Let’s face it. Nobody is perfect. We all do things from time to time that don’t necessarily nurture the soul and inspire greatness. But that doesn’t mean we can’t relish the moments when we just need to turn off the intellect and indulge in some bad behavior. So kick back, pop a cork and let WineFlirt guide you through perfect pairings for all of your guilty pleasure moments.

When you’re watching the Real Housewives of New York: To say that Ramona loves her Pinot Grigio would be an understatement bigger than Kelly Bensimon’s crazy meltdown on that ill-fated trip to St. John. So what else could you possibly drink while watching these “housewives” squawk, snip, and snap at each other on the reunion special? We recommend the 2008 Yalumba Y Series Pinot Grigio from Australia. It’s well-balanced (unlike the cast of the show) with juicy fruit and mineral, and it’s got a super classy screw cap. At $10 a bottle, you won’t feel guilty enjoying it.

When you’re watching the Real Housewives of New Jersey: The ladies of this show wear their Italian heritage with pride, although we’re not so sure Danielle Staub is actually Italian. Or named Danielle Staub. Or residing in reality. But that is neither here nor there. You should definitely be drinking something from the old country that doesn’t make the Italian Nonna’s dig too deep into their biscotti jars. We like the La Carraia Sangiovese from Umbria. For $10, you get nice fruit and less acidity than typical Italian versions. Which means you can drink it easily on its own while taking in this train wreck.

When you’re reading US Weekly, Perez, or TMZ: Whether you are a gossip junkie or an occasional gawker, most of us have stuck our noses into Brangelina’s business at one point or another. While you see “Who wore it best?” or the latest photo montage of celebrity’s and their cellulite, you are going to need something with a touch of sweetness to balance out those tart tongued comments. We’d go with the 2006 Hardy’s Shiraz from Southeastern Australia. It’s jammy and fruity and will only set you back $19. Even better? It comes in a three liter box that you can tap wherever you read your daily dirt.

When you’re watching So You Think You Can Dance With The Stars Like An American Idol Who’s Got Talent?: We all love talent competitions. They have everything a guilty pleasure should: flashy costumes, suspense, behind the scenes drama, and of course, the judges panel made up of heroes, villains, and the requisite nonsensical babbler. So when you tune in for the results show, have some bubbly on hand to toast the evenings winners or drown your sorrow for the losers. We’d be drinking the Sofia Single Mini Blanc de Blanc from Coppola. It’s lively and refreshing and comes in an adorable pink can with matching straw. Invite some friends over for a viewing party, a 4 pack is only $16.

To find out where to get these guilty pleasure pairings, click here.

Sipping Spot: While there may be dozens of places to pick up a cupcake in NYC, nobody does it quite like Sweet Revenge. What sets them apart? A cupcake and wine (or craft beer) pairing menu. Seriously, can you think of a better way to indulge? With pairings like Crimson & Cream (a raspberry red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting) with a Raspberry Bellini or the Sweet Revenge (a peanut butter and chocolate ganache cake) with an Argentinean Malbec, you’ll be inspired to try some daring pairings of your own.

Get This: For wine lovers, wine stains are just a fact of life. Just because you love Pinot though doesn’t mean you need to give up that killer white dress that shows off your tan. We don’t know how it works nor do we care, but Wine Away spray is pure magic. So sip away on your white sofa, it will come out.

Best Freebie: If you’ve yet to become a rose devotee, now is the time to get on board with summer’s favorite sipper. Crush Wine Co. is holding their annual War of the Roses tasting event on the 10th and you’ll get to sip on several AND vote to crown your favorite THE Rose of 2010. It’s free, but you must RSVP!

Pick Up A Bottle Here: You may not be able to do one stop shopping in New York when it comes to picking up dinner and a bottle of wine, but Eli’s W.I.N.E. gets you pretty close. Wander the halls at Eli’s Manhattan for the perfect piece of fish, house made bread, and gorgeous produce and then take your bounty next door to the wine shop. The attentive staff will help you choose the perfect bottle for your feast in the making.

Cool Tasting: Warm weather is officially here and it’s tough to refresh with powerhouse reds and rich whites. Wine for All has all the vino remedies to beat the heat and pair up with your favorite summer foods. Get to the Institute for Culinary Education next Friday for a walk-around summer wine tasting complete with summery tunes and beat the heat bites.

Sipping Spot: An acclaimed chef. A trendy Tribeca hotel. Buzz from the critics. Typically these three things add up to a steep bill and a pricey wine list. Locanda Verde eschews that trend and offers heavenly Italian taverna fare that manages to be rustic and light at the same time, thanks to Chef Andrew Carmellini’s genius. The Italian driven wine list is a pleasant surprise with a thoughtful by-the-glass selection and nearly a third of the bottles priced under $50.

Cool Tasting: Ever wish someone would just whisk you away for a day of wine tasting, shopping, fantastic food, with a little beach time thrown in? Stop wishing and and buy a daycation package from Jaunt, a company dedicated to planning your perfect day trip from the luxury motorcoach transportation to a beach bonfire complete with music, wine and all the new friends you’ll have made during the day.

Get This: Ever wonder if you really need different wine glasses for reds and whites or if your Pinot really needs a different stem than your Cab? According to our sommelier sources, Spiegelau’s standard Vino Grande red wine glass is good for any wine. And at 2 for $25, you won’t be afraid to use them for any occasion!

Best Freebie: If you haven’t been to Maslow 6 yet, come celebrate its first anniversary and see what the fuss is about. They’re unveiling a new wine club program and you’ll get to sip on several selections from France, Spain, Chile, and the US. Sip, mingle, and try your hand at wine trivia. Thursday, June 3.

Pick Up A Bottle Here: While Red, White & Bubbly in Brooklyn has a terrific selection of wines from all over the world in a wide range of prices and a knowledgeable staff that will help you pick the perfect bottle, head straight for the Best Buys section. Each month, the store creates a four pack of the favorite wines under $10 a bottle, packs them into a convenient carrier with tasting notes and pairing suggestions and then takes another 10% off the price. All you have to do is pop in, drop down $35 and change and you walk away with four new friends.

Let’s face it, dating can be exhausting. Whether you’re on a perpetual string of dead end first meetings or you’re trying to come up with something, anything new to do with your long time partner, it’s time to buck the pressure of the wow factor and get back to basics. Quality time spent together over a lovely meal (and the always flattering glow of candlelight) can be just the right fresher-upper for date nights gone stale.

Whether you shop for dinner at the greenmarket or in your takeout menu drawer, these simple tips will make your date night in a smashing success.

1. Skip the garlic and raw onions. While everyone loves garlic, no one wants to smell it when they lean in for the goodnight kiss. Or depending on your date, the next morning when it’s still coming out your pores.

2. Keep it simple. You don’t need to pull out all the stops and make a complicated dish like Beef Wellington or Baked Alaska. Buy fresh, quality ingredients and produce that is in season and you won’t have to fuss too much to get great flavor out of your dish.

3. Shortcuts are okay! Pick up a few different cheeses, a baguette, and some fresh fruit to start or finish your meal. You don’t have to spend hours making mini quiche hors d’ouevres and stuffed mushrooms to impress. For dessert, grab some artisanal gelato and top it with berries and honey for a tasty treat that takes no time.

4. Think about food that is wine-friendly and won’t take a sommelier to come up with a pairing. Really spicy dishes and boldly seasoned preparations can overwhelm what’s in the glass. You can’t go wrong with classic pairings like buttery seafood with Chardonnay, Poultry or mushrooms with Pinot Noir, or a juicy steak with a big California Cab.

5. Do yourself a favor and prep what you can in advance. Whether this means chopping veggies or making a sauce that can be reheated, you’ll thank yourself later when you’re not breaking a sweat over the pile of dishes in the sink when the doorbell rings. And don’t forget to pour yourself a glass of something to sip on while you stir, saute, and simmer.

Wine Flirt’s foolproof recipe…

Date Night Pasta: This is a super simple dish that can be adapted according to your taste and what’s in season. Swap the shrimp for other seafood or even poultry depending on your preference. Or leave it out entirely for a vegetarian version. Add asparagus, fresh corn or whatever looks good at the market to keep it seasonal. Swap the lemon for an orange, the tomatoes for spinach and sliced fennel and you have a brand new batch of flavors!

You’ll Need:
12 oz. pasta, like penne or farfalle
3/4 lb. of raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 lemon
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
3 tablespoons basil leaves, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons Italian parsley, finely chopped
Salt and pepper

1. Cook the pasta according to the direction on the package in salted water. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat a saute pan over medium heat and add two tablespoons of butter. When melted, zest one lemon into the butter. Juice the lemon and add to the pan. Bring the juices just to a simmer and add the whole tomatoes all at once. Cook them over medium heat just until they start to split, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the cleaned and peeled shrimp to the pan with the tomatoes and cook just until the shrimp are opaque and pink, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and add the remaining two tablespoons of butter to thicken the sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Toss the shrimp and tomato mixture with the cooked pasta until coated. Sprinkle the chopped parsley and basil over the pasta mixture and serve.

Drink this with it!
The acidity from the tomato and lemon, the sweetness of the shrimp, and the creaminess from the butter in the sauce work really well with an unoaked Chardonnay like Scarpantoni Estates 2005 Chardonnay from Australia.

Get This: We all gift wine from time to time and we’ve all bought those silly little gift bags covered in that hideous grape and leaf pattern. Stop. Check out BananaSaurus Rex for stylish wine bags made from vintage fabrics that have been repurposed into gift wrap that would make Martha Stewart envious. Plus, you can feel good because you know that this pretty packaging won’t end up in a landfill.

Sipping Spot: Amid the throngs of skinny jeans and ironic facial hair, The Counting Room in Williamsburg is a breath of fresh (non-hipster) air. The small-production focused wine list features offbeat, mostly European selections and arrives at your table in a manila folder like a top secret dossier. Whether you are just stopping in for a glass and a bag of warm pan-roasted croutons or have time for a juicy Latin Pork sandwich, you are certain to leave satisfied.

Cool Tasting: While wine and multitasking don’t appear to be natural partners, you may think otherwise after attending the New York Professionals tasting of Spring reds and whites at Obivia in Soho next week. Here you’ll learn about (and taste) great wines that will pair with your favorite warmer weather foods while simultaneously expanding your network of New Yorkers who work hard and play hard. So put on your best power suit and chat, sip, and schmooze the night away.

Best Freebie: Get yourself to the West Village on Saturday and stop into Le Du’s Wines for a tasting of some of Italy’s 1,000 different grape varieties. Star Italian importer Panebianco will be pouring a selection of diverse, rustic country wine that are made for that bowl of pasta you’ll be cooking up for dinner.

Pick Up a Bottle Here: Even if you Queens is not your borough of residence, there are many a reason to get yourself over to Hunter’s Point Wines & Spirits in Long Island City. Great selection, small-production, estate-grown, organically-farmed regional wines from all over the world, just to name a few. Not enough? Owner, Paul Huston is charming, informative and typically spot on in making recommendations. Added incentive? Great shops, cafes, and restaurants within blocks as well as stunning views of the Manhattan skyline.

Cool Tasting: A farm in New York City? Check out Queens County Farm Museum on Tuesday and support sustainable agriculture while enjoying a selection of New York wines, delectable hor d’ouevres, and live jazz. Rub elbows with other friends of the farm and bid on the only wines ever produced using grapes grown in NYC.

Sipping Spot: It’s Rioja Week and what that means for you is that restaurants like David Burke Townhouse, Kittichai, and La Fonda Del Sol are offering $25 lunch and $35 dinner specials that include a glass of Rioja. Find a restaurant in your nabe that’s participating, grab a friend, and Salud!

Get This: Sometimes you need a night in with a good book and a glass…or two of wine to recharge. And then recharged you let that bottle sit untouched and turning to vinegar while you fulfill your busy social calendar. Don’t waste another drop of wine and get yourself a Vacu Vin so treating yourself doesn’t feel like a guilty pleasure.

Pick Up a Bottle Here: Trying to figure out what to drink with your takeout? The folks at Bottlerocket can tell you what to pair with your pizza or pad thai. The staff is trained to find your perfect wine match whether you’re looking for a special occasion, a gift, or just want something to drink while you watch the Real Housewives latest catfight. An added bonus? They offer happy hour wine classes (that feel like a party) every Wednesday.

Best Freebie: Get yourself to Chambers Street Wines on Saturday and you’ll be treated to a tasting of California wines from Edmunds St. John. Even better, winemaker Steve Edmunds will be doing the pouring and can tell you all about his 20 year effort at getting his wines to express a true sense of place.

We all know that life isn’t fair and that there is no fountain of youth. Let’s face it, aging women may not typically be considered “distinguished” enough to snag a hot, young thing, thirty years their junior (I’m looking at you Michael Douglass and Catherine Zeej). And we’ve all seen what happens when a little “fresher-upper” goes bad (I’m looking at you, Meg Ryan).

But do we really want to nip, tuck, poke, and prod ourselves into some “Glory Days” version of ourselves? (Yes, Bruce, I’m looking at you). Let’s hear it for natural beauty and remaining youthful the healthy, fun WineFlirt way!

The secret is red wine, of course. Offering loads of antioxidants and the trusty Resveratrol, red wine is just the elixir we’ve all been searching for.

Here’s why it works:

anti-aging antioxidants: Like a sponge, antioxidants sop up your body’s malicious free radicals that contribute to aging and age-related diseases.

wonder-working Resveratrol: Scientists are finding that Resveratrol prevented overfed mice from gaining weight, made them as fit as Olympic marathoners, and slowed their aging process.

extra benefits: With wine comes glowing skin, and reduced risks for Alzheimer’s, cancer, and diabetes – all risks that potentially come with aging. Plus, studies have shown wine drinkers live five years longer than teetotalers.

So remember, to keep the doctor at bay and enjoy a glass or two. You’ll be back in your glory days, and the best part? You’ll look fresh and feel flawless -there’s no reason you can’t find an Ashton of your very own.

Sipping Spot: Recently opened Vyne Wine Bar in Greenwich Village provides a welcome respite from the frat party that is MacDougal Street. Step into this haven and choose from a list stocked with well-selected whites just in time for the warmer months. The pizzas are delicious and perfect for sharing a happy hour snack!

Best Freebie: Stop in to Ninth Avenue Vintners every Thursday and Friday evening and sip a selection of some of their favorite wines. This week, see why Oregon Pinot (both Noir and Gris) can be a WineFlirt’s best friend!

Cool Tasting: A swanky Tribeca space. Inspired hors d’oeuvres. 400 South African wines. It’s yours for the taking at the Great South African Wine Show hosted by the James Beard Foundation Greens. Get your $55 ticket now and sign up for the Greens newsletter while you’re at it so you can find out about more events for young NYC foodies!

Get This: Skip the flowers for mom this Mother’s Day and check out wine.com’s killer combos of wine and chocolate (or cheese!). They’ll wrap it up in pretty cherry blossom paper, and they can still get it to her before she knows that you almost forgot!

Pick Up A Bottle Here: Cheese tastings, wine classes, vino and cookbook of the month club…how many more reasons do you need to check out Pansanella & Sons? Oh wait, a great selection of wines under $15, a smartly designed tasting room and enoteca, and the notoriety of housing a 19th century brothel up the coolness factor as well. It’s definitely worth a stop in for your next stock up!

Though your local Greek joint is a sure bet, restaurants aren’t the only place you can find Greek wines these days. Take a gander at those consonant-heavy labels during your next wineshop perusal.

Greek whites are all about summer, freshness, good food, and good company to go with it all. Crisp, refreshing, and cool, the selection below pairs flawlessly with a feta salad, grilled shrimp, or even a day spent lounging in the sun and sand.

Take a taste made from people who know how to have a good time.

Assyrtiko
Arguably the Hercules of white wine in all of Greece, some call Assyrtiko a cousin to white Burgundy. Crisp and savory with a hint of smokiness and minerality, you can almost taste the whitewashed hills of its home, Santorini.

Roditis
Imagine a wine that is like the love child of a dry German Riesling and a French Sauvignon Blanc. Elegant and light-bodied, this pink-skinned grape yields dry whites and roses. Have your Roditis with any Mediterranean fare – hummus, roasted red peppers, olives, pita, and olive oil.

Malagousia
This melony, jasmine-scented white was on the brink of an extinction before winemaker Evangelos Gerovassiliou gave it a makeover. Get it while it’s hot.

Lagorthi
Lagorthi produces a light wine with a low alcohol content. It begs to be brought along on a daytime picnic.

Moschofilero
This floral wine is Greece’s equivalent of the Muscat. With floral, citrus and melon aromas, Moschofilero is the ideal date for any number of summer gatherings.

Watch out for: Retsina, Greece’s infamous pine resin-flavored wine. Before the days of glass and cork Greek imbibers used pine resin to seal wine. Made for at least 2,000 years, Retsina is pungent and not to everyone’s liking. But, as they say, when in Rome (errr….Athens). Pair Retsina with Greek fare and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Pick Up a Bottle Here: Dandelion Wine (aka Dandy) in Brooklyn feels a little like a schoolhouse with its blackboard walls and you are bound to learn something from its well-edited and eclectic selection of wines from all over the world. Most bottles are under $25 and delivery is free if you are local.

Cool Tasting: Participate in a clash of the (wine) titans at the New Jersey Food & Wine Festival’s Bordeaux vs. California Cult Wines Tasting. Big name bottles from both regions will be blind tasted by top sommeliers, wine writers…and you! $135 gets you a front row seat, a glass, and a chance to find out who reigns supreme in producing powerhouse reds.

Sipping Spot: You don’t have to wear a sombrero to get in the Cinco de Mayo spirit, just head to Calle Ocho for hot Neuvo Latino cuisine. While the wine list works beautifully with everything from tacos to ceviche, the Sangria bar is where it’s at. Choose from four red wine and four white wine based concoctions that feature flavors like lemongrass, passion fruit and tamarind. Better yet, come for brunch, when you can make unlimited trips to the Sangria bar during your meal.

Best Freebie: Want to truly taste terroir? Stop by The Winery on Friday for a tasting of Old World wines produced by winemakers with a mission to showcase their region’s traditional expressions of local grapes. Wines from Sicily, the Languedoc, and Cotes du Rhone will be featured.

Get This: Do game night the Wine Flirt way. Gather up some pals, channel your inner trivia geek and break out Wine Wars, a game designed to test your wine knowledge on everything from the vine to the cellar. This game is best accompanied by a full glass.