Unless you are born into a vineyard, grow up in wine country,&nbsp;a career in wine is not&nbsp;a go-to profession for most graduates. But for some people, their love of wine and career path are intertwined. This is how it was for <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-lopes-b67743a8/">Jane Lopes</a>, sommelier, co-founder of Legend Imports, and author of&nbsp; <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Vignette-Stories-Life-Wine-Bottles/dp/1743795327">Vignette: Stories of Life and Wine in 100 Bottles. </a>

Jane graduated from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in English Language and Literature/Letters. Post-graduation, she worked in the hospitality industry, as so many students do before they find their path in life. It was as a server/bartender that Jane&rsquo;s formal education in the wine industry began. &nbsp;She worked at renowned restaurants including Eleven Madison Park in New York, The Violet Hour in Chicago, and The Catbird Seat in Nashville; her education at these establishments was intensive and hands-on, and by immersing herself in the world of wine, she fast-tracked her way towards accreditation as one of the world&rsquo;s few Master Sommeliers.

&nbsp;

In 2018, Jane was a candidate for the Master Sommelier, the most prestigious of accreditations in wine. To give you an idea of how difficult it is to achieve this standard, there are only 262 Master Sommeliers in the world, and candidates must pass four exams offered through the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMSA).

&nbsp;

Although Jane passed the exam, one of only 34 women to pass it; unfortunately, for all candidates sitting the 2018 exam, their results were nullified due to a previous candidate sharing information about the wines selected for the tasting exam. It seems rather unfair; however, it didn&rsquo;t stop Jane from pursuing her career in wine and proving her vast knowledge on the subject by publishing her book.

Vignette is a book for people who love wine without the pretension that often surrounds the wine industry. It is thoughtfully arranged and offers clarity on varietals, tasting notes, and a list of 100 bottles that represent wine regions from around the globe, and most importantly for the majority of wine lovers, Jane has added an appendix of affordable wines for the wine lover who wants a delicious bottle that meets the budget.

Jane&rsquo;s book is both informative and highly entertaining read as it documents her life&rsquo;s journey in wine, beginning with the earliest introduction to wine: a cheap, Californian chardonnay her parent&rsquo;s drank.

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Jane has recently completed a second book, How to Drink Australian, which will be published in September 2023. This book is inspired by the company she runs with her husband, <a href="https://legendaustralia.com/jane-jon/">Legend Australian Wine Imports</a>, a socially-focused wine importer. Jane and her husband founded this company with the goal of bringing the best of Australian wines to the U.S.

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Listen to Jane&rsquo;s story on <a href="https://corkrules.com/vignette:-stories-of-life-and-wine-in-100-bottles/episodes/384">Episode 268 of CorkRules</a> where she offers suggestions on wine and shares a little of her life&rsquo;s journey in the industry.

Unless you are born into a vineyard, grow up in wine country, a career in wine is not a go-to profession for most graduates. But for some people, their love of wine and career path are intertwined. This is how it was for Jane Lopes, sommelier, co-founder of Legend Imports, and author of Vignette: Stories of Life and Wine in 100 Bottles.

Stories of Wine & Life with Jane Lopes, Sommelier, Author and Co-Founder of Legend Imports

Certified sommelier and CorkRules’ resident Somm, Michaela Quinlan shares her expertise on the wine list of il Buco. il Buco’s wine cellar holds a selection of over 400 wines and includes an exciting range of lesser-known, artisan wines from Europe. This restaurant has been called "one of the best and most exciting in America" by Gourmet magazine and the wine list has won Wine Spectator’s "Award of Excellence" several times.

Artisan Wines at Il Buco

Orange wine is made from white grapes, but the skin stays in contact with the juice longer during the maceration period, which increases the tannins and turns the normally white wine a more golden hue. The longer the contact,  the darker the hue, which increases the tannins and a stronger intensity. Pinot gris and malvasia are two common grape varieties used to make orange wine, but if you dig a little deeper, explore a little further, you can find some delightful orange wines along the border between northeastern Italy and Slovenia where orange wines are madefrom indigenous grapes on the region, including sauvignon vert (friulano), ribolla gialla, and pinot grigio.

Pairing Orange Wines at Pasquale Jones

The Lobster Club in the Seagram Building, New York City is a Japanese Brasserie that is renowned for its unique interpretation of Japanese cooking and Sushi, and what’s even more exciting is that it has an extensive wine list.

Fine Wines at The Lobster Club

CorkRules has been presented with the BMMA ‘Best New Mobile App” Platinum award, the highest award achievement in category.

CorkRules Wins the 2023 BMMA Platinum Award for "Best New Mobile App"

Pairing wine with Asian food is a common dilemma. Just what should you order with the Spicy Yellowtail Yu Sheng or the Mongolian Lamb Chops? How do we make palatable choices that cross cultures and bring out the best in each location’s use of herbs and spices?

Pairing Wine with Asian Food at Buddakan

With the exception of sommeliers and vintners, for most of us who love wine, no matter how many bottles you drink in your lifetime, and no matter how delicious, you rarely think of the terroir, the grape, or the growing process as you drink it.

Chris Phelps on Wine and Life

Felice is an Italian restaurant located on Manhattan’s upper east side. Owner Jacopo Giustiniani opened this establishment in 2007 and it has been a popular spot where diners can experience authentic Tuscan cuisine while sampling Italian wine from the extensive Italian-focused wine list. Italy has 20 wine regions each with unique characteristics in climate and terroir, and this list is inspired by the spirit of the Italian countryside and the wines of Jacopo’s family’s vineyard.

Italian Wine Regions Explored at Felice

The San Francisco Giants have upped their wine game by offering a curated selection of wine for fans at games. In fact, serving wine at Giants’ games is so popular with fans that, in 2022 they hired their own Master Sommelier, Evan Goldstein. The goal is to enhance the gameday experience and we at CorkRules wholly agree.

San Francisco Giants' Master Sommelier, Evan Goldstein is Upping the Wine Game

Camille’s

Sam Hohl, certified sommelier and wine educator, and Robert Tas take a trip to Camille’s in Rhode Island. 

Wine List Review of Camille's, Rhode Island

Sam Hohl

Camille's

Camille&rsquo;s

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode,&nbsp;we will review a Wine List from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Samantha Hohl, certified sommelier and wine educator.

Hello Sam,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to be back together for another episode.

&nbsp;SH: Hi Robert!

&nbsp;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 when we get that list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or 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.

Camilles

&nbsp;

Overview

Camilles is located in Providence, Rhode Island and has been open since 1914! They&rsquo;re known for their classic Italian dishes and elegant atmosphere, and of course their wine selection.

Where to start

This wine list features lots of Italian options to complement the menu along with plenty of California bottles, and includes some New and Old World selections too. There&rsquo;s some wonderful choices in a variety of price ranges so it really is great if you&rsquo;re looking for something tasty and affordable or something to celebrate over and you like a particular style.&nbsp;

Starting off with a white I&rsquo;d go for the 2018 Jermann &ldquo;Dreams.&rdquo; This is a chardonnay from the Friuli region of Italy, and is food-ready. This bottle has tropical notes and stone fruit, some honey and vanilla tones and is balanced by minerality and zingy acid. Try with the clams casino or the Gulf Shrimp wrapped with Prosciutto di Parma since this bottle will pair well with shellfish but it can also stand dishes with a little meatiness.

For the red lovers out there the 2015 Col D&rsquo;Orcia Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Nastagio will be a great choice. This bottle comes from the largest organic estate in Tuscany and has farmed their vineyards, their olive groves and even their gardens organically since 2010. It&rsquo;s got a really beautiful balance of tannins and acid along with notes of dark cherries, vanilla, dried herbs and leather. It&rsquo;s going to pair well with flavorful and savory dishes like the arancini with mushrooms or the bolognese made with simmered beef.

Value

This list has lots of value options to satisfy whatever your preference is, but one that I would go for is the 2018 Zenato Lugana San Benedetto from the Veneto region of Italy. It&rsquo;s made from the Trebbiano di Lugana grape from vineyards surrounding Lake Garda. This white wine is zippy and bright with notes of tangerine and peaches and hints of banana. It&rsquo;s got a beautiful herbaceousness to it and some mineral qualities too. It will be complemented by some fresh and tropical flavors, so it would be fun to try with the sesame crusted Ahi with coconut lime risotto.

Celebratory 

There&rsquo;s plenty of celebratory bottles on here no matter what your go-to type of wine is. For me, I&rsquo;m thinking it&rsquo;s a big delicious Italian dinner- I&#39;m going to go with the 2013 Gaja Barbaresco. Gaja is a very well-known Italian producer and has been making wines for 5 generations in Piedmont. This particular vintage is highly praised, so getting the opportunity to experience this bottle is really special. It&rsquo;s got wonderful structure and complexity and lovely round tannins. All of the red cherry and strawberry notes are complemented by spice and leather. There&rsquo;s subtle dark fruit and floral tones as well. It&rsquo;s going to shine alongside one of their steaks, or the pistachio crusted lamb would also make this bottle sing!

RT: Sam Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Camille&rsquo;s wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try them myself. &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.

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Thank you.

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End

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Hy's Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar

Hy's Steakhouse

Frasca Food and Wine

Blu Ristorante

Alcove

Tatiana's

Urban Farmer Portland

Urban Farmer

Mariel

Chiado

Jory at the Allison

Hibachi chain serving Japanese dishes grilled tableside by theatrical chefs.

The American Express Centurion Global Lounge Network

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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.

Benihana

Saved

California NV

California, USA

Cormòns

Pignolo Trevenezie NV

Venezia Giulia, Italy

Seven Daughters

Moscato NV

Veneto, Italy

Rodney Strong

Merlot NV

Sonoma County, USA

Bootleg

Red Blend NV

Napa Valley, USA

Belle Glos

Dairyman Vineyard Pinot Noir NV

California, USA

La Crema

Monterey Chardonnay NV

California, USA

Louis M. Martini

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon NV

California, USA

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars

ARTEMIS Cabernet Sauvignon NV

California, USA

Caymus

Special Selection Pinot Noir NV

California, USA

Ash Ridge

Alti Riesling NV

Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Beringer

Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Knights Valley, USA

Catena

Malbec NV

Mendoza, Argentina

Santa Margherita

Brut Rose NV

Vino d'Italia, Italy

Ca' del Solo

Bonny Doon, Nebbiolo, Monterey County NV

California, USA