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

Robert Tas and Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier, review the wine list at BRAT, a one Michelin-star restaurant in the gastronomic quarters of Shoreditch in London. 

Wine List Review of BRAT, London

Tina Johansson

BRAT

CorkRules Script

BRAT

&nbsp;

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!

I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier.

Hi Tina, thanks for being back with us on another episode of CorkRules, - a podcast where we help simplify and demystify the wine lists at some of your favorite restaurants. We talk with certified sommeliers and wine professionals who point out interesting bottles, classic food and wine pairings, hidden gems, value wines, or splurge wines that will take your dining experience over the top.

&nbsp;

TJ: Thank you Robert, great go be here.

&nbsp;

RT: Today we&rsquo;re talking about BRAT, a one Michelin star restaurant in the gastronomic quarters of Shoreditch in London. Within just a few hundred meters from this address you&rsquo;ll find plenty of other Michelin restaurants and other fantastic places to dine in. Quite the area! But even though they hold a star, the vibe here is very low key and warm. The wooden tables are tightly spaced together and most food is made to share.

&nbsp;

TJ: Yes, BRAT is definitely one of the most talked about restaurant in London the last couple of years. I&rsquo;ve had the opportunity to dine here twice myself and it&rsquo;s a very unique restaurant.

The food is traditional British, but all cooked with open fire. Most of the techniques comes from the Basque country of Spain where open fire cooking is very common.

RT: Wow, I&rsquo;m very excited to go. Do you have any highlights from your visits here?

TJ: Yes, I once had a pickled mackerel that was something I&rsquo;ve never tried before. It was great. But the best thing was the wine list! It&rsquo;s not that long, but filled with small and artisan producers, even some more natural. Most wines are from France and Spain, but also other European countries like Italy, Greece and Portugal. The wine list is sorted into segments to help the guest choose it&rsquo;s wine easier; there&rsquo;s the easy drinkers, the classics and off the beaten path. I really like that idea!

RT: So do I! And I&rsquo;ve taken a look at the menu for food as well and it&rsquo;s all fantastic. Spider crab with tomato, partridge with blood pudding and of course their signature dish: whole turbot to share.

&nbsp;

TJ: Yes, the question is just what to drink&hellip; Why don&rsquo;t we start with something from the easy drinkers category? I have my eyes on the 2021 Guimaro Cepas Viejas from Ribeira Sacra&nbsp; in northern Spain. It&rsquo;s a Godello-dominated blend. Fruit driven, fresh but with a slightly oily texture. Sounds like the perfect first bottle to me.

RT: Fabulous start. Always good to start with something fun but easy drinking. So next up we might continue with something from the classic part of the list? What would be your top choice for their signature turbot serving?

TJ: Well nothing is better with white fish than a classic Meursault, so a Burgundy white, for me. A fullbodied Chardonnay is always a safe choice. So I say we opt for the 2020 Domaine Roulot Meursault Premier Cru Clos des Boucheres. Fantastic producer making clean and modern Meursault that usually sell out quite fast these days.

RT: I couldn&rsquo;t agree more. A classic Burgundy is always amazing with food. I can&rsquo;t wait to try this pairing! As a last bottle for the evening I suppose we must try a bottle from the part of the wine list called off the beaten path. Always exciting to try something you don&rsquo;t drink that often. What do you have in mind for us?

TJ: We&rsquo;ll go back to Spain for the last bottle. A light and refreshing red with lots of fruit flavor but still great structure. The 2020 Comando G La Bre&ntilde;a Premier is on the list, and I love this wine. The producer Comando G focuse on the Garnacha grape and is based outside Madrid. They source their grapes from old vineyards, and they are all very well made, and a very different expression of the grape. A must try!

RT: Sounds like a great wine to end an evening with here in BRAT. Thank you for being back with us Tina.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:Info@corkrules.Com 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 wherever you get your podcasts.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

&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

Sistina

Domaine des Caves du Prieuré

Sancerre 2020

Sauvignon Blanc

Sancerre, France

Chateau de Malengin

Montagne-Saint-Emilion 2015

Merlot

France

La Fiera

Pinot Grigio 2020

Pinot Grigio

Veneto, Italy

Alain Geoffroy

Beauroy Chablis Premier Cru 2017

Chardonnay

Chablis, Burgundy, France

Beringer

White Zinfandel NV

Zinfandel

California, USA

Couillard et Fils

La Butte Sauvignon 2021

Sauvignon Blanc

Touraine, France

Cellars

Cardiff, Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2020

California, USA

Domaine la Guintrandy

Vieilles Vignes Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2019

Blend

France

Georges Vigouroux

Gouleyant Malbec 2019

Malbec

Cahors, France

Louis Sipp, Riesling Grand Cru, Kirchberg de Ribeauville 2018

Alsace, France

Domaine Cauhapé

Chant des Vignes Jurancon Sec 2019

Blend

Sud Ouest, France

Beringer

White Zinfandel 2021

Zinfandel

California, USA

Chateau Barbanau Cotes de Provence 'La Girafe Verte' Rose 2021

France

Château des Tours

Brouilly 2020

Gamay

Beaujolais, France

Morgan Bay Cellars

Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Cabernet Sauvignon

California, USA