Will Drink for Food

Quality wines to ensure a second invite

By TYLER BALLIET AND CHRIS HALLOWELL

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We here at The Second Glass have been hustling wine on the streets of Boston for over a year. We've been distributing our wine magazine all over the city, emailing our picks for "Wine of the Weekend" and shouting from the rooftops to anyone who will listen. We only want one simple thing: for everyone to drink more wine.

Contrary to popular belief, great wine doesn't have to cost a fortune. We've learned this from tasting thousands of bottles. In this column we will explore and recommend excellent wines at affordable prices. We will also give you info on hangover cures, help you pick a Champagne to spray all over your friends and help you pair wine with pork, shellfish or an Allston house party. We've been putting our livers on the line every day so you don't have to- -- and the Dig has been kind enough to give us a megaphone.

Let's face it, the end of the holiday season means the well is dry and your money tree is out of season. It's time for damage control: Instead of eating out, convince your friends to cook by offering to bring the vino. With either of these two bottles, you will be guaranteed a second invite.

THE SAFETY NET | 2005 Domaine Grès 'St. Vincent' Côtes du Rhône-Villages, France ($13)

When attending dinner at a friend's house, regardless of what they're cooking, a Côtes du Rhône will fit in nicely. This versatile and inexpensive wine is a crowd pleaser on its own, but pairs with everything from sticky and smoky BBQ ribs to squab prepared by whomever the hell cooks squab.

This bottle is a Côtes du Rhône-Villages, which means it is held to stricter winemaking requirements than regular Côtes du Rhône wines (making it more impressive). This wine- -- made with sustainably farmed grapes- -- saturates your palate with dark cherry fruit, licorice and earth. On top of that, it is very concentrated with a great acidity. Bring this, and your next dinner invitation will be in the bag.

[Available at Dave's Fresh Pasta, 81 Holland St., Davis Sq., Somerville. 617.623.0867. davesfreshpasta.com]

BOTTLED POPULARITY | 2005 Wild Hog Pinot Noir Saralee's Vineyard Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California ($27.50)

Ever since a certain movie (which shall remain nameless) turned Pinot Noir prices sideways, you'll be hard-pressed to find a high quality Sonoma County Pinot Noir at this price. This single vineyard wine boasts 15% alcohol by volume, yet remains very elegant. The nose has incredible vanilla and violet aromas with rustic raspberry/cherry fruit, and a bit of cedar on the palate. The cedar and vanilla flavors linger on the long, drawn out finish.

This bottle is a killer value and everyone will love it. Moreover, the people you share this with will think you're some sort of compassionate environmentalist since the wine, made at the solar- and hydro-powered Wild Hog Vineyard, is certified organic. Hopefully, by scratching your host's back by not poisoning them with unsavory agro-chemicals, they'll scratch yours with more tasty food in the future.

[Available at Brookline Liquor Mart, 1354 Commonwealth Ave., Allston. 617.734.7700. blmwine.com]

FOR MORE INFORMATION: THESECONDGLASS.COM