In the vineyards where the sun does dance,

Beneath the sky&#39;s eternal expanse,

A nectar flows, both bold and refined,

The essence of wine, a gift to find.

&nbsp;

Within its depths, a symphony unfurls,

Notes of passion, as life gently swirls,

From grape to glass, a transformation true,

An alchemy of nature, ancient and new.

&nbsp;

In the vineyards, time becomes a dream,

As golden memories glisten and gleam,

Each sip a portal, a journey to explore,

A taste of life&#39;s essence, forevermore.

&nbsp;

Like the wine that ages with loving care,

Life too evolves, beyond compare,

From youthful vigor to wisdom&#39;s embrace,

Each chapter written with its own grace.

&nbsp;

The wine&#39;s aroma, a fragrant tale,

Whispers of stories that will never fail,

To stir the senses, ignite the soul,

As life&#39;s rich tapestry begins to unfold.

&nbsp;

In every glass, a vibrant reflection,

Of joy and sorrow, of love&#39;s affection,

For wine, like life, is a fleeting art,

A celebration of moments, held close to the heart.

&nbsp;

So raise your glass, let laughter flow,

In wine, in life, let your spirit grow,

Savor each sip, let passion entwine,

For in wine and life, the essence divine.

&nbsp;

The Promise of Wine

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

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas cross the border into Canada where they review the wine list at Stratus in Toronto.

Wine List Review of Stratus, Toronto

Michaela Quinlan

Stratus

Stratus:

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where,&nbsp;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.

&nbsp;

MQ: Hi Robert!

&nbsp;

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.

&nbsp;

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. So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

&nbsp;

RT: Today we are talking about Stratus. Located in Toronto on the 36th floor of the TD South Tower, Stratus defines Canadian cuisine as a mix of new world flavors and old-world classics.

&nbsp;

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: The incredible view and all-day dining options are just as impressive as their wine list. Arranged by grape varietal, Stratus maintains old world meets new world from their menu to their wine list.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: Let&rsquo;s begin with the 2019 Vasse Felix Chardonnay form the Margaret River in Western Australia. This highly rated, organic chardonnay is the best of all worlds with bright acidity, melon, and peach, with a hint of salinity, as these grapes absorb the ocean breeze. The creamy, nuttiness on the finish comes from the brief time spent in oak. Truly the best of everything when you are looking to pair with seafood and rich fish.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: Another favorite New World stop would be the 2018 Misty Cove Estate Pinot Noir from Marlborough, New Zealand. This medium bodied Pinot Noir features ripe red fruit, such as cranberries, and ripe raspberries, along with notes of sage, earth, and cola. The bright acidity ads to this wine&rsquo;s incredible ability to pair with lightly sauced proteins and rich, root vegetable dishes.

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: I love when wine lists feature local wine. A standout, must try wine is the 2017 Cave Spring, Indian Summer, Late Harvest Riesling, from Niagara, Canada. We love to mention the versatility of the Riesling grape, often discussing wines that are dry to semi sweet. Now is our chance to feature the truly sweet, dessert style, or Late Harvest, Riesling. Late harvest is just that, where the grapes continue to hang on the vine following standard harvest collection. During this time, the grapes begin to raisin and the natural sugars in the grape increase, resulting in aromas and flavors of rich honey, dried apricot, with notes of lemon rind and beautiful acidity. This is a wine to pair with berries with cream and hard cheese.

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: Returning to the Old World, consider the 2019 Claudia Ferrero &ldquo;Pepita&rdquo; from Tuscany, Italy. This rich, full bodied Super Tuscan consists of Alicante, Montepulciano, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot and showcases ripe, red cherries, blackberries, notes of black pepper, and firm, round tannins. This is your go-to to pair with richly sauced pasta and proteins.

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;&nbsp;

MQ: This is by far my favorite category; finding that exceptional quality and value wine. One to consider would be the 2020 La Guardiense Janare, Falanghina, from Campania, Italy. The Falanghina grape is a crowd pleaser for our fans of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. This medium bodied, white wine features ripe peach, lemon zest, and bright acidity, with notes of green apple on the mineral finish. This is an excellent companion to shellfish, rich fish, and spicy dishes.

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: We know I can&rsquo;t pass by a cabernet franc. So, while you are glancing over the wine list at Stratus contemplating the Cave Spring Late Harvest Riesling, don&rsquo;t miss the 2019 Cave Spring &ldquo;Dolomite&rdquo; Cabernet Franc. This medium to full bodied red wine features ripe black berries, black cherries, and white pepper, with notes of mushroom and earth. Pair this cabernet franc with all savory dishes, all for an excellent price.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: With the variety of classic flavors on Stratus&rsquo; menu, a classic bottle to consider would be the 2018 Le Domaine d&rsquo;Henri 1er Cru &ldquo;Troesmes&rdquo; from Chablis. This family run winery produces a stellar Chardonnay showcasing aromas and flavors of ripe peach, cantaloupe, ripe green apple, with bright acidity, minerality, and a soft, toasty finish, due to the minimal oak aging. Top Chablis is always a winner, especially when pairing with rich fish, light proteins, and any special occasion.

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Stratus&rsquo; 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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Coquerel is a family-owned boutique winery located in the heart of the Napa Valley. Founded in 2005 by Gary and Christine Coquerel, the winery produces small batches of handcrafted wines using traditional winemaking techniques. The winery is known for its focus on the varietals of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc.

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Alexis Percival is a New York City based CMS certified sommelier, consultant and event planner who puts the art in party.

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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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