the way of food (the event advertised both food and wine stations, but I found only one food table). But being on Atlantic Avenue, there were many options to dine when I tired of sipping.

The caliber of most of the wine fell in the “everyday” category, but I did find some great values as well as a few higher-end bottles that really impressed. I thought a few of the Argentine malbecs really stole the show. Here are the highlights:

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We don’t like to boast, but there’s something extremely gratifying about flipping through Wine Enthusiast magazine and settling on the page where our favorite, neighborhood restaurant is featured in half-page glory. We knew (and loved) La Sirena long before it made print for WE’s special restaurant issue, where they uncover the places with America’s Top Wine Lists. Just ask Dry about their escargot. Better yet, don’t, and you’ll save yourself a few hours of your life.

In the stunning half-pager, it reveals they have 2,500 bottles in inventory and 600 selections. (Check out Wine Enthusiast, page 39 in February 2010). The magazine gives three levels of distinction: distinction, unique distinction and ultimate distinction based on size of list, “quality and synergy with the cuisine offered,” creativity, service, staff education, presentation, stemware and value. Guess which level La Sirena got. Yeah, you guessed it. Ultimate Distinction.

In fact, the only other restaurant listed in our immediate area is Cafe Boulud, another Swirl Girl favorite.

Check out this cooking video done by Sweet and Dry and you’ll get an idea why we’re so crazy about Marcello. Then, go and visit him yourself at 6316 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. 561-585-3128.

Thursday evening in Delray Beach is going to be HOT, HOT, HOT! The first annual Latin American Vinofest will shut down Atlantic Avenue for a tasting of wines from some of the best-known wineries in South America. This is the first event of its kind in South Florida and a great opportunity to try a variety of wines from regions with a growing reputation for excellence. Torrontes, Carmenére, Malbec… I’m there!

Ticket holders can enjoy all the vino they desire, as well as food samplings from area restaurants, live music and more. Participating restaurants will also offer special discounts to ticket holders through the weekend. Tickets are available online or at the gate for $29.95.

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Event Listing: Directions, more

For the wine lover interested in helping Haiti, go to PalatePress an online wine magazine, and bid on any of the donated lots of wine. All the money will go to the American Red Cross. Or, if you have special bottles of wine, you can donate the wine for auction. To access the wine catalogue directly, click here

Help locally by visiting City Cellar Wine Bar and Grill in CityPlace Monday, February 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. For a mere $25, you get a $25 gift certificate to City Cellar, a glass of Domaine Chandon Rose (yum!), delectable snacks and the chance to bid on wines in the silent auction. Read the full story

Last week I wrote about local classes for wine enthusiasts. But what about those wanting a more advanced level of study?

The wine industry has many nationally and internationally recognized certification programs. While some of these programs offer introductory courses for enthusiasts and professionals alike, more advanced certifications are often limited to those with professional experience in the industry. Few of the programs are Florida-based, but many have home-study options and local opportunities to take the certification exams.

Here’s a look at some upcoming opportunities for certification in Florida:

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I suppose I read Love by the Glass under all the wrong circumstances.

The book is probably best savored through delicious meals and intriguing wines or perhaps on a wonderful vacation somewhere. Instead, I devoured it in the hospital as my food and water were pumped into me while recovering from a ruptured appendix.

Still, that did little to diminish my joy at the incredible, delectable odyssey of Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher, the married authors.
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It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Total Wine’s consumer education classes. I think they are a fun way to try a variety of wines while learning the basics of a featured region’s climate, classification system and varietal characteristics. The classes are taught in a way that educates without being intimidating. I’m always sure to find a couple new bottles to take home and I often recoup the class fee ($25) in the discounts given on the wines that night.

The first class this year featured wines from the Southern Hemisphere. There’s an entire class dedicated to the wines of Australia and New Zealand in September 2010, so this class focused on South America and South Africa. I was really excited to try a few South African wines, as my knowledge of this region is pretty basic.

It was fun learning some South Africa wine trivia (for example, did you know they’ve been making wine for 350 years are a leader in sustainable farming practices?) and even more fun trying the fruits of their labor. While I didn’t find as many “wow-factor” wines in this class, I did find a few that were great values at the price point and perfect for everyday occasions.

Here are some of my picks:

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