<a href="https://ko.momofuku.com/">Momofuku Ko</a>&nbsp;is an award-winning restaurant in NYC that offers an exceptional dining experience. &nbsp;It won two Michelin stars in 2009 and has maintained that status ever since. It was also awarded three stars by the New York Times in 2015, and in 2019, it was ranked No. 76 on the World&rsquo;s 50 Best Restaurants list. With credentials like this, you&rsquo;d expect a top-quality wine list and you would not be disappointed.

So, if dining Japanese, which wines pair well?

Japanese cuisine is quite varied and includes a wide range of seafood dishes, tempura, sushi and sashimi, pork, chicken, ramen&hellip;, the flavors and textures are diverse, which means we need a wine list with a variety of options.

With sushi and sashimi, you can go wrong with a crisp, clean white wine like a gr&uuml;ner veltliner. A white wine with high acidity and lemony, citrus notes works well with seafood. Sauvignon blanc also pairs well with sushi, and, of course, Champagne also works well.

If you opt for a bowl of ramen or miso soup, the strong umami calls for a bolder wine that won&rsquo;t be overpowered nor overpower. Consider choosing a fortified wine like an Assyrtiko from Greece or even a Manzanilla sherry. However, many ramen dishes use soy sauce, in this case, a light-bodied pinot noir will also work well.

Fried, battered and grilled dishes like tempura, katsu, karaage and agedashi tofu pair well with aromatic and full-bodied whites, such as chardonnay or pinot gris. However, light to medium reds can also work spectacularly well. Think pinot noir, gamay or grenache.

If you are thinking of dining at Momofuku Ko, &nbsp;check out the CorkRules<a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/momofuku-las-vegas/episodes/23">&nbsp;podcast </a>episode with certified sommelier Michaela Quinlan. She navigates the wine list at &nbsp;Momofuku Ko and offers a few stellar suggestions.

Cheers!

&nbsp;

About the CorkRules Podcast:&nbsp;Each week we pour a glass and share top restaurant wine list picks, providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the wine list through sommelier recommendations, suggested food pairings and expert insights

About CorkRules:&nbsp;CorkRules, the first digital wine app experience, makes it easier for you to navigate the restaurant wine list, and provides you with personalized wine recommendations from your favorite restaurants. Through CorkRules you can find the perfect wine for every occasion based on your preferences. Connect with friends and wine experts to discover new wines to try and learn about wine. CorkRules makes it easier to discover and drink what you love. &nbsp;

Momofuku Ko is an award-winning restaurant in NYC that offers an exceptional dining experience.  It won two Michelin stars in 2009 and has maintained that status ever since. It was also awarded three stars by the New York Times in 2015, and in 2019, it was ranked No. 76 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. With credentials like this, you’d expect a top-quality wine list and you would not be disappointed.

Pairing Wine with Japanese Food at Momofuku Ko

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.

Pairing Orange Wines at Pasquale Jones

The Lobster Club in the Seagram Building, New York City is a Japanese Brasserie that is renowned for its unique interpretation of Japanese cooking and Sushi, and what’s even more exciting is that it has an extensive wine list.

Fine Wines at The Lobster Club

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.

Stories of Wine & Life with Jane Lopes, Sommelier, Author and Co-Founder of Legend Imports

CorkRules has been presented with the BMMA ‘Best New Mobile App” Platinum award, the highest award achievement in category.

CorkRules Wins the 2023 BMMA Platinum Award for "Best New Mobile App"

Pairing wine with Asian food is a common dilemma. Just what should you order with the Spicy Yellowtail Yu Sheng or the Mongolian Lamb Chops? How do we make palatable choices that cross cultures and bring out the best in each location’s use of herbs and spices?

Pairing Wine with Asian Food at Buddakan

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

Felice is an Italian restaurant located on Manhattan’s upper east side. Owner Jacopo Giustiniani opened this establishment in 2007 and it has been a popular spot where diners can experience authentic Tuscan cuisine while sampling Italian wine from the extensive Italian-focused wine list. Italy has 20 wine regions each with unique characteristics in climate and terroir, and this list is inspired by the spirit of the Italian countryside and the wines of Jacopo’s family’s vineyard.

Italian Wine Regions Explored at Felice

The San Francisco Giants have upped their wine game by offering a curated selection of wine for fans at games. In fact, serving wine at Giants’ games is so popular with fans that, in 2022 they hired their own Master Sommelier, Evan Goldstein. The goal is to enhance the gameday experience and we at CorkRules wholly agree.

San Francisco Giants' Master Sommelier, Evan Goldstein is Upping the Wine Game

Samantha Hohl, certified sommelier and wine educator, and Robert Tas visit Bistro du Midi, Boston

Wine List Review of Bistro du Midi, Boston

Sam Hohl

Bistro du Midi

Bistro de Midi:

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 Samantha Hohl, certified sommelier and wine educator. Hello Sam,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to be back together for another episode.&nbsp;

SH: 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. 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.

&nbsp;RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT:

Cork Rules

Bistro du Midi

Overview

Bistro du Midi is located in Boston, Massachusetts and offers Southern French cuisine with New England influences. They feature two floors for dining where you can enjoy the bistro on the street level or dine upstairs in the dining room while taking in the view of the Boston Public Garden.

RT: Sam, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

Where to start

This list has lots of French selections, which of course makes sense with the theme. They also include some Italian options and a few New World sections as well, but the heart of this list is definitely French. A bottle that would make for a delicious aperitif or to pair alongside your starter plates would be the Drappier Rośe Brut. These bubbles come from the Champagne Drappier estate which has been in the town of Urville since 1808. 70% of the grapes they grow is Pinot Noir, which is what this bottle is made from. It&rsquo;s got bright red fruit aromas and on the palate notes of grapefruit and subtle flower petal tones. It would be perfect with the Salmon Crudo or Tuna tartare.

&nbsp;

Another great start to the evening would be the 2019 Alphonse Mellot Les Romains, Sancerre. Domaine Alphonse Mellot has been around for over 500 years and has had 19th generations of family winemakers. They&rsquo;re known for their outstanding quality white wines, and this Sancerre is no exception. It&rsquo;s 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Upper Loire region of France. It&#39;s going to have a gorgeous acid core and aromas of lemon and notes of peach. It also has lovely structure and mineral qualities too. It&rsquo;s going to pair really well with the arugula salad with goat cheese or oysters to start.

Value

A lovely bottle that would pair well with the menu but also won&rsquo;t break the budget is the 2019 Antidoto Ribera del Duero. This bottle comes from Bodegas Antidoto located in Soria, Spain and is made from Tinto Fino, also known as temperanillo. This bottle has red and black fruit flavors of cherry and blackberry, which I always love. It also has notes of vanilla and pepper. It&rsquo;s bold but balanced with tannins and acidity. It&#39;s going to play really well with these rich, French dishes, especially meat. You could start it with the charcuterie board or try it with the Wagyu beef with mushroom and garlic.

Celebratory 

This wine list has no shortage of celebratory wines. There&rsquo;s some incredible bottles with lots of age, but there&rsquo;s definitely some range here even on the celebratory front. One that caught my eye was the 2000 Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac. This is a gorgeous Bordeaux and a great vintage. It&rsquo;s bold and beautiful with structure and tannins. It has notes of blackberry and black current, along with tobacco and pencil led. Really flavorful and complex with a lasting finish. Sip this alongside the duck breast for a classic pairing. You could also go with the foie gras, or the beef entrees to create the ultimate celebratory experience.

RT: Sam Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Bistro du Midi&#39;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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Join us each week as we pour a glass and share top restaurant ‘wine list’ picks, providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the ‘wine list’ through somm recommendations, suggested food pairings and masterclass insights.

Front & Main

Sebastopol Oaks

Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Alexander Valley

Domaine de la Patience

Merlot Coteaux du Pont du Gard 2020

France

Cavit Alta Italia Pinot Grigio Trentino, Trentino-Alto Adige 2020

Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

Cave de Lugny

Macon-Chardonnay 2017

France

Snoqualmie

Winemaker's Select Riesling 2017

Columbia Valley, USA

Familia Schroeder Alpataco Malbec, Neuquen 2020

Neuquen, Argentina

Familia Schroeder Alpataco Reserve Malbec 2020

Patagonia, Argentina

Rogue Vine

Grand Itata Blanco 2020

Itata Valley, Chile

Domaine Bousquet

Gaia Malbec 2020

Tupungato, Argentina

Domaine Bousquet

Gran Malbec 2020

Tupungato, Argentina

Siglo Rioja Gran Reserva 2009

La Rioja, Spain

Bodegas Olarra

Anares Rioja Gran Reserva 2009

Rioja, Spain

Domaine de La Pinardière

Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie 2018

Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, France

Cass

Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Paso Robles, USA

Jacquart

Extra Brut Mosaique Champagne NV

Champagne, France