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

Prairie Whale

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit the restaurant, Prairie Whale, Massachusetts

Wine List Review of Prairie Whale, Massachusetts

Michaela Quinlan

Prairie Whale:

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 lists 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 Prairie Whale. Located in Great Barrington, MA, this casual tavern prides itself on sourcing from local farms, their personal farms, and featuring a variety of natural wines.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: Prairie Whale is the definition of farm-to-table! Their wine list showcases an excellent selection of Old World and New World, with several natural wines. I hope you enjoy today&rsquo;s selections.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: The first wine that caught my eye was the 2020 Domaine de Souch, &ldquo;Jurancon Sec&rdquo; from Southwestern France. This fresh, organic white blend of Gros and Petit Manseng features bright acidity with aromas of white flowers, honeysuckle, and citrus. The lime zest and mineral finish of this dry wine make this an excellent pairing for shellfish and rich seafood such as salmon and tuna.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: Another organic wine that caught my eye was the 2021 Marcel LaPierre &ldquo;Morgon&rdquo; from Beaujolais, France. Morgon is the second largest cru, or superior growing site, in Beaujolais, located within Burgundy. The red grape in this standout, organic wine is Gamay, and features aromas and flavors of plumb, cranberries, and raspberries, with floral and herbal notes on the long finish. This wine makes a perfect companion to grilled seafood and light proteins.

&nbsp;

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: A must-try white wine is the 2020 Franck Peillot, &ldquo;Altesse&rdquo; from the Savoie region in Southeastern France. The Altesse grape is grown sustainably and exudes intense aromas of tangerine, citrus, lime zest, and white flowers. The bright acidity and herbal finish make this an excellent pairing with cheese and grilled vegetables.

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: There are so many unique wines on this list, but something fun to try is the 2020 Strekov 1075 &ldquo;Fred #8&rdquo; from Slovakia. This natural wine is crafted from three grape varieties: 50% Alibernet, 30% Blauer Portugieser, and 20% Dunaj. This blend produces aromas and flavors of sour cherries, and raspberries, with notes of violets and spice. Request this bottle slightly chilled and enjoy with charcuterie and grilled or smoked proteins. &nbsp;

RT: Ooh, Terrific.

Michaela, speaking of price, sometimes people have a budget in mind.&nbsp; Any other great value wines you&rsquo;d point us to?&nbsp;

MQ: For those seeking a quality/value Orange wine, consider the 2020 Sikele, &ldquo;Tenuta dei Fossi&rdquo; from Sicily. The grape in this Italian orange wine is Garganega. Many of you may recognize this grape from the stellar wines of Soave. The prolonged skin contact allows this wine to showcase aromas and flavors of Meyer lemon with notes of almonds and walnuts. Pair with bold spices and aged cheese.

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: Another quality/value natural wine to consider is the 2020 Domaine Arletaz &ldquo;Timeo&rdquo; from Roussillon in Southern France. The red grape in this bottle is Grenache and features ripe strawberries, red cherries, raspberries, with notes of clove and cinnamon, making this wine an excellent pairing with herbed proteins and spicy dishes.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: I enjoy something sparkling during any special occasion. If Champagne piques your interest, then consider the Tarlant &ldquo;Zero&rdquo; Brut Champagne. This Champagne consists of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and is deemed &ldquo;Zero&rdquo; due to its lack of dosage, or the addition of sweeteners. A bright, fresh, mineral Champagne featuring notes of brioche and lemon zest truly make this sparkler an excellent addition to any event.

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Prairie Whale&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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Sharecropper's is a family-owned winery based in Columbia Valley, USA. They specialize in producing high-quality, affordable wines that showcase the best of the region's terroir. Founded in 2007, the winery has since grown to become a respected name in the industry, with a reputation for producing exceptional wines that are both approachable and elegant.

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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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