Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Alto means high, referring to altitude when talking about wine, in both Spanish and Italian. Recently higher altitude locations have been planted more and more. A few decades ago, these areas were not seen as suitable for growing quality grapes as the climate back then was too cool. Today, with many producers witnessing a rising temperature, and a lot of new techniques in the vineyard, these areas are finally becoming viable. The higher you plant the cooler the temperature will be, but you will also receive more sun which in turn helps ripen the grapes. The temperature will be quite warm during the day, but very cool at night. This leads to ripe fruit aromas developing during the day, followed by a cool nighttime keeping the fresh acidity in the grapes, the best of both worlds for the grapes.

In Italy this development has been very prominent in northern Piemonte in the last decade. There is now talk about an area called Alto Piemonte, comprised of a few different wine regions. They are all located higher up in the mountains, and like the most famous wines from Piemonte many are based on the Nebbiolo grape. The most well-known wine regions would be Ghemme, Gattinara, and Boca.

But Alto Piemonte is not the only area where the term is used. In quite a few cases, in both Italy, Spain, Argentina and Chile the term can be seen used as part of a producer name or even as the name of a specific wine, sometimes to convey the wine is from a high planted vineyard. It is not uncommon however for winemakers to use the term to show it&rsquo;s their highest quality wine, not a wine from high altitude.

More wine growers have shown interest in high altitude vineyards lately, and the record of the highest planted one is something a few are trying to beat. It&rsquo;s safe to say the positive effects the altitude has on the growing grapes mean these vineyards are here to stay, and terms as alto may be used in more languages soon.

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

Brennan's Restaurant

Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier, joins Robert Tas to review the wine list at Brennan’s, a New Orleans restaurant that has been open since 1946.

Wine List Review of Brennan's, New Orleans

Tina Johansson

Brennan's

Brennan&rsquo;s

RT: Hello and Welcome to Corkrules!

I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier.

Hi Tina, thanks for being back with us on another episode of CorkRules, - a podcast where we help simplify and demystify the wine lists at some of your favorite restaurants. We talk with certified sommeliers and wine professionals who point out interesting bottles, classic food and wine pairings, hidden gems, value wines, or splurge wines that will take your dining experience over the top.

TJ: Thank you Robert! Great to be back.

RT: Today&#39;s restaurant is Brennan&rsquo;s, a New Orleans classic which opened in the 1940s and has their roots in the Louisiana Creole cooking traditions. The Creole cuisine is a mix of French, Spanish and Western African cooking together with the traditions of the local southern food made here. The menu includes dishes like seafood gumbo, buttermilk roasted chicken, and the more unusual turtle soup.

TJ: Yes, it&rsquo;s a fun menu packed with flavor! And the wine list is huge! This is the kind of list I would prefer to look at in advance so I know exactly what they offer. If not, I would just end up spending the first 30 minutes of the dinner flipping through the wine selection. I&rsquo;m sure you know what I mean.

RT: I sure do, the bigger the list the harder it is to choose just one bottle!

TJ: Yes, thankfully I don&rsquo;t have to limit myself to just one bottle this time. I would say the focus of the wine list is on classic areas and producers, like top Bordeaux and Rh&ocirc;ne wines but they have more unusual labels as well and even a section for sustainable picks!

RT: Sounds like a great restaurant for wine lovers. So please let me in on your top bottles from the list. Maybe we could start with something from the sustainable category you mentioned?

TJ: Of course! I actually see my favorite Prosecco there. I&rsquo;m usually not the biggest fan of Prosecco but this one is more artisanal and complex, a bit unfiltered but still very fresh and crisp like the more classic Prosecco. It&rsquo;s the NV Prosecco Naturalmente from Casa Coste Piane, I was there visiting a few years back and had this wine with a lentil stew drowning in an amazing local olive oil. That&rsquo;s an experience and a wine I&rsquo;ll never forget! It might be a bit more pricey than the average Prosecco but still very much worth it. This would be your classic &rdquo;a lot of wine for the money&rdquo;.

RT: Sounds like a great start to a dinner in Brennan&rsquo;s. I&rsquo;m sure they hold some great reds as well? Something to go with the cane syrup-braised beef cheeks or the truffle venison on the menu?

TJ: They sure do! I&rsquo;d go for something extra fun &ndash; a magnum bottle! Like I said before the list is very long, and so the selection of magnum bottles is big as well. Let&rsquo;s drink something more classic next, the magnum bottle of the 2004 Ch&acirc;teau La Lagune Haut-M&eacute;doc, a third growth in Bordeaux.

RT: Great choice, a very good winery and of course extra delicious in a big bottle&hellip; I was hoping we could end the evening on a sweet note, since Brennan&rsquo;s is known for having created the dessert Bananas Foster in the early 50&rsquo;s. It&rsquo;s a sweet serving of bananas in a sauce with dark rhum and brown sugar that comes with vanilla ice cream. What dessert wine would you pair with this?

TJ: I&rsquo;m pretty sure it&rsquo;s almost mandatory to end an evening in Brennans&rsquo;s with Bananas Foster! I would want something to drink with enough fruitiness to balance the sweetness from the banana but also something caramelized from longer ageing to match the brown sugar. My pick would be the 2013 Castello di Volpaia Vinsanto di Chianti Classico. Very sweet as Vinsanto is made from raisined grapes, but with notes of sweet spices and caramel as it&rsquo;s almost 10 years old.

RT: I&rsquo;m sure in the mood for something sweet after that description. Thank you, Tina.

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on Corkrules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite

restaurants, please send us email to:Info@corkrules.Com or visit our web website where

we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists wherever you get your podcasts.

And finally, drink what you love and please make

sure you drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

END

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Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Grgich Hills Estate is a family-owned winery located in the Napa Valley of California. Founded in 1977 by Croatian-born winemaker Mike Grgich, the winery is known for producing premium wines using sustainable and organic farming practices.

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homepage

CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

Abiaka Wood Fire Grill - Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood

Domaine Carneros

Brut NV

Pinot Noir

Los Carneros, USA

Daou Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Paso Robles, USA

Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne France NV

Champagne, France

Catena Zapata

Malbec Argentino 2015

Malbec

Mendoza, Argentina

Argentina

Vina Cobos Felino Mendoza 2017

Malbec

Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina

Lagar Cervera, Rias Baixas, Albarino 2018

Galicia, Spain

Joseph Drouhin

Drouhin - Vaudon Chablis Premier Cru 'Vaillons' 2018

Chardonnay

Chablis, Burgundy, France

Beaulieu Vineyard (BV)

Carneros Chardonnay 2015

Chardonnay

Los Carneros, USA

Cabral

Reserva 2015

Touriga Nacional

Douro, Portugal

Feudo Principi di Butera Chardonnay Sicilia, Italy, Sicily 2016

Chardonnay

Sicily, Italy

Honig

Premiere Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Cabernet Sauvignon

Napa Valley, USA

Bodega Catena Zapata Nicolás Catena Zapata, Argentina, Mendoza 2017

Red Bordeaux Blend

Mendoza, Argentina

Masi

Campofiorin Rosso Veronese 2015

Corvina

Veneto, Italy

Saint Clair Family Estate

Origin Pinot Noir 2018

Pinot Noir

Marlborough, New Zealand

Shatter

Grenache 2017

Grenache

Cotes Catalanes, France