Taste: Dinner With … Sommelier Melissa Monosoff
First taste of wine: At the synagogue when I was three. My parents thought it was grape juice, but it was really Manischewitz. I was running around like crazy, and then I fell asleep under a table. I didn’t touch wine again until I was 23.
My drink: I’m always on the lookout for a great beer. Most often I go for the locals, especially Victory.
Most recent meal: Coffee, granola bar and gum.
Embarrassing food love: Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Least favorite food: I can’t eat provolone cheese or Chinese food.
Top Philly classic: Roast pork and broccoli rabe. At a baseball or basketball game.
Wine region to watch: Patagonia in Southern Chile, for intriguing gewürztraminer and pinot noir wines.
Fondest food memory: Tasting incredible champagne and eating fresh-baked brioche at Diebolt-Vallois in Champagne. I had tears in my eyes.
Ultimate wine: I could definitely live on great champagne.