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

Andrew Edmunds

WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier Tina Johansson and Robert Tas take a trip across the pond to London where they review the wine list at Andrew Edmunds in London

Wine List Review of Andrew Edmunds, London

Tina Johansson

Cork Rules Script

Andrew Edmunds

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!

I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier.

&nbsp;

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.

TJ: Thank you, Robert. Happy to be here for another episode.

RT: Today we are in London, England, at the Andrew Edmunds restaurant. It&rsquo;s been around since 1985 and is as loved as it has been since opening. They are open for lunch and dinner every day and focus on their seasonal dishes and reasonably priced wine list.

TJ: Yes, and speaking of the list the focus is on more classic wines. There&rsquo;s a lot of bottles from France and Italy, but a few gems from the New World (mainly the States) as well. It is indeed very fairly priced and I see a number of bottles I wouldn&rsquo;t sleep on! However, you may need to spend an extra moment with the list since in some cases wines are written producer first and some last. Most wines are sorted and listed region first, but not all, making it a bit harder to scan the list.

RT: I understand, but at least the bottles are all very nice! Can&rsquo;t wait to see which of them you&rsquo;ve picked for us today. Should be quite easy to pair with the food here since dishes are traditional and rich. The food menu might also be a bit hard to read as it&rsquo;s written by hand with what&rsquo;s best for the day. Very unique and genuine.

TJ: Definitely! It all sounds delicious. How about dressed crab with fennel salad, smoked ox tongue or roast partridge with baby carrots. Very British and my type of comfort food for sure.

RT: Just perfect. So, let&rsquo;s dig into the wine list. I&rsquo;m getting thirsty! How about we start with something fresh to pair with that crab serving you were talking about?

TJ: Yes for sure, how would you like a Chablis? Because they have Pattes Loup on the list and I love those wines. Chablis with a bit more texture and body to them. It&rsquo;s their Chablis Vent d&rsquo;Ange 2017 so a bit older and more developed fruit flavor to go with the tender crab.

RT: Yes, amazing start. Hard to say no to a good Chablis. So what else is good on the list? Do you see something special we must try when here?

TJ: Yes, very intrigued by a white from Greece! It&rsquo;s from Santorini, an island maybe best known for its beautiful houses and views, but they make great wine as well. The most popular local grape is the white Assyrtiko that can show ripe fruit aromas but fresh acidity and almost a salinity from being so close to the ocean. So let&rsquo;s drink the 2022 Vassaltis Santorini Assyrtiko. Great bottle.

RT: Fun choice, not a style of wine you drink too often! Also, I heard that grape vines on Santorini are trained in small baskets in the vineyard to protect the grapes inside from the winds.

TJ:&nbsp; Yes, that&rsquo;s quite traditional here! Not everyone does is but it&rsquo;s a local trick and has been for long. Too much wind can hurt the grapes when maturing.

RT: Ok so let&rsquo;s go for one last bottle then. Something extraordinary to end the night on a high note. What special bottle will make a visit to Andrew Edmunds extra celebratory?

TJ: I have to choose a wine from Sine Qua Non in that case. A very special winery making wines from different plots and varieties with different names every vintage as well. They have their 2014 Testa dei Cherubini, a Grenache from California. Amazing wine to end an evening with, and very hard to come by.

RT: Yeah, that&rsquo;s a unique bottle, something most somms want to try! 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 cue as quick 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

BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Tortoise Creek is a boutique winery located in Lodi, California, that specializes in producing high-quality wines from the best vineyards in California. They are known for their commitment to sustainable farming practices and their dedication to creating wines that are true to their varietal and regional characteristics.

Eddy V's Prime Seafood Restaurant

The View

Il Capriccio

Clarity

Bellissimo Restaurant

Bellissimo

Sandbar

Mirabelle Restaurant & Tavern

Mirabelle at Three Village Inn

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

Carne Mare Nashville

Available Wines
Total Wines - 8

Flowers

Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2021

Chardonnay

California, USA

Flowers

Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2021

Chardonnay

Sonoma Coast, USA

Vietti

Perbacco Nebbiolo 2020

Nebbiolo

Langhe, Piedmont, Italy

Jean-Philippe Fichet

Bourgogne Blanc 2020

Chardonnay

Bourgogne, Burgundy, France

R.H. Coutier

Cuvee Henri III Blanc de Noirs Brut Millesime Champagne Grand Cru NV

Pinot Noir

Champagne, France

Robert Sinskey Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California 2016

Cabernet Sauvignon

California, USA

Sinegal Estate

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Cabernet Sauvignon

California, USA

Robert Sinskey

Vandal Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Cabernet Sauvignon

Los Carneros, USA