Wine Tasting and Dining Out: A Starter Guide to Exploring the World of Wine&nbsp;

Dining out at great restaurants offers a wonderful opportunity to indulge in exquisite cuisine, delectable flavors, and memorable experiences. Elevating your dining experience with the perfect wine pairing can take your meal to a whole new level. For beginners, navigating the world of wine tasting and food pairing may seem overwhelming, but fear not! We are here to guide you on this exciting journey and make it fun and encouraging.&nbsp;

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Understanding Wine Colors and Types&nbsp;

When it comes to wine, color can provide valuable insights into its flavor profile and characteristics. Let&#39;s start with white wines. Pale yellow or light golden hues are often associated with white wines, which range from crisp, bright wines to rich, oaky varieties. For example, a Sauvignon Blanc typically displays a pale, straw-like color, while a Chardonnay can have a deeper, golden hue due to oak aging.&nbsp;

Moving on to red wines, these can range from translucent ruby shades to deep, dark reds. A lighter-bodied red wine, like a Pinot Noir, will have a more transparent, ruby color, while a full-bodied red, such as a Cabernet Sauvignon, will be much darker and closer to a deep, intense red or even purple.&nbsp;

Beyond color, aroma profiles, acidity levels, and tannins play a crucial role in defining a wine&#39;s body and structure. Aromas can range from fruity and floral to earthy and herbaceous. For instance, a Pinot Grigio may have refreshing notes of citrus and green apple, while a Syrah might exhibit aromas of dark berries and spices.&nbsp;

Acidity provides a wine with a lively and refreshing character. Wines with high acidity, such as a Riesling, pair well with lighter dishes and can cut through richer/spicy flavors, adding brightness to each bite. On the other hand, wines with lower acidity, like a Merlot, can offer a smoother, rounder mouthfeel.&nbsp;

Tannins, present in red wines, contribute to their structure and texture. They create a drying sensation in your mouth and give red wines their characteristic grip. Lighter-bodied reds, like a Beaujolais, have much softer tannins, while full-bodied reds, like a Cabernet Sauvignon, have more pronounced, firm tannins.&nbsp;

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Food Pairings and Wine Recommendations&nbsp;

Pairing the right wine with your meal can enhance both the wine and the food, creating a harmonious balance of flavors. Let&#39;s explore a few types of cuisine and the wine recommendations that complement them beautifully.&nbsp;

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Italian Cuisine:&nbsp;

Italian food is renowned for its rich flavors, vibrant spices, and hearty ingredients. Whether you&#39;re indulging in pasta, risotto, or pizza, an Italian red wine, such as a Chianti or Barolo, with its firm tannins and robust flavors, will complement the bold flavors of Italian cuisine. For those who prefer white wine, a crisp and refreshing Pinot Grigio or a buttery Chardonnay pairs exceptionally well with creamy pasta dishes or seafood pastas.&nbsp;

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Steakhouses:&nbsp;

When it comes to steak, red wine is the natural choice. A full-bodied red, like a Cabernet Sauvignon or a bold Malbec, pairs perfectly with the richness and intensity of a well-cooked steak. The deep flavors and firm tannins of these wines complement the richness of the meat and create a wonderful harmony on your palate.&nbsp;

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Fish and Seafood:&nbsp;

For lighter, delicate seafood dishes, such as grilled fish or shrimp, a crisp and refreshing white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc or a dry Riesling is an excellent choice. These wines provide a bright and zesty counterbalance to the subtle flavors of fish. If you&#39;re opting for a bolder fish dish like salmon or tuna, a medium-bodied red wine like a Pinot Noir or a light and fruity ros&eacute; can add a touch of complexity to the meal.&nbsp;

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Greek Cuisine:&nbsp;

Greek cuisine offers a beautiful blend of herbs, spices, and fresh ingredients. Aromatic white wines such as Assyrtiko or Moschofilero pair wonderfully with the vibrant Mediterranean flavors of Greek dishes. These wines have a refreshing acidity and citrus notes that add brightness to classic Greek dishes like moussaka or grilled lamb.&nbsp;

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Sushi:&nbsp;

When enjoying sushi or other Japanese dishes, the key is to choose a wine that won&#39;t overpower the delicate flavors of the food. Crisp and dry white wines like a Sauvignon Blanc or a Gr&uuml;ner Veltliner work well, as do light-bodied reds like a Beaujolais or a Pinot Noir. These wines complement the delicate fish and soy-based flavors without overshadowing them.&nbsp;

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Navigating the Wine List and Talking to a Sommelier&nbsp;

The wine list at a restaurant can often be extensive and intimidating, but don&#39;t let that discourage you from exploring and choosing the perfect wine for your meal. Here are a few tips to help you confidently navigate the wine list:&nbsp;

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1. Consider Your Personal Preferences: Think about the varietals and flavor profiles you enjoy. Are you more inclined towards red or white wines? Do you prefer lighter or fuller-bodied options? Sharing these preferences with your sommelier can help them guide you towards the right choices.&nbsp;

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2. Discuss Price Points: Talking about your budget can feel awkward, especially when dining with a group. However, providing a price range to your sommelier can help them suggest wines that fit your budget without compromising on quality.&nbsp;

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3. Seek Advice from the Sommelier: Don&#39;t hesitate to ask for recommendations or advice from the sommelier. They are there to help you navigate the wine list, understand the flavors, and find the perfect pairing for your meal. A knowledgeable and friendly sommelier, like Andrea Morris from Essential at Christophe, can make the process enjoyable and educational.&nbsp;

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Introducing CorkRules - Elevating Your Dining Experience&nbsp;

To further enhance your dining experience, we recommend using CorkRules, the only app designed specifically for ordering wine at restaurants. CorkRules offers a range of features that can elevate your dining experience and wine selection process:&nbsp;

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1. Share Wine Lists with Friends: With CorkRules, you can easily share the wine list with your friends before dining out. This allows you to discuss and decide on the perfect bottle together, ensuring everyone&#39;s preferences are catered to.&nbsp;

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2. Reserve Wines at Favorite Restaurants: CorkRules allows you to reserve specific wines at your favorite restaurants ahead of time, ensuring that the bottle you desire is waiting for you when you arrive. Also lets you spend more time with friends/guests. &nbsp;

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3. Share Your Wine Preferences: By sharing your wine preference/profile with restaurants through CorkRules, you can receive personalized service, recommendations and a more tailored dining experience. This innovative feature helps the restaurant staff curate a wine selection that suits your taste perfectly.&nbsp;

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Learning and Growing Together&nbsp;

As you embark on your wine tasting and dining journey, remember that learning is a continuous process. Don&#39;t be afraid to explore new varietals, experiment with food pairings, and seek guidance from sommeliers in reputable restaurants like Le Bernardin and Pastis. With a little knowledge, some confidence, and the assistance of innovative apps like CorkRules, you can elevate your dining experiences, one sip at a time. So gather your friends, discover new flavors, and cheers to a wonderful culinary adventure! &nbsp;

Dining out at great restaurants offers a wonderful opportunity to indulge in exquisite cuisine, delectable flavors, and memorable experiences. Elevating your dining experience with the perfect wine pairing can take your meal to a whole new level. For beginners, navigating the world of wine tasting and food pairing may seem overwhelming, but fear not! We are here to guide you on this exciting journey and make it fun and encouraging.

Wine Tasting and Dining Out: A Starter Guide to Exploring the World 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

Craft

Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Craft L.A., a Chef Tom Colicchio restaurant. 

Wine List Review of Craft, Los Angeles

Grace Hood

Craft L.A.

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode, we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier. Hello Grace,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to have you!

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GH: Hey hey Robert!&nbsp;

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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&nbsp; list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

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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.

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RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list. Grace, what fabulous spot are we chatting about today?

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GH: We are diving into the wine list at Craft LA, which is Tom Collichio&rsquo;s seasonal west coast location.

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RT: Oh I love Tom&rsquo;s restaurants. I bet the wine list is just as good as the cuisine.

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GH: You&rsquo;re not wrong Robert! Definitely a boutique style list.&nbsp;

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RT: Shall we kick it off with some sparkling then?

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GH: Oh why not haha they actually have one of my favorite domestic sparklings &ndash; the 2009 Soter Brut Rose from Willamette Valley. But if you&rsquo;re a tried and true champagne drinker, you can&rsquo;t go wrong with the J&aacute; Lasalle Premier Cru

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RT: Yum &ndash; love to see those smaller producers like Soter. Now how are they looking for whites Grace?

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GH: For super light White, they&rsquo;ve got one of my faves &ndash; a 2018 Txakolina from Ameztoi in Spain, Another light White you could do is this 2017 Alber Boxler Pinot Gris from Alsace. Or the 2019 Pinot Blanc Pinot Gris Blend from the wild and wacky Robert Sinskey out of Caneros in California.

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RT: All those sound super refreshing. Great choices Grace. Now how about some chardonnay for our bold and buttery friends?

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GH: For my Chardonnay drinkers &ndash; my Oregon pick would be this 2014 Gran moraine from yamhill carlton, my california pick would be the 2014 Littorai from Sonoma Coast, and my french pick would be 2014 Mersault from Domaine Genot &ndash; Boulanger. 

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RT: Ah can&rsquo;t go wrong with any of those. Alright Grace how about some red wine? Starting off with pinot I presume?

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GH: You know me too well Robert hahah yes starting with pinot- My California pick would be the 2018 Caraccioli from the Santa Lucia Highlands. And my French choice would be 2001 Grand Cur Clos de Vouget from Francios Parent. 

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RT: We love to see it. How are they looking for something medium bodied?

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GH: Oh we talking about my other favorite red Syrah? I got you &ndash; they&rsquo;ve got a 2014 Mollydooker from the McLaren Vale in Australia as well as a 2016 from sine qua non out of the central coast of california.

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RT: Hmm we don&rsquo;t see nearly enough love for Australian wines.

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GH: I know right? Don&rsquo;t sleep on Australian wines yall! They&rsquo;re affordable and delicious

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RT: Two things we love here a CorkRules. Alright Grace should we hit our listeners with some cabernet?

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GH: Hit em up style haha my Cabernet picks for Craft La would have to be the 2005 corison from napa valley. Or if you&rsquo;re feeling a french cab, they&rsquo;ve got a 2008 from cheateau haut brion.

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RT: Two classics for sure. Alright Grace what would you recommend for our friends who want some budget friendly bottles?

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GH: I pick up what you&rsquo;re putting down buddy. Affordable but delicious. For a White I would pick the 2020 Austrian Gruner Veltliner from Hirsh. and for red, the 2020 Land of Saints Pinot Noir from San Luis Obisbo 

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RT: Sold haha and what about those special occasion bottles?

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GH: Gonna have to be the Egly Ouriet Grand Cru Rose Champagne. Or the 1995 E Guigal Cote Rotie 

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RT: We will take one of each! Grace, thank you so much for helping us navigate the wine list at Craft LA.&nbsp; To our audience, Thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.&nbsp; If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">Info@</a><a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">CorkRules</a><a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">.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.

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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. Follow us on social media @CorkRules and @wineswithgrace

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And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

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Thank you.

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End

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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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