Red and White - Cheese, Red and White at Glen Park Wine Bar

Red and White is a welcome addition to the small and sleepy neighborhood of Glen Park. Upscale and down-to-earth, the wine bar changes its offerings regularly and the staffers are helpful with recommendations. Pair your wine with some form of melted cheese--grilled cheese sandwiches for grown-ups or gougeres.

With Red and White wine bar, Glen Park has arrived.

The non-hip, blip of a neighborhood in San Francisco's southern section has earned a small but sophisticated hang-out that offers wines from California and the rest of the world, as well as cheese plates, charcuterie and chic grilled cheese sandwiches.

Red and White's proprietors put a lot of thought into the vino selection and turn lyrical when describing the bottles. Chronic Cellars Petite Sirah is "dark as a Poe poem," the wine list says. But Holus Bolus Syrah, "quirky, sexy, hip, rich...and...groovy, baby," will turn you into "Austin Powers on a date."

Domaine Triennes Sante Fleur Viognier even inspired poetry that begins: "Viognier is hard to say/But sip and let/your senses play..."

Five varieties of generously portioned grilled cheese sandwiches ($8.50-9.50) have names like "O-Sala-Mia" (Fontina and salami) and "Lonely Goatherd" (goat cheese and olive tapenade). The gougeres (cheese puffs) are addictive.

Wines are available in tasting portions, by the glass and by the bottle (either to imbibe immediately or to take home). Since Red and White changes its by-the-glass selection, you could potentially try a new wine on each visit.