The holiday season is a time for celebration, and champagne is a popular beverage of choice for many. Whether you&#39;re looking for a high-end champagne to mark a special occasion or a more approachable option for casual gatherings, there are plenty of choices to consider.&nbsp;

By the way, we love champagne with all kinds of food (seafood, fried chicken, spicy food, etc) and is more than just for a quick toast at midnight.&nbsp;

High-End Champagnes:&nbsp;

When it comes to high-end champagnes, names like <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/MoA-t-and-Chandon-Dom-Perignon-Brut-2013-w87575582p">Dom Perignon</a> and Krug often come to mind. These prestigious champagnes are typically reserved for special occasions and are known for their exceptional quality and craftsmanship. <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/MoA-t-and-Chandon-Dom-Perignon-Brut-2013-w87575582p">Dom Perignon</a> is produced by Moet &amp; Chandon and is named after the Benedictine monk who is often credited with discovering the champagne-making process. Krug, on the other hand, is known for its rich and complex flavors, thanks to its unique production methods, including fermentation in small oak barrels. These won&#39;t disappoint! Yum!!&nbsp;

More Approachable Options:&nbsp;

If you&#39;re looking for a more approachable champagne that still offers great quality, there are plenty of options to consider. <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Ruinart-Brut-Rose-w2136832vx">Ruinart Rose</a> and <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Charles-Heidsieck-Brut-Blanc-De-Blancs-w1263779l4">Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blanc</a> are two examples of champagnes that are well-regarded but are often more affordable than their high-end counterparts. <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Ruinart-Brut-Rose-w2136832vx">Ruinart Rose</a> is known for its delicate, fruity flavors, while <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Charles-Heidsieck-Brut-Blanc-De-Blancs-w1263779l4">Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blanc</a> is a type of champagne made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes, resulting in a crisp and elegant taste. Solid choices!&nbsp;

Blanc de Blanc:

Blanc de Blanc is a term used to describe champagnes that are made exclusively from white grapes, typically Chardonnay. This style of champagne is known for its light and crisp flavors, making it a popular choice for those who prefer a more delicate taste. Blanc de Blanc champagnes are often a great option for pairing with seafood or light appetizers.&nbsp;

Lower-End Examples and Spanish Cava:

If you&#39;re looking for lower-end champagne options, there are plenty of choices to consider. <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Piper-Heidsieck-Brut-Cuvee-w504046291">Piper-Heidsieck&#39;s Brut Non-Vintage</a> is a great affordable option that still offers great quality and flavor. This champagne is known for its fresh and lively taste, making it a great choice for casual gatherings. In addition to champagne, <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Gramona-Brut-Corpinnat-Imperial-2017-w91087350j">Spanish Cava</a> is another great option to consider for all budgets. Cava is a sparkling wine that is produced in Spain using the traditional champagne method, and it offers great quality at a more affordable price point.&nbsp;

Whether you&#39;re looking for a high-end champagne to mark a special occasion or a more approachable option for casual gatherings, there are plenty of choices to consider. From prestigious names like <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/MoA-t-and-Chandon-Dom-Perignon-Brut-2013-w87575582p">Dom Perignon</a> and Krug to more affordable options like <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Ruinart-Brut-Rose-w2136832vx">Ruinart Rose</a> and <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Gramona-Brut-Corpinnat-Imperial-2017-w91087350j">Spanish Cava</a>, there&#39;s a champagne out there for every taste and budget.&nbsp;

Cheers to the holiday season! #drinkwhatyoulove #bubbles

The holiday season is a time for celebration, and champagne is a popular beverage of choice for many. Whether you're looking for a high-end champagne to mark a special occasion or a more approachable option for casual gatherings, there are plenty of choices to consider.

Bubbles for the Holidays!!

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

Eric Asimov's recent article isn't just about the "luxury" of sommeliers vanishing from restaurants. It's a stark warning about the potential collapse of a vibrant corner of our social and cultural ecosystem: the world of wine.

Why the Decline of Sommeliers Is a Crisis for All of Us

Porterhouse

Grant Wood

Porter House

Porterhouse NYC

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where we review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Grant Wood, certified sommelier and wine educator.

Hello Grant,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to have you back for another episode.

GW: Hey Robert, great to be back here with you!

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine list&rsquo;s because we know from experience, that sometimes wine lists can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT: With their prime location and impressive accolades, Porterhouse defines what it means to be a New York steakhouse. Their beverage program definitely matches up to their reputation as well.

Grant, this is a big list, one where we really need to help our listeners, so where shall we start? &nbsp;

GW: With such a dense wine list, I&rsquo;m going to breeze past the cocktails so we can help you navigate what is quite an extensive list that is built to impress. Don&rsquo;t pass on the cocktails when you&rsquo;re there but let&rsquo;s tackle the by-the-glass options first and go from there. I&rsquo;d start with a glass of the 2019 Wieninger Gr&uuml;ner Veltliner simply because it&rsquo;s good value and will pair with the lighter fare of starters and apps.

RT: Gr&uuml;ner is always a great call and starter. What about bubbles?

GW: Otherwise, the sparkling rose from Jansz in Australia would tick a lot of boxes as well if you&rsquo;re looking to make a quick toast or just refresh your palate.

RT: Any BTG reds?

GW: For the reds by the glass, I would go for the 2019 &lsquo;JuveNULLe&rsquo; Zinfandel from Turley which is a California classic or even go for the 2019 &lsquo;Poivre et Sol&rsquo; by Francois Villard coming from St. Joseph in the Northern Rh&ocirc;ne. This region makes great Syrah at a very approachable price and will stead up to what is a carnivore&rsquo;s paradise.

Quick tip: If you&rsquo;re just out for date night, go for the half bottles. If you start with a cocktail and maybe a glass or two, a half bottle is a great way to drink better for less and keep your wits about you. The 2019 Zinfandel from Frog&rsquo;s Leap is a great value if you&rsquo;re looking for a half bottle but if you just want a cab and a slab then the 2018 Ridge &ldquo;Estate&rdquo; Cabernet Sauvignon from the Santa Cruz Mountains is a great option as well.

RT: Great suggestion. What about a bottle if I&rsquo;m celebrating with a big client?

GW: If you&rsquo;re looking to celebrate with a bottle of bubbles then a solid choice is the Savart &lsquo;L&rsquo;Ouverture&rsquo; Champagne made from 100% Pinot Noir is beautiful and well-priced for this list. If you want to ball out on a prestige Cuvee then the 2006 Pol Roger &lsquo;Sir Winston Churchill which 06&rsquo; was a great year for this wine and delivers excellence even when young. Definitely a Champagne to impress friends or clients.

&nbsp;

RT: Let&rsquo;s keep going, what about a white?

&nbsp;

GW: For domestic white wines here, my eye is drawn to the 2018 Kongsgaard Chardonnay from Napa Valley. John and his son Alex are exceptional winemakers and if you want to go with a Napa Chardonnay that won&rsquo;t disappoint then look no further. If you want to splurge and experience a colt classic Chardonnay from Burgundy, then the 2015 Coche-Dury from Meursault is a head-turner for sure. They are a coveted white that is a good name dropper if you&rsquo;re looking to impress. I&rsquo;d ask your server or sommelier to decant this wine (yes, you can decant your whites too) since these wines can be a bit reductive when young so decanting will help the wine show its best side for you and your guests. There is plenty of other great whites (and reds) to consider but with a restaurant like this that is really catering to the classics, the wine list also really caters to the classics as well. The big names that I would except are on this list so if you&rsquo;re just trying to impress a client or cater to a certain guest that only drinks a certain type of wine, then you&rsquo;re covered. My job is to point you to the exciting stuff that gets in the shadow of big names like Caymus or Opus One &ndash; &ldquo;yawn..&rdquo; To which there&rsquo;s nothing wrong with if that&rsquo;s your bag.

RT: Aright my friend, what about some reds with my NY Strip?

GW: That said, for the reds, we&rsquo;re talking about a steakhouse soooo obviously, Cabernet is your friend. Here are the wines that excite me:

2014 Favia &lsquo;Cerro Sur&rsquo; Napa Valley for a splurge, based on Cabernet Franc made by Andy Ericson, who despite his high accolades, he&rsquo;s super down to earth and makes great wines.

1992 Philip Togni from Napa Valley. My birth year so of course, I&rsquo;m going to highlight this one. Incredibly ageable and will impress you and your friends.

RT: Man you&rsquo;re a youngin &ndash; Oy

GW: 2010 Clos Rougeard, Saumur-Champigny, Loire Valley, is probably one of my favorite Cab Francs I&rsquo;ve had in a long time.

2015 Dom. G. Roumier, 1er Cru &lsquo;Clos de la Bussiere&rsquo; from Morey-Saint-Denis. Christophe Roumier is really carrying the family torch and this wine will expand your horizon.

RT: What about Bordeaux?

GW: As for Bordeaux, they have all the growths covered so you can&rsquo;t go wrong there, though, I must say that the 2015 Ch. Cos D&rsquo;Estournel is a favorite for me since they were the first Chateau I visited when I went to BDX in 2019.

2010 Auguste Clape &lsquo;Renaissance&rsquo; is a great Syrah from Cornas in the Northern Rh&ocirc;ne as well

RT: Wow this list is deep but we are running out of time. What after dinner to wrap a fabulous meal?

GW: From there, the list goes on, but I digress. For dessert, I think a great classic that&rsquo;s easier on the wallet than some of their more expensive neighbors is the 2013 Ch. Guiraud Sauternes which is a beautiful, sweet wine to pair with blue cheese or Fois Gras.

RT: Grant Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Porterhouse&rsquo;s deep wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait go try your great suggestions.&nbsp; &nbsp;

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: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.com">Info@corkrules.com</a> 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.&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

End

&nbsp;

BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Acrobat is a label under King Estate Winery, located in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. They focus on producing high-quality, affordable wines using sustainable farming practices and minimal intervention winemaking. Their wines are known for their bright acidity and fresh fruit flavors.

Family-run eatery serving Northern Italian cuisine in a warm dining room with touches of modern art.

Craft

Craft L.A.

Barbrix

Wally's

The Belvedere

Spago Las Vegas by Wolfgang Puck

Spago

Jeune Et Jolie

Cucina Urbana

Rossoblu

Petit Trois

Cowboy Star

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

Gaetano’s Ristorante

Scaia

Rosso (Corvina) NV

Corvina

Veneto, Italy

L'Illuminata, Barolo, Sant'Anna Riserva NV

Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

Luisa

Tenuta, Cabernet Franc NV

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Venica & Venica

Jesera Pinot Grigio NV

Pinot Gris

Collio, Italy

Planeta

Frappato, Vittoria NV

Sicily, Italy

Planeta

Cometa NV

Fiano

Sicily, Italy

Planeta, Burdese, Sicily NV

Sicily, Italy

Peju Province Winery Legacy Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley NV

Napa Valley, USA

Occhipinti

Sicilia SP68 Bianco NV

Pinot Gris

Sicily, Italy

Guido Berlucchi

Cuvee Imperiale Franciacorta Brut 1961

Chardonnay

Franciacorta, Italy

Zenato

Lugana San Benedetto NV

Verdicchio

Lugana, Italy

Pietradolce

Sant' Andrea Bianco NV

Carricante

Etna, Italy

Poggio alle Mura

Castello Banfi NV

Brunello di Montalcino, Italy

Darioush

Chardonnay (Signature) NV

Chardonnay

Napa Valley, USA

Prunotto

Vigna Colonnello Barolo Riserva Bussia NV

Nebbiolo

Barolo, Italy