Booting Up the Sommelier

Certainly choosing the right wine can make a meal, but why let your guests know your computer made the pick? Whether you want a wine based on your menu or your billfold, HomeArts Wine Navigator (https://homearts.com/helpers/winenav/wine1.htm) might help. Click on the dish you’re serving, click on a wine and you’ll be presented with a few labels. Or click on the price you’d like to pay and get the same information. (The recommendations we were given came from Craig Goldwyn, a former newspaper wine critic.)

But despite the site’s premise, we found that you did need to know something about wine. After all, who would act on the suggestion of serving a Corton-Charlemagne--$50 and up--with a pizza? And how many of us really need wine ideas for cookies, one of the food choices?

The wine glossary could be helpful, and a few of the recipes looked good, although they were limited to sources such as Good Housekeeping and Mr. Food. But if your guests bring too much wine and you need to build a cellar, tips on storage are offered.