Drinking wine is fun. But many people make it too complicated. That's why for more than 10 years, we've tried hundreds of wines and shared what we've discovered with newspaper, magazine and now Travellady.com readers. Our approach to wine tasting may not be scientific. But it is down-to-earth. Since we believe wine and food are a natural combination, we consider that when trying wines and making pairing suggestions for every wine we recommend. You may not agree with all our choices. But you can be assured that the wines we recommend, whether priced at $10 or $40, represent good value. And speaking of prices, please remember that they can vary from city to city and that some wines may not be available everywhere.

Selecting our top choice was tough this month. This Pinot Noir and the Clos Du Bois Chardonnay which follows were both prime candidates. Since we're Pinot Noir fans and find many of them over priced and disappointing, we decided to go with the Pinot. Of course, it isn't cheap. No Pinot is. But this one is worth the money. It appealed to us first for its slightly earthy nose. We like that in a Pinot, especially when combined with the subtle aromas of cherries and other fruits. Subtle also describes the flavors. In this well balanced, dry wine, you'll find cherry, berry, plum and spice flavors. None dominate. They all just mingle together to produce a wine best described as classy and even polite.

You may be tempted to keep sipping this wine rather than take it to the table. If so, get out some good Cheddar, Swiss or Brie and mild crackers. Otherwise pair it with lamb, a classic match, roasted veal chops, venison and even quail. It also will pair nicely with liver and kidney dishes and meats with rich mushroom sauces.

This is no second fiddle wine by any stretch of the imagination. Complex and well balanced, it's a pleasantly dry, full-bodied Chardonnay. Both the nose and the flavor bring to mind strawberries, melon, pear and tropical fruits blended with toasty oak. This complex wine is dry enough to cut the richness of creamed seafood, chicken and pasta dishes. It's also a great match with oyster stew or New England clam chowder.

Some say Pinot Gris is Alsace's best wine. That may be true. But more important, this is an excellent, full-bodied wine that has a nice, thick feel on the tongue. It's not a particularly fragrant wine, but you will detect some like floral and melon aromas. The flavor reminded us of ripe, sweet melons with a hint of citrus. As an aperitif, this wine is a good match with mild cheese. I also will hold up nicely with lightly sauced seafood, poultry and pasta.