I’ve had some bad luck with being sick lately. It started with a bout of food poisoning and, for nearly a week afterward, the thought of eating anything made me nauseous. Worse still, I had an indifference towards wine and the bottle of Arianna Occhipiniti’s Frappato on Christmas Day was almost my entire wine intake for last week. This week I’m struggling with a lovely head cold, but things have been getting back to normal. Here are a couple random wines (and beer) I’ve had lately as I’ve crawled back to the light.

I’m not sure if my craft brew enthusiast friends will like this one, but I’m sure they’d agree that there are few beverages as easy to drink as low alcohol lager. I’m still not entirely sure whether I actually really like Rolling Rock beer, or if I just really like the bottle design, but man is it good with curry.

Clos Roche Blanche ’08 Touraine Sauvignon Blanc No. 2

This guy has been blogged and written about plenty, but the other day was my first time trying it. The family-run Clos Roche Blanche has been farming organically in the Loire Valley’s Touraine hills since the 1970′s. Beyond the farming practices, they take an entirely natural approach in the cellar. My interest was sparked further after tasting Noëlla Morantin‘s beautiful wine, made with fruit from Clos Roche Blanche’s 28 hectares of vineyards. This wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks and spends time in contact with the lees. The first thing that struck me was how obvious the leesy qualities were on the nose. Doughy and an almond nuttiness with pear and melon fruits. The palate is balanced between the lent richness and a racing lime acidity. An enjoyable and fresh style of Sauvignon Blanc that would be fun to play with food wise. I didn’t find it overly profound, but at $14-$18 in San Francisco it performs well. I’ve seen it at K&L, Arlequin, and Bi-Rite.

Kung Fu Girl ’08 Riesling

The Kung Fu Girl Riesling has become one of Charles Smith‘s most recognized labels and one I’ve been well acquainted with in the past. From Washington’s Columbia Valley and sourced from a single vineyard, production has risen to an immodest 20,000 cases. The 2008′s nose is filled with grapefruit and lime with stony minerality. Honeyed citrus on the palate with a touch of sweetness up front (about 15g/l), but quickly pierced by lean acidity. A tasty and very food friendly Riesling whose value is unquestionable. I found it in San Francisco at Spencer & Daniel‘s for $10.99, but it ranges up to $14. From what I remember, in Vancouver, the price in private shops hovers around $20.