Chenin Blanc

Early World Cup viewers will be tuned into the 7:30 a.m. matches (host country South Africa is six hours ahead), while everyone else can catch the 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. games. To really get in on the action, you have to surround yourself with like-minded fans. That means finding an establishment where good food and drink add to the fun or will, at least, temporarily, distract you from disappointment. World Cup soccer runs until July 11. The best local viewing spots are where the food is filling and the drinks are flowing.

The North End will be hopping as locals descend to watch Italy’s finest defend their 2006 championship. At Caffe dello Sport — with six screens, it’s aptly named — a European breakfast will kick off at 6 a.m. to fuel fans for the early matches. Housemade croissants, pastries, and coffee will be followed by more substantive fare mid-morning, when a full lunch is available. Panini and salads here are named after present and former players. You can order romaine, tomato, mozzarella, and black olive salad named in honor of world renowned goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon; a meatball sub with tomato sauce for midfielder Daniele De Rossi; or grilled chicken cutlet sandwich with provolone, tomatoes, and roasted peppers for coach Marcello Lippi.

The Italians, always a passionate bunch, draw inspiration from the colors of their flag. Artu restaurant is serving a special pasta trio “alla bandiera’’ (of the flag), featuring gnocchi with pesto, fettucine with cream sauce, and homemade spaghetti with San Marzano tomatoes, all on a large rectangular plate. At Caffe Graffiti, it’s a thin-crust pizza topped with tomato, cheese, and pesto, coined the “Azzurri’’ after Italy’s team.

Full Story: For World Cup fans, plenty of fare play - Boston Globe

It's unfortunate but true: Ask a member of the wine trade and an everyday consumer to write down their three favorite wine styles, and you're guaranteed to get two different lists.

When it comes to whites, your average shopper is liable to toss a bottle of chardonnay, pinot gris (aka grigio) or sauvignon blanc in her shopping cart. A sommelier is more likely to stock up on riesling, Champagne and chenin blanc.

Why? Because these last three wines are absolute champs when it comes to food-pairing. Sadly, though, the average shopper either doesn't understand (riesling), can't afford (Champagne) or doesn't know about (chenin blanc, alas) these often-sensational wine varietals.

Full Story: Chenin blanc: An affordable white that goes well with food - OregonLive.com

Steve Flynn , has procured wines from all 32 World Cup qualifying countries and is holding free nightly tastings, pitting countries head to head. The vintage that sells the most that night advances to the next round. Early matchups include South Africa's Vinum Africa Chenin Blanc versus Spain's Avinyó Vi D'Agulla Blanco, and Australia's The Lackey Shiraz versus Portugal's Casa Cadaval Padre Pedro. “The suppliers have fun with it,” Mr. Flynn says. “Some will show up to pour wearing their team's jerseys, and there's a fair amount of trash talking.” El Chaparral, a Grenache from Spain, won the inaugural tournament in 2006.

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Full Story: Free kick for wines - Crain's New York Business

One option worthy of summer sipping consideration is Gavi from Northern Italy’s famed Piedmont region. In an area where red wine beauties such as Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Barbera are the perceived norm and white is the exception, Gavi is a standout.

The name, Gavi or Cortese di Gavi, is derived from the village in which it is produced.

The grape used to make the wine is Cortese, an indigenous ancient varietal, and over the past several decades Gavi has been on a bit of a roller coaster ride.

Full Story: Gavi is a standout among wines of N. Italy - Culpeper Star Exponent

Bafana Bafana may not be quite the finished article the Springbok rugby team was in 1995. So wishful thinking on a grand scale is required to expect Nelson Mandela to be presenting the World Cup to the home-grown heroes of 2010. Or Jacob Zuma, the republic's president, who played for the political prisoners' football team on Robben Island. Yet football, unlike rugby, as journalist Celia Dugger says, "is the fanatically followed sport of the black majority".

Sport was not the only victim of apartheid-induced pariah status. Already on its knees after the damage caused by phylloxera and economic decline, the Cape wine industry, established in the days of the Dutch East India Company in the 17th century, took a huge kick on the shins.

Today, it is proudly back on its feet. Outscoring France for the first time ever this year with the equivalent of 45 million cases of wine, South Africa today exports eight times as much to the UK as in pre-apartheid days when the then notorious KWV was virtually the only game in town. And we in the UK drink nearly a quarter of it.

Full Story: Anthony Rose: 'Today the Cape wine industry is proudly back on its feet and it ... - Independent