dont know much! help.....

[Tastevin]

Re the Champagne, sorry I am not familiar with prices over there. However, I suggest you try Laurent Perrier Non Vintage Brut, this is very good and has never failed to please me. I gather the price over there is around 35 dollars. Personally I drink dry Champagne with just about any food. May I suggest you try not to get too concerned about what to eat with what wine. However, whichever wine you're drinking do stay away from the enemies of wine. 1st enemy is vinegar; for example a vinegary salad will turn the wine to vinegar (that's a matter of science, not taste). 2nd enemy is acid - the acid of grapefruit, orange or lemon. You cannot taste a wine with these fruits. 3rd enemy is a bit of a mystery to me, but it's something in some kinds of oily fish which makes wine, and particularly red wine, taste steely. In my opinion peanuts too are a no no. If you decide to stick with your Merlot, then I would NOT have: 1. Any of the following hors d'ouvres - oil and garlic based; cream and butter based; generally smoked meats and salami; smoked fish; fruit based. 2. Fish pates or terrines. 3. fish souffles. 4. Any of the following soups - consomme, fish, broths, veloute, cold summer soups, hot creamy soups. 5. Rice dishes containing cream sauces. 6. Fish. 7. Desserts. I hope I've helped a little and not confused you. If you're not going to eat with the wine, Laurent Perrier Non Vintage Demi Sec may suit a young palate better as it has a touch of sweetness. Finally, and looking to the future, why not get yourself a book about food and wine? After all, this may not be the last time you will want to impress someone (:-)