Wednesday, October 29, 2003

The Best of South Florida: Best Wine List

Reported by:

Shireen Sandoval

Producer:

Lauren Kahn

Contact:

lkahn@wsvn.com

Archived Reports:

All The Best of South Florida

You know what they say, all good things must come to an end. So tonight, we're saying goodbye to the Best of South Florida with a toast. After judging 70 different categories for 17 consecutive months, we decided the only way to go is with a little wining and dining one last time. Here's the Nightteam's Shireen Sandoval with your picks for the Area's Best Wine Selection.

(WSVN) -- We cruised all around town from

Bookstores to beaches,

Donuts to dog groomers,

Sushi to shoe stores,

Dry cleaners to delis,

Toy stores to teachers,

But tonight we take a sip the good life one last time.

"They have a very complete list of wines. Nice selection."

If you're looking for the Best Wine Selection in town try Our Third Choice - Legal Seafood's in Fort Lauderdale.

"Legal Seafoods wine list has a lot of variety. It has a 275 bottle list."

275 bottles from around the world and best of all you can try them before you buy them.

"You can compare them as you taste them."

"You can share them at the table. It gives you the opportunity to try something you might not have tried."

But what's especially pleasing to the palate are Legal's prices.

"It's a wine list where you can really get value. You can have a great bottle of wine and not spend a lot of money."

You can always get a great bottle of wine at Our Viewers Second Choice - Romano's Macaroni Grill in Aventura.

"I just like the basic wines."

That's right at the Macaroni Grill, you get to uncork a new favor to savor.

"What's really made us famous is our house wine program."

"We have three different types of wine. We offer our Chianti, Chardonnay and our White Zinfandel."

And with bottles ranging from 15 dollars to 50 dollars, don't worry there's never any whining about the cost of wine.

"We offer it on the honor system...you start drinking from the jug and at the end of the meal you let the server know how many glasses you had."

Honorable and knowledgeable. The servers here go through extensive training to choice the best wine to compliment any cuisine.

"They're very good at the details, the year and also of the place where it comes from."

"It's not bitter, it's not sweet and it's not too strong. It goes excellent with the meal."

Of course if you're looking for a taste of history, our viewers say age is beauty at Their Top Pick, The Forge in Miami Beach.

"Right here is the oldest bottle. It's a 1822 Chatuen La Fa which is 150, 000 dollars."

But if that's a little steep at The Forge will find a fine wine for the right occasion for the right price.

"We have over 2,000 thousand different wines between vintages and wineries."

That's quantity with quality making this selection the second largest in the country.

"When I'm dining at the Forge I feel pampered. I feel loved. I feel like I'm really being treated the right way."

That pampering process begins as soon as you start to drink.

"What I have around my neck is called a testavine, a wine tester. It's for me to test the wine. If there's a question of a problem."

And testing every wine is crucial before it's added to the always expanding list.

"We like to make the list bigger and bigger every year."

"It's truly an experience that you cannot duplicate in South Florida."

And a truly unique style that makes The Forge the Best of South Florida.

"Have a beautiful time. Beautiful dinner and good memories."

Thanks for the memories and thanks for voting.

FOR MORE INFORMAITON:

Contact: ssandoval@wsvn.com

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