NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CorkRules launched today on iOS as the first digital wine experience aimed at making it easier for consumers to navigate the restaurant wine list. Through the CorkRules app, consumers can easily find the perfect wine for every occasion based on their preferences, connect with friends and wine experts to discover new wines to try, and learn more about the world of wine. Users will get personalized wine recommendations at thousands of restaurants, making what can often be an overwhelming experience an easier one. CorkRules is available now for free on Apple iOS devices in the <a href="https://apps.apple.com/app/id1631528589">App store</a>.

The CorkRules app is designed to help consumers feel more confident and comfortable ordering wine in restaurants. In a recent survey conducted by the company, only 9% of respondents indicated feeling confident when making a wine selection or purchase. And only 23% considered themselves knowledgeable on wine. &ldquo;Ordering wine at restaurants can be intimidating and complex, even for me as a wine enthusiast,&rdquo; says Founder Robert Tas, who has spent his career focused on building consumer experiences through digital platforms. &ldquo;I created CorkRules to make it easier for people to find and drink what they love.&rdquo;

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Key features of the app include: 

Personalized Wine Recommendations from Thousands of Restaurants: The CorkRules database includes wine lists from restaurants across the United States, and the team is actively expanding the database to include more restaurants every day.

Wines Tailored to Each User: Special Occasion? On a budget? Love Bordeaux? CorkRules provides users with expert wine recommendations tailored to their preferences in just a few taps.

Social feed: CorkRules users can keep up with friends and wine experts too, including certified sommeliers through the CorkRules feed, built with social media like features including the ability to post, like, comment and share updates pre, during and post a dining and wine experience. This will allow users to keep up on restaurant trends and discover new wines.

Connect with Friends: CorkRules provides the ability for users to &ldquo;Friendsource&rdquo; trusted wine recommendations by discovering wines friends have rated, reviewed or shared like to expand their wine choices CorkRules is built using proprietary technology leveraging machine learning to surface personalized and tailored recommendations, and leans on a team of wine experts, sommeliers and restaurateurs to advise on ongoing development. For a complete list of wine experts and CorkRules sommeliers, visit CorkRules.

Wine sales in general are lagging among younger consumers. And restaurants, especially, have seen the impact, with a 2022 wine sales growth rate at 9.6 percent, down from growth of 18.2 percent in 2021. Tas is looking to address that &ndash; both making diners feel more comfortable purchasing wine in restaurants through technology and in enabling restaurants to sell more wine from their inventory. The hope is that this app will enhance the beverage team in the restaurant, will provide conversation starters at the table and will allow restaurateurs to manage their inventory.

&ldquo;You shouldn&rsquo;t need a PHD to order a bottle of wine at a restaurant. This app will allow consumers to understand value, quickly discover what they love, and find recommendations based on what they have enjoyed in the past,&rdquo; Tas added.

CorkRules is also committed to expanding wine education through easy-to-digest articles and helpful wine tips in partnership with wine experts, including content on understanding wine varietals, quick tips for picking wines by occasion and cuisine, and basics of pairing, and will add features about wine, such as understanding wine varietals, quick tips for picking wines by occasion and cuisine. The company introduced a podcast, The CorkRules Podcast, in 2022 featuring wine experts making suggestions from wine lists at top restaurants around the country.

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ABOUT CORKRULES: CorkRules is the first digital wine experience aimed at making it easier to navigate the restaurant wine list by providing consumers with personalized wine recommendations. Launched in February 2023, the CorkRules app gives consumers personalized wine recommendations for every occasion at thousands of restaurants across the United States based on a user&#39;s wine preferences, expert opinions and friends&rsquo; reviews. Available for download now on Apple iOS devices. To learn more, visit CorkRules.com.

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Media Contact: Lori Lefevre Wells, lori@lorilefevre.com

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Drops of God, the popular manga series by Tadashi Agi and Shu Okimoto, has been adapted into a television series by AppleTV and has some buzz in the wine world. The AppleTV series tells a story about a competition between Camille's (Fleur Geffrier) estranged daughter and Issei (Tomohisa Yamashita), the protégé after the death of Camille's father, a famous wine collector, to win his world-renowned wine collection valued at $100M+.

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Certified sommelier and CorkRules’ resident Somm, Michaela Quinlan shares her expertise on the wine list of il Buco. il Buco’s wine cellar holds a selection of over 400 wines and includes an exciting range of lesser-known, artisan wines from Europe. This restaurant has been called "one of the best and most exciting in America" by Gourmet magazine and the wine list has won Wine Spectator’s "Award of Excellence" several times.

Artisan Wines at Il Buco

Orange wine is made from white grapes, but the skin stays in contact with the juice longer during the maceration period, which increases the tannins and turns the normally white wine a more golden hue. The longer the contact,  the darker the hue, which increases the tannins and a stronger intensity. Pinot gris and malvasia are two common grape varieties used to make orange wine, but if you dig a little deeper, explore a little further, you can find some delightful orange wines along the border between northeastern Italy and Slovenia where orange wines are madefrom indigenous grapes on the region, including sauvignon vert (friulano), ribolla gialla, and pinot grigio.

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Unless you are born into a vineyard, grow up in wine country, a career in wine is not a go-to profession for most graduates. But for some people, their love of wine and career path are intertwined. This is how it was for Jane Lopes, sommelier, co-founder of Legend Imports, and author of Vignette: Stories of Life and Wine in 100 Bottles.

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The Federal

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at The Federal where white table elegance and an innovative “new American” cuisine with Italian and French influences ensure an enjoyable and memorable dining experience, but let’s not forget the wine. 

Wine List Review of The Federal, Restaurant and Wine Bar,  Massachusetts

Michaela Quinlan

The Federal:

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 The Federal. Located in Waltham, MA, The Federal has modernized the classic steakhouse. With a scratch kitchen and local ingredients, The Federal is a must visit.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: You know I love an extensive wine list that also features half bottles, magnums, and excellent dessert wines. Not to mention the standout value wines. This menu has it all.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: The Federal is also known for their seafood selections, so I had to note the 2021 Castello di Neive, Montebertotto, Arneis, from the Piedmont region of Italy. This medium bodied white wine has bright acidity, aromas of peach and nectarine, a slight effervescence, and that classic nutty/almond finish. The freshness of this wine makes it an excellent companion to shrimp, clams, and rich cheeses.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: Now on to a red. With the extensive steakhouse dining selections, we have to consider a bold, classic Napa Valley red blend. One that I find to be a winner is the 2017 Robert Foley, The Griffin, Red Blend. I enjoy this incredible blend of Merlot, Petit Syrah, and Petit Verdot. These grapes combine to produce rich, ripe red and dark fruit aromas and flavors of cherries, and blackberries, with notes of smoke, vanilla, and licorice.&nbsp; The firm tannins and long finish allow this wine to pair well with richly sauced proteins such as steak and lamb.

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: If you are considering lighter proteins or seafood, a beautiful wine to consider is the 2019 Domaine Christian Moreau 1er Cru Chablis Vaillons from Burgundy. Vaillons is one of the largest 1er cru Chablis appellations in Burgundy. The Chardonnay grown here is quite special. This dry, white wine is medium bodied with bright acidity, minerality, along with notes of citrus, green apple, and white peach. Certainly, a must try and don&rsquo;t miss.

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? &nbsp;

MQ: I have a personal favorite, and classic for you to consider if the rich menu items caught your eye. Do consider the 2018 Paul Hobbs CrossBarn from Napa Valley. This highly rated, organic, Cabernet Sauvignon showcases ripe blackberries and cassis, notes of herbs and cocoa, with smooth tannins on the long finish.

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: Of course. I am always excited when I find a wine from Graves on any list. Today we are discussing the 2020 Chateau Graville-Lacoste Graves Blanc. Graves is located in Bordeaux, and this light to medium bodied white wine consists of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion. The soil in Graves, you can probably guess, is quite gravelly, which is reflected in the bright minerality in the wine. The crisp acidity, citrus, grapefruit, and cantaloupe make this quality and value wine quite the standout and perfect pairing for shellfish and rich fish such as salmon and tuna. &nbsp;

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: We know I am a fan of Old-World wines, and I have to stop when I find those of great value. One of my favorite quality and value wine regions is Gigondas in the Southern Rhone. Gigondas is a neighbor to Chateauneuf du Pape where you benefit from the same climate, soil composition, and incredible Grenache and Syrah, but without the Chateauneuf du Pape price tag. The ripe blueberries and blackberries, along with notes of spice, black pepper, smoke, minerality,&nbsp; and a touch of vanilla make this wine an excellent consideration for all richly sauced dishes.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

&nbsp;MQ: The warmth of The Federal&rsquo;s dining room makes you feel as if you are dining in a historic library. If you are looking for that historic bottle to add to the experience, consider the 2012 Grand-Puy Ducasse from Pauillac on the Left Bank of Bordeaux.&nbsp; &nbsp;This property dates back to the 1700s and has some famous neighbors Lafite and Pontet-Canet. This Grand Cru vineyard produced this stellar blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is quite aromatic and showcases ripe blackberries, cassis, smoke, and leather, with notes of earth, mint, and vanilla on the finish. A true classic to add to any special occasion.

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate The Federal&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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Meson

Dear Annie

Rossoblu

Lago

Le Farfalle

Petit Trois

The Red Dory

Audrey

Cowboy Star

American eatery offering rotisserie-grilled meats and a lengthy wine list in a warm, refined space.

Doolittles Woodfire Grill

Peirano Estate

The Other Red NV

Lodi, USA

Overstone

Sauvignon Blanc NV

Marlborough, New Zealand

I Lauri

Tavo Pinot Grigio delle Venezie NV

Delle Venezie, Italy

Fleur du Cap

Pinotage NV

Coastal Region, South Africa

BV Coastal Estates

Cabernet Sauvignon NV

California, USA

Castello del Poggio

Moscato d'Asti NV

Delle Venezie, Italy

d'Arenberg, The Stump Jump Lightly Wooded Chardonnay, McLaren Vale NV

McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Bodega Calle Alberti - La Mano Derecha Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Mendoza, Argentina

Sterling Vineyards

Vintner's Collection Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Central Coast, California, USA

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Indian Wells Chardonnay NV

Washington, USA

Chateau Ste. Michelle Smillon, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley NV

Washington, USA

Pine Ridge

Chenin Blanc - Viognier NV

Napa Valley, USA

Beaulieu Vineyard (BV)

Merlot NV

California, USA

Chamisal Vineyards

Domaine Alfred Goss Creek Chardonnay NV

Edna Valley, USA

Peirano Estate

The Other Red NV

Lodi, USA