<a href="https://ko.momofuku.com/">Momofuku Ko</a>&nbsp;is an award-winning restaurant in NYC that offers an exceptional dining experience. &nbsp;It won two Michelin stars in 2009 and has maintained that status ever since. It was also awarded three stars by the New York Times in 2015, and in 2019, it was ranked No. 76 on the World&rsquo;s 50 Best Restaurants list. With credentials like this, you&rsquo;d expect a top-quality wine list and you would not be disappointed.

So, if dining Japanese, which wines pair well?

Japanese cuisine is quite varied and includes a wide range of seafood dishes, tempura, sushi and sashimi, pork, chicken, ramen&hellip;, the flavors and textures are diverse, which means we need a wine list with a variety of options.

With sushi and sashimi, you can go wrong with a crisp, clean white wine like a gr&uuml;ner veltliner. A white wine with high acidity and lemony, citrus notes works well with seafood. Sauvignon blanc also pairs well with sushi, and, of course, Champagne also works well.

If you opt for a bowl of ramen or miso soup, the strong umami calls for a bolder wine that won&rsquo;t be overpowered nor overpower. Consider choosing a fortified wine like an Assyrtiko from Greece or even a Manzanilla sherry. However, many ramen dishes use soy sauce, in this case, a light-bodied pinot noir will also work well.

Fried, battered and grilled dishes like tempura, katsu, karaage and agedashi tofu pair well with aromatic and full-bodied whites, such as chardonnay or pinot gris. However, light to medium reds can also work spectacularly well. Think pinot noir, gamay or grenache.

If you are thinking of dining at Momofuku Ko, &nbsp;check out the CorkRules<a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/momofuku-las-vegas/episodes/23">&nbsp;podcast </a>episode with certified sommelier Michaela Quinlan. She navigates the wine list at &nbsp;Momofuku Ko and offers a few stellar suggestions.

Cheers!

&nbsp;

About the CorkRules Podcast:&nbsp;Each week we pour a glass and share top restaurant wine list picks, providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the wine list through sommelier recommendations, suggested food pairings and expert insights

About CorkRules:&nbsp;CorkRules, the first digital wine app experience, makes it easier for you to navigate the restaurant wine list, and provides you with personalized wine recommendations from your favorite restaurants. Through CorkRules you can find the perfect wine for every occasion based on your preferences. Connect with friends and wine experts to discover new wines to try and learn about wine. CorkRules makes it easier to discover and drink what you love. &nbsp;

Momofuku Ko is an award-winning restaurant in NYC that offers an exceptional dining experience.  It won two Michelin stars in 2009 and has maintained that status ever since. It was also awarded three stars by the New York Times in 2015, and in 2019, it was ranked No. 76 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. With credentials like this, you’d expect a top-quality wine list and you would not be disappointed.

Pairing Wine with Japanese Food at Momofuku Ko

The world of sparkling wine is a vast one. While champagne has long been the reigning king, there's another contender that’s not only equally delicious but also offers great value for money - Cremant.

Cremant vs Champagne: The real deal for bubbles.

Omakase is experiencing a surge in popularity, let’s dig into what it is and of course what wines to drink.



 Omakase, a term that translates to "I'll leave it up to you" in Japanese, is rapidly gaining popularity in the culinary world. This dining experience places your meal entirely in the hands of the chef, who meticulously crafts each course based on seasonal ingredients and their personal creative flair. It's not just about seafood; while sushi often features prominently due to its status as a cornerstone of Japanese cuisine, an omakase menu can include anything from Wagyu beef to seasonal vegetables.

Omakase and Wine Pairing: A Booming Gastronomic Journey

California Chardonnay: it's a name synonymous with sunshine, buttery richness, and maybe even a splash of white wine envy (looking at you, Bridget Jones). But how did this grape, originally hailing from France, become a Californian icon? Buckle up, because we're diving into the world of CA Chard, from its unexpected origins to the reasons it continues to reign supreme on wine lists.

Buckle up, because we're diving into the world of CA Chard!

Forget everything you think you know about sweet, syrupy wines. Lambrusco is a sparkling red wine from Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region that’s as light and bubbly as a summer day.

Lambrusco: The Party in a Bottle You Need to Try under $25

As the days grow longer and warmer, it's time to trade in your full-bodied reds and crisp whites for a glass of refreshing rosé. This versatile wine is not only perfect for spring but also pairs beautifully with a wide variety of foods all year round.



Rosé originates from France, specifically Provence - the world’s leading rosé region. It has been produced there since 600 BC when Greeks brought vines to southern France. Unlike its red and white counterparts, rosés are made using an array of grape varietals including Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault among others.

Spring into Rosé: The Perfect Wine for Warmer Weather

We are interested in understanding your dining and wine consumption habits to gain valuable insights into the wine and restaurant industry.

State of Wine and Restaurant Survey 2024

Aligoté: Burgundy's Unsung Hero Steps Out of the Shadows

For Chardonnay lovers seeking a refreshing, value-driven alternative, Aligoté, Burgundy's "other" white grape, beckons with its crisp acidity, subtle minerality, and undeniable charm. Often overshadowed by its more illustrious neighbor, Aligoté is finally gaining recognition for its unique qualities and exceptional quality-to-price ratio.

Aligoté: Burgundy's Unsung Hero Steps Out of the Shadows

A Hungarian Legacy: Imagine yourself in Tokaj, Hungary, a region steeped in winemaking tradition. For centuries, Furmint has thrived in its volcanic soil, basking in the warm sunshine. These grapes, loved for their thick skin and high acidity, became the cornerstone of Hungary's most famous wine: Tokaji. These sweet, honeyed treasures were once enjoyed by royalty and popes!

Furmint: Hungary's Hidden Gem for Wine Lovers

Check out these four whites wines under $24, from some great producers across various terroirs – France, Italy, Spain. Spring is in the air.

Four must try white wines for under $24 from France, Spain, and Italy

Cracked by Chef Adrianne

Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard restaurant, a fine-dining steakhouse in Miami.

Wine List Review of Chef Adrianne's in Miami

Tina Johansson

Chef Adrianne's

Cork Rules Script

Chef Adrianne&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, happy to be back for another episode and with a new wine list to dig into.

RT: Glad to hear. Today we&rsquo;re talking about Chef Adrianne&rsquo;s Vineyard restaurant, a modern, fine-dining steakhouse in Miami inspired by the wine country of Napa Valley. Chef Adrianne Calvo opened the restaurant 15 years ago when she was only 22 years old, and today she&rsquo;s one of the most successful chefs in Florida. The menu is focused mainly on the steaks, but with big variation and influences from around the world. You can find flavors from Japan, Italy and Peru to mention a few so the menu holds something for everyone.

TJ: And talking about the wine list it&rsquo;s sorted by grape variety and not by origin which is rather uncommon, but I quite like it since it&rsquo;s an easy way to make guests more comfortable with the wine list in front of them. I think we all know wine lists can be quite intimidating from time to time. Since all wine is from the American west coast (with just a few exceptions like Champagne from France) it keeps the list very easy to navigate. It&rsquo;s a very short list but with a fair pricing in general and that always makes me happy to see.

RT: Yes, I&rsquo;m eager to see what highlights you&rsquo;ll pick out from the wine list this time. Let&rsquo;s start with something fun. What do you suggest as the perfect bottle in Chef Adrianne&rsquo;s for a celebration? What wine of theirs will make a special night here even more memorable?

TJ: Let&rsquo;s celebrate with a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon &ndash; the restaurant is inspired by Napa after all. They hold Stags Leap Wine Cellars Artemis, a full-bodied and oaky style of Cabernet that would be a match for many of the great steaks here. This is also the winery that in a way put Napa Valley on the World map since their Cabernet Sauvignon won in a blind tasting over some of the best French Cabernets in the infamous Judgment of Paris in 1976. That kind of says a lot!

RT: It really does, it&rsquo;s a winery all wine lovers should try at some point. To continue, if I&rsquo;m in the mood for a bottle of white, what am I drinking then? Their starters hold a lot of fish like ceviche with yellow chili and chargrilled octopus with chorizo. What are you pairing with this?

TJ: I would suggest something more aromatic to balance the spicy and flavorful elements, but still with a fresh acidity to not overpower the courses. Let&rsquo;s stay in Napa Valley for the white as well and drink Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc. It&rsquo;s your classic Sauvignon Blanc with green, herbal notes and ripe melon aromas, but a bit rounder due to spending a few months in oak barrels.

RT: Great! Always fun when the Napa whites are highlighted a bit as well, it&rsquo;s hard for them to shine in the shadow of the region&#39;s famous reds.

TJ: I agree, there&rsquo;s a lot of good white wines here as well!

RT: So besides Chef Adrianne&rsquo;s great Napa Valley wines, do you have any more gems from the list? One last great bottle?

TJ: Yes of course. Let&rsquo;s go back to red and finish with a lighter style but with great fruit concentration that could handle the milk-fed veal chop or even the Black Angus on the menu if you&rsquo;re in the mood for that. They hold Kistler Russian River Valley Pinot Noir which is just a beautiful and elegant style of red, and really showing a more contemporary style of American winemaking.

RT: Not a bad bottle to end on, 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.

END

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Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Mussel Bay is a family-owned winery located in the heart of Marlborough, New Zealand. They are known for producing high-quality wines with a focus on sustainability and minimal intervention winemaking. Their vineyards are located in the Wairau and Awatere valleys, which are known for their ideal growing conditions for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

Craft beer, classic cocktails & American fare served in a swanky, industrial-chic tavern.

Per Se

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Join us each week as we pour a glass and share top restaurant ‘wine list’ picks, providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the ‘wine list’ through somm recommendations, suggested food pairings and masterclass insights.

The Malt House

The Crossings

Chardonnay NV

Chardonnay

Marlborough, New Zealand

Terrazas de los Andes

Reserva Malbec NV

Malbec

Mendoza, Argentina

The Crossings

Wild Sauvignon Blanc NV

Sauvignon Blanc

New Zealand

Barone Fini

Pinot Grigio Alto Adige NV

Pinot Gris

Italy

Terrazas de los Andes

Reserva Malbec NV

Malbec

Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina

Famille Perrin

Ventoux NV

Blend

Rhone, France

Barossa Valley Estate

GSM (Grenache - Shiraz - Mourvedre) NV

Blend

Barossa, South Australia, Australia

Kenwood Vineyards Pinot Noir Rose NV

Russian River Valley, USA

Fleur De Prairie Languedoc Rose France Roussillon NV

France

A to Z

Rose, Oregon NV

Oregon, USA

Benvolio

Prosecco NV

Glera

Prosecco, Italy

Antigal

UNO Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Cabernet Sauvignon

Mendoza, Argentina

La Crema

Monterey Chardonnay NV

Chardonnay

California, USA

Rodney Strong Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon, Knights Valley NV

California, USA

Oyster Bay

Sauvignon Blanc NV

Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough, New Zealand