&nbsp;

Calling all curious wine drinkers! Let&#39;s raise a glass to Furmint, a captivating white grape from Hungary with a fascinating history and an impressive range of styles. Buckle up, as we delve into the world of this intriguing grape variety.

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&#39;s most famous wine: Tokaji. These sweet, honeyed treasures were once enjoyed by royalty and popes!

Furmint&#39;s Versatility: But Furmint is no one-trick pony. Besides the world-renowned dessert wines, it can also be vinified in a variety of dry styles, ranging from light and refreshing to full-bodied and complex. Think of it as a chameleon, adapting to different winemaking techniques to offer a spectrum of flavors &ndash; from citrusy and mineral to floral and even slightly smoky.

Comparing Furmint: If you&#39;re familiar with Sauvignon Blanc, you might find some similarities in Furmint&#39;s crisp acidity and zesty citrus notes. However, Furmint often boasts a richer texture and can develop intriguing honeyed or almond-like aromas with age. Compared to Chardonnay, Furmint tends to be lighter-bodied and less oaky, making it a great choice for those who prefer a more refreshing white wine.

Food Pairings: Furmint&#39;s versatility extends to food pairings. Lighter styles go beautifully with seafood dishes, while richer Furmints complement creamy pastas or grilled chicken. For the adventurous foodie, try pairing a dry Furmint with spicy Thai cuisine or Hungarian goulash &ndash; the acidity cuts through the richness, creating a harmonious symphony of flavors.

Ready to Explore? Now that you&#39;ve peeked into the world of Furmint, here are 4 renowned producers to get you started:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://bevmo.com/products/34547">Royal Tokaji:&nbsp;</a>Experience the legacy of Tokaji with their classic dessert wines.</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.winemadeeasy.com/wine/white-wine/disznoko-tokaji-dry-furmint-2021-750-ml-60182.html">Diszn&oacute;kő Tokaj:</a>&nbsp;Discover their range of dry Furmints, showcasing the grape&#39;s versatility.</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.plummarket.com/store/2019-vega-sicilia-oremus-tokaji-furmint-dry-mandolas.html">Oremus:&nbsp;</a>Explore their award-winning dry and sweet Furmints, produced with meticulous care.</li>
	<li><a href="https://con-nois-seur.ca/products/furmint-2021">Patricius Winery:</a>&nbsp;Delve into their single-vineyard Furmints, each reflecting the unique terroir.</li>
</ul>

So, the next time you&#39;re at the wine shop or restaurant, don&#39;t be shy &ndash; ask for Furmint! This Hungarian gem is waiting to introduce you to its captivating world of flavors and history, one sip at a time.

&nbsp;

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

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

Porto

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit the modern Mediterranean restaurant Porto in Boston. 

Wine List Review of Porto, Boston

Michaela Quinlan

Porto

Music Intro:

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 Porto. Head to Boston&rsquo;s Back Bay for a trip to the Mediterranean. Come enjoy coastal Italian fare prepared by a James Beard Award winning chef. &nbsp;

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: Porto&rsquo;s wine list consists of unique and classic varietals that make perfect companions to their incredible dining menu. We hope you enjoy today&rsquo;s selections.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: A favorite varietal that caught my eye was the 2020 Santo Winery, Assyrtiko from Santorini, Greece. The light to medium body of this white wine, along with the bright acidity, white floral nose, notes of tangerine, ripe pear, and lime zest with a mineral finish make this wine a wonderful aperitif, or to pair with shellfish and light fish.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: I have been noticing a number of wine lists that feature a special section for Super Tuscan wines. Super Tuscan is often a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese from Tuscany. One to consider is the 2019 Castellare, Poggio alla Guardia from Tuscany. This highly rated red wine also has a bit of Merlot in the blend which only adds to the rich, ripe plumb, ripe blackberries, cassis, smoke, and leather with notes of cocoa on the mineral finish. Consider this red when pairing with charcuterie or herbed 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 is the 2020 Pacher Hoff, Muller Thurgau, from Varna, Italy. Northern Italy does an excellent job producing this more notably German or Austrian grape variety. The Muller Thurgau features aromas and flavors of citrus, white flowers, elderberry, green apple, and tangerine. This bottle is dry, however, Mueller Thurgau can also be produced with medium sweetness. Pair with lighter fare and spicy dishes.

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?

&nbsp;MQ: A wine to consider to pair with richly sauced and savory dishes would be the always highly rated Michele Chiarlo Reyna Barbaresco from the Piedmont in Italy. This dry, full bodied red wine made from the Nebbiolo grape features aromas and flavors of ripe, red cherries, rose petals, ripe raspberries, with notes of tobacco and violets on the smooth finish.

&nbsp;

&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: A wonderful sparkler that I was happy to see on the list is the 2016 Argyle Brut from the Willamette Valley of Oregon. This blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and splash of Pinot Meunier, results in a fresh, dry sparkler featuring ripe green apple, lemon zest, and brioche. A perfect way to begin your dining experience, or to pair with cheese, shellfish, or any fried dishes, all for an excellent price.

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: As a fan of Rhone blends, I am always excited when I spot that stand-out quality/value wine. Consider the 2019 Chateau Saint Cosme, Cotes du Rhone from the Rhone Valley of France. This organic blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre makes a perfect companion to the Mediterranean spices on the menu. Notes of black pepper, thyme, sage, ripe blackberries, with soft tannins and a mineral finish make this wine a can&rsquo;t miss.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

&nbsp;MQ: If you are looking for a bold, complex, stand-out vintage, consider the 2012 Chateau La Garde, from Pessac-Leognan in Bordeaux, France. This exceptional blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot will certainly add to the pleasure of your dining experience. The classic aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, cassis, earth, leather, graphite, and rich, round tannins truly make this wine a perfect companion to richly herbed and sauced proteins, and special occasions.

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Porto&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.

&nbsp;

End

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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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