With the exception of sommeliers and vintners, for most of us who love wine, no matter how many bottles you drink in your lifetime, and no matter how delicious, you rarely think of the terroir, the grape, or the growing process as you drink it.

That&rsquo;s all about to change. Listening to Chris Phelps talk about his first foray into making wine makes you appreciate his deep knowledge and consideration for the grape and the land.

In Episode 283 of CorkRules, Robert Tas talks to Chris about his background in wine, how his son encouraged him to start making wine, and origin story of&nbsp; <a href="https://www.advivumcellars.com/">Ad Vivum,</a> but throughout this interesting conversation, one thing is clear: Chris has an immense passion for the land, the grape, and, of course, the alchemy that happens when you bring the grape through fruition, fermentation, and finally wine.

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Wine for Body, Mind and Soul

Like so many passionate vintner&rsquo;s Chris&rsquo; path into the vineyard was shaped by fate. Originally enrolled in pre-med at Davis University, he spent a summer firefighting where he encouraged a friend, a passionate wine geek, to join him at Davis where they ran a viticulture/enology program. The tables turned when the friend later encouraged Chris to jump from medicine to wine.

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Fast forward a few years of studying and working in France and at various vineyards, including a wine ch&acirc;teau within the village of Puisseguin-Saint-&Eacute;milion in Bordeaux, and Chris is now a consultant for wineries, including Inglenook in Napa Valley, and Grounded Wine Company.

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For Chris, the joy of selecting a varietal that produces exceptional and original fruit is just the beginning. He talks passionately about finding those unique grapes, picking them at the right time, not an hour later or earlier, and how the moment of tasting the raw, as yet unfermented fruit, a few days after cold soaking, reveals the aromatics and top notes.

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Today, Chris produces small productions of select wines, usually just several hundred cases each year. The wines are selectively and directly distributed locally at wine shops and restaurants. He is the winemaker, and his son runs the business side of sales and promotion. The father-son team also run Coil Wines where they produce a Mendocino County Pinot Noir and a rare old-vine Napa Valley Chenin Blanc.

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Chris believes the secret to good wine lies in the love of the land. He spends time in the vines, getting to know them, watching how they grow so he knows when they should be harvested. Timing is key when picking grapes, the sugar content and ripe factor play a major role in the final product. And of course, good vintners know that the vitality of the terroir is, well, vital for the health, growth, and taste of the grape. He pays attention to which grapes do well in which area of the land. He takes note of the sun, water, wind, and minerals in the soil all of which play a role in the magical science that turns vine into wine.

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However, Chris also believes that wine is about more than selective wine tasting and the snobbery that may be encountered within the industry. Wine is about life, and his philosophy rings true with many wine lovers across the globe for whom the love of the juice reaches far beyond tasting notes: it&rsquo;s about sharing and pairing; it&rsquo;s about long conversations and enjoying an evening of&nbsp; convivial company.

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As Chris so eloquently states, &ldquo;Ad Vivum was the first single-vineyard wine to emerge from a unique name: Ad infers movement toward a goal with intention. Vivum is the synthesis of two Latin words &mdash; vivere (to live) and vinum (wine). Ad Vivum, is, therefore, where wine and life meet.&rdquo;

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Cheers to that, Chris, and may your wine glass be always half full.

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With the exception of sommeliers and vintners, for most of us who love wine, no matter how many bottles you drink in your lifetime, and no matter how delicious, you rarely think of the terroir, the grape, or the growing process as you drink it.

Chris Phelps on Wine and Life

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.

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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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End

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Matteo's

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Pacific Northwest brasserie featuring salads, burgers & local brews in a casual atmosphere.

Frenchette

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La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels

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Becco

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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

Cascadia Grill

Available Wines
Total Wines - 7

Ramsay

Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Cabernet Sauvignon

North Coast, USA

Portlandia

Pinot Gris 2020

Pinot Gris

Oregon, USA

Buenos Aires

Red Blend 2018

Mendoza, Argentina

Roger Goulart

Cava Gran Reserva Brut 2015

Blend

Cava, Spain

Ramsay

Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Cabernet Sauvignon

North Coast, USA

Gordon Estate

Syrah NV

Shiraz/Syrah

Columbia Valley, USA

Roger Goulart

Cava Gran Reserva Brut NV

Blend

Cava, Spain