Ai Fiori

Wine educator and restaurant sommelier, Alexis Rogers and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Frenchette, 2019 James Beard Foundation Winner of Best New Restaurant, and a hip Tribeca hotspot. Frenchette is known for it’s inventive French cuisine, and the wine list boasts classic French wines in addition to Vin de France wines from winemakers who like to break the rules and bring new blends to the table. Alexis helps navigate the list and breaks down the classifications to help you understand how to read the label on the bottle and make a more informed choice. 

Wines reviewed include:

• Emilien Feneuil, Totum, Blanc de Blanc 1er Cru a Sermiers 2017 Vintage Champagne
• 2018 Sancerre Sebastien Riffault
• Aligote from producer Clarisse de Suremain

Alexis Rogers, wine educator and restaurant sommelier, and host Robert Tas present a double episode where they explore the wine list of the three-star Michelin restaurant Le Bernardin. 

This wine list boasts a 15,000-bottle collection that is truly global, with 900 wine selections from 12 different countries, and vintages dating back to 1875. Le Bernardin received the 2009 James Beard Award for “Outstanding Wine Service,” and the 80+ page list showcases over 1000 bottles of all sizes, from almost every known wine region in the world. Luckily, Alexis is here to help navigate the list, give the background history, provide professional expertise on tasting notes, and what to pair with by-the-glass choices that are within your budget as well as those pricier bottles that are out of reach for most budgets. 

Wines reviewed include:

• 1912 D’Oliveras Verde
• 2005 Domaine Romanee-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru
• Dom Tollot-Beauf Chorey les Beaune

Restaurant sommelier and wine educator Alexis Rogers and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels. This restaurant serves French and Mediterranean small plates in a rustic-chic bar. Alexis helps find the best wines on this French-heavy wine list, and shares her expertise in blind tasting to help you understand what to look for when tasting wine, and, of course, she identifies the best wines to pair with menu items from this extensive list that hosts 450 wines from around the world.

Wines reviewed include:

• Domaine Piccard Coup de Fouet Villette Grand Cru, 2018
• Domaine Chapel Charbonnieres Fleurie

Wine educator and certified sommelier Alexis Rogers joins Robert Tas to discuss the wine list of Charlie Bird. Alexis shares her knowledge on pairings and terroir as she explores Spanish wines on the list, including some of the most coveted bottles of incredibly pure, honest wines, hand-picked, foot crushed, with minimal intervention and no chemicals. They also travel over to the Italian, Austrian and Czech Republican sections of the list where they discover a few exceptional bottles and we learn why the wine industry in the Czech Republic is experiencing a renaissance.

Wines reviewed include:

• 2017 Miani Friulano from Friuli-Venezia Giulia
• Riesling from Austria by Weingut Jager
• 2017 ‘Migan’ Tinto from Tenerife

Host Robert Tas and Alexis Rogers, wine educator and restaurant sommelier join together to discuss the wine list of the Italian restaurant Becco in the restaurant district. Becco is well-known and loved for its unlimited servings of pasta and its $35 bottle wine list. Alexis guides listeners through the list to find the best quality bottles and shares a little inside information on the often misaligned Lambrusco.

Wines reviewed include:

• Flor Sparkling Rose
• 2016 Tenuta Ponte Greco di Tufo
• La Battagliolo Lambrusco

Restaurant sommelier and wine educator Alexis Rogers joins host Robert Tas for another episode of CorkRules. Alexis reviews the wine list of the Buddha Bar, an Asian-fusion restaurant located in the downtown Tribeca neighborhood.  This wine list offers the well-known names that need no introduction, but it also offers a selection of delicious, lesser-known wines that should not be missed, and Alexis reveals the ones that should not be overlooked.

Wines reviewed include:

• JM Brocard Chablis
• Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko
• Raen

Certified sommelier Alexis Rogers joins host Robert Tas as they navigate the wine list at Frank’s, a wholly Italian restaurant with a wine list that boasts some of the more unique Italian varietals and producers. Alexis offers insight into the history of the regions, varietals (some dating back to the 11th century) and producers while providing pairing suggestions designed to enhance the dining experience.

Wines reviewed include:

• Soave Classico
• Dolcetto
• Hilberg Barbera d’Alba Superiore

Certified sommelier Alexis Rogers and host Robert Tas take a walk on the wild side of the drinks menu at Maison Premiere. Alexis explores the cocktail menu to identify the most appealing and adventurous cocktails, including a range of absinthe and juleps before moving on to the wine list, including a stellar champagne selection. Inspired by the lifestyle of Paris, New York and New Orleans in the early 1900s, Maison Premiere is renowned for upholding the traditions and ceremony of oyster bars and absinthe cafés, hospitality and service.

Drinks reviewed include:

• Absinthe Colada
• Barber of Seville
• Pascal Doquet “Arpege” Blanc de Blancs

Certified sommelier and wine educator Alexis Rogers and host Robert Tas visit Pastis to review their wine list. This high-profile restaurant in the Meat Packing District was named and famed on the popular television series Sex in the City. Pastis provides guests with a traditional french fare menu and a stellar wine list. Alexis shares her expertise on varietals, producers, and pairings to help you make an informed decision with delicious results.

Wines reviewed include:

• 2017 Jean Michel Gaunoux Meursault
• Chateau des Laurets 2015 from St Emilion
• Billecart- Salmon Brut Rose

Robert Tas and Alexis Rogers, wine educator and restaurant sommelier, join forces to discuss and demystify the wine list at the Aldo Sohm Wine Bar. This wine bar offers a changing list with over 40 by-the-glass and 200 by-the-bottle options. Additionally, this wine bar restaurant is truly wine focussed and has created a menu that was designed to complement the wines on the list.

Wines reviewed include:

• Franzin Quarzit Schiefer Trocken riesling from Mosel Germany
• Serrant L’Overture Premier Cru Brut Champagne
• La Banierre Crozes Hermitage Syrah