Wesson | California | Rumball Sparkling Shiraz NV | New York

The stores (there are now seven - in New York; Boston; Washington, D.C.; Dallas; and Arlington, Virginia) group wines by taste, then separate them into eight style categories such as fizzy, fresh, soft, luscious, juicy, smooth, big, and sweet. And the description of each wine at Best Cellars is downright fun to read. Wesson's goal: to make the "experience of shopping … almost as satisfying as drinking the stuff."

We'll drink to that.

WE PUT WESSON'S taste filter to the test on a supermarket's worth of everyday meals. For each dish, he recommends one wine that everybody (of age and, well, good taste) will enjoy and a second one that's for those who are looking for something a bit more adventurous.

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Grilled burgers and hot dogs
Spices? What spices? These babies are straightforward on-the-grill meats. You know, the kind your kids will actually eat.
 
The easy choice: Syrahs from California "deliver lots of fruit and easygoing pleasure," says Wesson. "They don't require any synaptic firepower to enjoy. They're happy wines and rarely fail to deliver the smiles." But stick with the California bottles, which are fruitier than their cousins from other places. No need to spend a lot: One that's less than $15 will usually do the trick.

The adventure: A sparkling Shiraz from Australia is "usually fruity but dry or off-dry, and with effervescence that's less aggressive than you find in Champagne," says Wesson. "It has wonderful mouthwatering flavors and nice acidity."

Easy: Rosenblum Cuvee Syrah 2004/05 ($13) 
Adventure: Rumball Sparkling Shiraz NV ($25)

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Veggie burger - sautéed or microwaved