Get to Know Your Local Wine Guy
By Carrie Becker in Food on Apr 16, 2010 5:40PM
Who to Know 
Michael Matonte
Advanced Sommelier
Store Manager, Wine Discount Center, Barrington
What's in your glass?
I really try to drink many different wines at all times, but the wine I've been drinking a lot of lately is Cotes-du-Rhone Rouge from France. The 2007 vintage was a great year for the Rhone, and these '07 Cotes-du-Rhone's offer high quality wines at reasonable prices. I enjoy pairing them with burgers, pasta with meatballs or sausage, and roasted chicken.
Wine Rack Staple
Most people who know me personally would be able to answer this for me: Barolo from Italy's Piedmont region! This wine has it all for me; power, elegance, complexity, ability to age gracefully, and it's versatile to pair with many different foods.
What do you view as the most underrated grape?
I believe Riesling is the most underrated and misunderstood grape because many people are quick to assume that all Rieslings are sweet wines to be served with dessert. This is far from the truth as Riesling is produced around the world in styles from bone dry to dessert wine, and even sparkling. Rule #1: you can't tell if a Riesling is sweet by the type of bottle it comes in. Check out some drier examples of Riesling from Austria, Australia, or Washington State. They can be stunning.
Most Memorable/Enjoyable Wine and Food Experience
My most memorable food and wine experience occurred on a two-week trip to France in 2004. While touring the southern regions of Nimes and the Rhone, I tasted a lot of Rosé wines. I wasn't very familiar with these wines at the time and had an impression that they were all really fruity and sweet - Wrong! I was blown away with how delicious and refreshing they were and how well they worked with foods, from cheeses to lamb. Next time you grill out, try some Rosé from the south of France and see for yourself.
Favorite Chicago BYOB and What are you bringing
The amount of BYOB places available in Chicagoland is amazing, and if you don't have the "BYOB Chicago" book by Jean Iversen then go pick it up now! My favorite is PingPong in Lakeview. While it's no longer a true BYOB, the corkage is only $5. If you catch me there, I'll share some of my Austrian Gruner Veltliner with ya! Dry and clean wines with fresh acidity, stone and citrus fruits, spice and floral tones make for a perfect pairing with the flavors of Thai cuisine.