Wine and Cheese Club to open at Tavern: Caroline Styne Instructs

Since its April 30th opening, Tavern in Brentwood has been recognized for its organic food items and unique cocktails, but not necessarily for its wine list or cheese selection. Owner Caroline Styne hopes to change that, inviting winos and amateurs alike into the Larder room, a charming and intimate street-front cafe and gourmet grocery adjacent to the dining room, to join an educational, ongoing Wine and Cheese Club. "A lot of people don't relate us to the wine program we do at AOC," Styne, a creator (with Suzanne Goin) of Lucques and AOC, says, "It's a fun thing to do on Monday nights to introduce that element of our repertoire to the westside."

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Styne hand-picks wines from varying regions and vineyards, while sous-chef, Melodie Bishop, carefully pairs them with complementary cheeses.

Tonight's opening features Spanish wines, Cellar de L'Encastell, "Marge," Priorat (2007); Max Doix, Priorat, Salanques (2005); Bodegas Castano, Yecla "Hecula," Monastrell (2005) and Capcanes, Montsant, "Mas Donis," Barrica (2004). Cheese pairings are Cana de Oveja, Manchego and the Spanish sheep's milk cheese, Romao.

Each week will celebrate a different theme, at $29 per tasting. Future wines to expect are Italian, Oregon wines, Loire Valley wines, affordable wines of Napa Valley, Burgundy, wines of Frederic Magnien and Central Coast Syrah.

During the span of two hours, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., you can try four glasses as you ask Styne, well, whatever you want.

Tavern, 11648 San Vicente Blvd., Brentwood; (310) 806-6464.