In the vineyards where the sun does dance,

Beneath the sky&#39;s eternal expanse,

A nectar flows, both bold and refined,

The essence of wine, a gift to find.

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Within its depths, a symphony unfurls,

Notes of passion, as life gently swirls,

From grape to glass, a transformation true,

An alchemy of nature, ancient and new.

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In the vineyards, time becomes a dream,

As golden memories glisten and gleam,

Each sip a portal, a journey to explore,

A taste of life&#39;s essence, forevermore.

&nbsp;

Like the wine that ages with loving care,

Life too evolves, beyond compare,

From youthful vigor to wisdom&#39;s embrace,

Each chapter written with its own grace.

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The wine&#39;s aroma, a fragrant tale,

Whispers of stories that will never fail,

To stir the senses, ignite the soul,

As life&#39;s rich tapestry begins to unfold.

&nbsp;

In every glass, a vibrant reflection,

Of joy and sorrow, of love&#39;s affection,

For wine, like life, is a fleeting art,

A celebration of moments, held close to the heart.

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So raise your glass, let laughter flow,

In wine, in life, let your spirit grow,

Savor each sip, let passion entwine,

For in wine and life, the essence divine.

&nbsp;

The Promise of Wine

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

Spoke Wine Bar

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit the Spoke Wine Bar, the perfect place to try new wine tastings and pairings. 

Wine Review of Spoke Wine Bar, Massachusetts

Michaela Quinlan

Spoke Wine Bar

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 Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier.

Hello Michaela,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to be back together for another episode.

MQ: Hi Robert!

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.

RT: Today we are talking about Spoke Wine Bar. Located in Davis Square in Somerville, MA, Spoke Wine Bar works closely with farmers, brewers, and winemakers to create a stellar, seasonally-focused menu.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: This is my kind of place! Locally sourced, small producers, and sharable plates. We have selected some stand-out wines to pair with all of the amazing selections on Spoke&rsquo;s menu.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: Being the Old-World fan that I am, I had to note the 2019 Bertrand et Axelle Machard de Gramont, Aligote from Burgundy. The Aligote grape is a crowd-pleasing white grape that showcases peach, lime zest, with bright acidity and minerality. A wonderful consideration to pair with herbed sauces, fish, and cheeses.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: Here we have an Old-World Grenache grown in the New World. Another wine to consider if you are thinking of sharing a cheese plate with some charcuterie, then you must try the 2019 Ochota Barrels, &ldquo;Fugazi&rdquo; Grenache from McLaren Vale, Australia. This Grenache features aromas and flavors of raspberries, cherries, and cranberries, along with herbs, white pepper, and oak.

RT: So Michaela, their list seems to have lots of range but was there anything that you would say is a &ldquo;must-try&rdquo;?

MQ: Another consideration would be the 2019 I Cacciagalli &ldquo;Pelerosa&rdquo; Aglianico Rose from Campania. I enjoy the body and more pronounced flavors of Italian Roses. This Rose is made from limited skin contact with the juice of the dense, red, Aglianico grape and features all things cherry from aromas to flavors, while still showcasing bright acidity. This is a Rose that can stand up to dense fish and hard cheeses.

&nbsp;

RT: These are some great calls.

So, you know I&rsquo;m getting thirsty and will need to order a bottle with my dinner, where would you guide us?

MQ: If you are looking for a unique red wine to share with the table, then one to consider would be the 2019 Meinklang &ldquo;Abend&rdquo; St Laurent/Blaufrankisch from Burgenland, Australia. This is considered a natural wine, meaning the winemaker does not use any pesticides in the vineyard and may add a minimal amount to zero additives. This red wine is similar to Pinot Noir with cranberries, ripe cherries, black pepper, and herbs. This wine is aged in concrete, so it does not have any oak influences. This medium to full bodied red would pair well with any herbed or tomato sauces.

RT: Ooh, Terrific.

Michaela, speaking of price, sometimes people have a budget in mind, any other great value wines you&rsquo;d point us to?&nbsp;

MQ: 2018 Vina Herzanovi &ldquo;Black Label&rdquo; Gruner Veltliner from Moravia in the Czech Republic. This Gruner Veltliner is medium-bodied with aromas of ripe pear, citrus, and white flowers, with a mineral and white pepper finish&hellip;making this wine quite versatile when pairing with a variety of dishes such as salads and proteins. A well-priced, beautifully unique wine.

RT: Did any value red catch your eye?

MQ: Of course! Get ready for a bold, red wine. The 2020 Monte Rio Cellar, Primitivo, from Lodi will win you over with an abundance of black pepper, ripe blackberries, blueberries, oak, and spice. Primitivo is the Italian grape for Zinfandel. This is the wine for CA Zinfandel fans and a wonderful pairing for rich sauces and all proteins.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: The 2013 Alessandro et Gian Natale Fantino Barolo from the Piedmont is truly a beautiful wine to share during any special event. This bold Nebbiolo is truly stunning and showcases aromas of rose, ripe cherries, strawberries, and lavender, with flavors of earth, smoke, and notes of vanilla on the finish. A standout vintage to pair with pasta, proteins, and any special event.

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Spoke Wine Bar&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.

Thank you.

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End

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Coquerel is a family-owned boutique winery located in the heart of the Napa Valley. Founded in 2005 by Gary and Christine Coquerel, the winery produces small batches of handcrafted wines using traditional winemaking techniques. The winery is known for its focus on the varietals of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc.

Elevated takes on traditional Mexican dishes & margaritas in a hip, bustling atmosphere.

Steak Frites

Alexis Percival is a New York City based CMS certified sommelier, consultant and event planner who puts the art in party.

Certified sommelier Alexis Percival

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

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