Lettie Teague

The question of what to tip can be a tense one, perhaps even more so when it comes to tipping on wine. Our wine columnist queried diners and wine professionals alike to determine what's fair for both once the bill comes around.

After tasting her way through Costco’s Kirkland Signature wines, our wine columnist offers this can’t-miss shopping list.

Lettie Teague loves Chablis for so many reasons: its precision, its freshness, its delicious minerality. That it tends to be a remarkably good bargain compared to other white Burgundies doesn’t hurt, either.

Few foods are more versatile and adored than chicken. Our wine columnist made it her mission to find the bottles that best complement everything from roast chicken to pot pie.

This Austrian white, now easy to find stateside, is also easy to love. It matches beautifully with food and pleases most every palate.

Many misunderstand this designation as a synonym for basic, generic, even bad. Au contraire. For some of France’s best and most innovative winemakers, VDF is a badge of honor.

Reliably drinkable, well aged before release and a good match with a wide range of foods, Rioja makes a pleasing addition to most any festive event. So why aren’t more wine drinkers wise to it?

Reliably drinkable, well aged before release and a good match with a wide range of foods, Rioja makes a pleasing addition to most any festive event. So why aren't more wine drinkers wise to it?

Sauvi B, an English Springer Spaniel, has been trained at Lisa Finke's Canine Detection Services in Fresno to hunt for vine mealybugs. Sauvi B works alongside Malbec, a Black Labrador; Cab, a German Shorthaired Pointer and Zinny, another English Springer Spaniel, detect leafroll virus. Sauvi B made an appearance at the annual Sustainable Ag Expo & International Sustainable Winegrowing Summit Nov. 11-12 in San Luis Obispo. Photo by Kerana Todorov

Whether you need a gift for someone just grasping the particulars of grapes or wish to send a serious oenophile off to Bordeaux, our wine columnist’s book recommendations have you covered.