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?

When talking about sparkling wine, most tend to think about Champagne. Champagne is a wine region in northern France, exclusively making sparkling wine. The method used here is even called the champagne method, meaning the wines ferment a second time in the bottle with added yeast and sugar, creating bubbles captured in the bottle. When the fermentation is done, the bottle will be opened to remove the yeast sediment, creating a beautiful and clear wine. At the same time, dosage will be added. Dosage is a mix of the same wine as well as sugar. The more sugar used in the mix, the sweeter the final wine will be. This method evolved due to the cool climate in this region, creating wines with a very sharp acidity. By adding a bit of sugar, the acidity will be perceived as softer, making the final wine more balanced.

The most common labelling term for dosage is Brut. This is a dry Champagne that is allowed a few grams of sugar to achieve this balance. Dry wines could also be labelled as Brut Nature or Zero Dosage, indicating that no sugar at all has been added providing an even crisper style of bubbly. Extra Brut is the term in between, with just a tad of added sugar, even lower than Brut. This scale is used for most sparkling wines around the world when made with the same method as Champagne, for instance in wine regions for Cava in Spain and Franciacorta in Italy.&nbsp;

However, other scales of measuring the sugar level and the sweetness in the wine can be used. For the sparkling wine Prosecco, made in northeast Italy, the labelling terms are a bit more confusing. Brut is still used for a dry wine, but the term Extra Dry means the wine will have a bit of added sweetness and Dry tells you that the wine is actually semi dry, containing up to 32 grams of sugar per liter. That is four times more than a common Brut usually have today. Misunderstandings can therefore be quite common!

A wine with more sweetness will appear more flavorful and with riper fruit aromas, while a dry wine will be crispier with citrus aromas. Which style is the best is up to personal taste, so get to tasting!

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

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

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

Magnolias at the Mill

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Magnolias at the Mill in Virginia where new American dining meets old America complete with barnlike wood decor, quilts, and rustic charm. 

Wine List Review of Magnolias at the Mill in Virginia

Michaela Quinlan

Magnolias:

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 intimating, 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 Magnolia&rsquo;s at the Mill. Located in Purceville, VA, in the heart of Loudoun County Wine Country, Magnolia&rsquo;s offers American fare for lunch, dinner, brunch, and special events.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list.

MQ: Magnolia&rsquo;s features and extensive wine list, along with regularly scheduled wine-paired dinners. Enjoy today&rsquo;s Old World, New World selections, and local favorites.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: The first wine to catch my eye was a classic grape from a standout producer. Consider the 2021 Zuccardi, Serie A Torrontes from Argentina. Torrontes is a medium-bodied white grape that produces a fresh and aromatic white wine which would pair beautifully with the number of rich seafood and shellfish selections on Magnolia&rsquo;s menu. Notes of lemon and lime zest, white flowers, with pineapple, ripe pear, and mango make this white wine a winner.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: A rich, full bodied Italian wine to consider is the 2018 Zenato Veronese Alanera Rosso from the Veneto of Italy. This red wine consists of 100% Corvina. Corvina is a grape often found in Amarone blends, making this red exude ripe black cherries, fig, and black pepper, with smoke and cocoa on the soft, lingering finish. Pair this with all richly sauced proteins such as steak and pork.

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 local, must try to pair with tuna or salmon would be the 2017 Linden Vineyards Hardscrabble Chardonnay from Linden, VA. This chardonnay is well balanced with fresh acidity, ripe green apple, and ripe pear, along with notes of honey, brioche, and vanilla on the lingering finish, as this Chardonnay spends some time in French oak. Certainly, a local must try!

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: A crowd-pleasing red wine to consider for the table would be the 2018 Archery Summit Pinot Noir from the Dundee Hills of Oregon. Another standout, aromatic wine, this Pinot Noir features ripe cranberries, ripe red cherries, along with black pepper, herbs, and dried lavender. This Pinot Noir will certainly stand up to sauced 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;

MQ: If you are looking for a light, crisp white wine as an aperitif or to pair with shellfish, salads and lighter fare, consider the 2020 Loimer Lois Gruner Veltliner from Austria. This quality/value white wine combines lime zest, grapefruit, tangerine, and ripe peach with white pepper and an herbal finish. Another dry, crowd-pleasing white wine, all for an excellent price. &nbsp;

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: Another value wine of exceptional quality is the 2018 Barboursville Vineyards Nebbiolo. Located outside of Charlottesville, VA, Barboursville Vineyards has been producing Nebbiolo, along with other award-winning varietals, since the 1990s. This Nebbiolo is rich and full-bodied with firm, round tannins, ripe blackberries, cassis, herbs, mushroom, earth, and smoke. Pair this exceptional local wine with herbed proteins and roasted root vegetables.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: Of the many options to take our dining experience to the next level, a wine to consider would be the 97-point rated Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, the 2016 Hess &lsquo;The Lion&rsquo;. The Lion is featured on the label of this sophisticated red wine consisting of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. He is everything you look for in a rich, Napa red. With ripe blackberries, fig, prune, and cassis, along with smoke, vanilla, and silky tannins make this a winner for any special event.

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Magnolia at the Mill&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 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.&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

Thank you.

&nbsp;

End

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Trapiche is one of Argentina's oldest and most respected wine producers, with a history dating back to the late 1800s. Today, they are known for producing a wide range of high-quality wines that showcase the unique terroir of Mendoza.

Rustic-chic outdoor beer & wine garden with twinkling lights overhead also offers select pub bites.

Viva Garcia

Brera Osteria

Buddy V's

Yardbird

CHICA Las Vegas

Chica

Bar Zazu

Hell's Kitchen, Las Vegas

Brera

Jasmine

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

Communal Food and Drink

J. Mourat

Collection Rose 2020

Pinot Gris

Loire Valley, France

Chevalier de Montlort

Rouge NV

France

Chteau Coutinel Fronton, France, Southwest 2018

Negrette

Southwest France, France

Domaine Brazilier

Methode Trad NV

Blend

France

Ramble Wine Co Carignan Buddha's Dharma Vineyard, USA, California 2019

Carignan

North Coast, California, USA

Gaintza

Altxor Txakolina 2019

Blend

Pais Vasco, Spain

Jean-Marc Burgaud

Regnie Vallieres 2019

Gamay

Beaujolais, France

Vina Herminia

Rioja Reserva NV

Tempranillo

Rioja, Spain

Jean-Marc Burgaud

Les Charmes Morgon 2019

Gamay

Beaujolais, France

La Rioja Alta

Vina Ardanza Reserva Seleccion Especial 2015

Blend

Rioja, Spain

Dragonette

Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Sauvignon Blanc

Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, USA

J. Bouchon

Pais Salvaje Blanco 2019

Pais

Maule Valley, Chile

Barone di Villagrande

Etna Rosso NV

Nerello Mascalese

Etna, Italy

de la Chapelle

Maison, Irancy 2018

Irancy, Burgundy, France

Kinero

Cellars Talley Vineyard Chardonnay, Arroyo Grande Valley 2019

Arroyo Grande Valley, USA