Herb & Wood

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas head to Las Vegas where they stop in at Buddy V’s an Italian restaurant in the Venetian resort with views of the strip. What a great place to relax, enjoy, and people-watch in Vegas. Maria kicks off the review with wines from the extensive wines-by-the-glass list before moving on to a stellar bottle for prosecco lovers, and a fabulous, must-not-be-missed Friuli. For red fans, she also spots a baby Super Tuscan, a certified organic barolo and many more. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2019 Trinchero, Iron & Sand, Paso Robles, California

• Nino Franco Rustico, Prosecco Veneto

• 2015 Ziata, Mia Madre, Bordeaux Blend Napa

Robert Tas talks wine with Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria The Wine Blonde on Instagram. If you have ever wondered what to wine to pair with Southern Fried Chicken or ST. Louis Ribs, this is the episode for you. Maria includes an English sparkling wine, an award-winning cabernet franc, and an insanely delicious Burgundy. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Chalk Hill Sonoma Coast, Chardonnay, California

• 2018 Ridge Lytton Springs Dry Creek

• 2016 The Mascot, Napa Valley

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas chat about wines to pair with Latin food as they explore the wine list at Chica where Chef Lorena Garcia has melded the vibrant flavors from Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico to provide a wholly unique dining experience and to ensure we choose the wine that pairs well with the hot spice, Maria offers pairing suggestions from a list that presents Latin wines from Spain, Argentina, and Chile in addition to wine from Europe and North America. For all chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon lovers who are ready to venture out of their comfort zone, Maria offers a few delicious alternatives that will expand your list of favorites. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2019 Agro de Bazán Granbazán Etiqueta Verde Rias Baixas, Spain

• 2019 Carmenère from Montes Alpha Colchagua Valley, Chile

• 2018 Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett Mosel

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas join forces for a fun review of the wine list at Bar Zazu where they offer wines from around the globe with a special focus on Spain. If you wonder just what to pair with the charred Spanish octopus with chorizo, gremolata, almond, romesco or the seafood paella, Maria has the wine for you. In addition to wines that make your meal just too delicious for mere words, Maria offers a little wine education on lesser-known varietals such as the Tintilla, the Callet, and the Tannat. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2018 Samuel Tinon “Birtok”, Tokaj, Hungary 

• 2017 Anima Negra “An” 2017, Mallorca

• 2016 Garzon Single Vineyard Tannat, Uruguay

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas dare to review the wine list at Hell’s Kitchen, a Chef Gordon Ramsay restaurant in Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas.  Among many of the stellar wines, Maria suggests are a bottle of bubbles from the UK and a beautiful example of an all-chardonnay sparkling wine made in the champagne method, a Burgundy made in the Champagne style, a value wine from Australia that showcases a little-known varietal, and a wine from the king of pinot noir vines.

Wines reviewed include:

• 2017 Domaine Tempier, Bandol, France

• 2017 Foley Johnson, Rutherford, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 

• 2014 Three Sticks Gap’s Crown Pinot, Napa Valley

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria The Wine Blonde on Instagram, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Brera, on the Las Vegas strip where they offer over 200 wines with a focus on Italian wines from all the best wine producing regions to pair with the delicious Italian cuisine. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2019 Nero D’Avola Crisera Luna Nuova, Sicilia, Italy 

• 2020 Aglianico San Salvatore, “Vetere”, Campania, Italy 

• 2010 Borgogno, Barolo “Cannubi”, Piemonte, Italy 

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Jasmine, in Bellagio Hotel. This restaurant is located in a beautiful setting that serves Cantonese, Szechwan, and Hunan cuisine. If you don’t know what to pair with Asian food, don’t worry, Maria identifies the tasting notes in wines and offers pairing suggestions with meals on the menu, including well-known favorites such as Peking Duck and, for the adventurous oenophile, she suggests trying China’s best wine from the foothills of the Himalayas. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Marc Bredif, Vouvray, Loire Valley, France

• 2019 Sokol Blosser, Dundee Hills, Oregon

• 2018 Ashes & Diamonds, Blanc, a Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blend, California

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas hit the Las Vegas strip and pop into Estiatoria Milos to review the wine list at this award-winning Greek restaurant that serves authentic Greek cuisine and an eclectic wine list that features a wonderful selection of Greek wines, including 20 wines-by-the glass options which offers guests the opportunity to branch out and explore new wines, and Maria provides insights and recommendations on which wines to try. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2021, Ktima Geravassiliou Malagousia

• Agiorgitiko Ktima Driopi Nemea, Greece

• 2019 Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria the Wine Blonde, interviews Beverage Program Director Tim Keller at Naxos Taverna at Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa in Las Vegas. talks about his experience in the hospitality industry, how he first became interested in wine, and his enterprising journey from waiter to restauranteur, and finally, how he was hired at Naxos Taverna. Tim talks about how he chooses wine for the wine list to introduce patrons to Greek wines and wines that pair well with Greek food. He reviews several special bottles, including wines from Macedonia, and a few alternatives to popular favorites such as sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio to help wine lovers find a few new favorites and expand their wine knowledge.

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Holsteins in the Cosmopolitan hotel and casino, home of the best burger in town and a wine list that’s broken into four sections: Reds, Rosé slash Sparkling Rosé, Whites, and Champagne & Sparkling wine. Maria kicks off the review with a cocktail to whet the appetite before diving into the wine list where she finds some spectacular wines to pair with the specialty burgers this restaurant is famed for, or how about a wine that will pair well with the Firecracker Chicken Meatballs with Chives, or the Brussel Sprouts Ceaser. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 2020 Whitehaven, Marlborough New Zealand

• 2020 Moulin Jamet  Sancerre 

• 2015 North by Northwest Red Blend, Columbia Valley, Washington