Hey guys!

Guess where I had dinner last night? Babbo Ristorante in NYC! If you&#39;re a foodie like me, I&#39;m sure you&#39;ve heard of this amazing Italian classic Let me give you the lowdown on this place and why you absolutely need to check it out.

First things first, let&#39;s talk about the history of Babbo. Back in 1998, renowned chef Mario Batali opened this gem in the heart of Greenwich Village. It quickly became one of the hottest spots in the city, attracting food lovers from all over the world. Fast forward to today, and the restaurant is now under the expert management of chef-owner Mark Ladner, who has taken Babbo to new culinary heights.

<a href="https://www.corkrules.com/babbo/episodes/252">Check out CorkRules Podcast #218</a>&nbsp;by our very own Maria Valetta aka @mariathewineblonde.

Food: (4.5/5) - Now, let&#39;s dive into the food. The menu at Babbo is a celebration of classic Italian cuisine with a modern twist. They offer a wide variety of dishes, ranging from antipasti like the famous Grilled Octopus with Borlotti Beans to mouthwatering homemade pasta dishes like the unforgettable Black Spaghetti with Rock Shrimp and Spicy Calabrese. Chef Ladner&#39;s expertise really shines through in every bite, and you can taste the love and dedication put into each dish.

Wine: (4/5) - But it&#39;s not just the food that makes Babbo stand out; their wine program is equally impressive. Head sommelier Jeff Kellogg has curated an exceptional but overwhelming wine list, featuring a fantastic selection of Italian wines as well as some hidden gems from around the world. Whether you&#39;re a wine connoisseur or just enjoy a good glass of vino, you&#39;ll find something to suit your taste here. The knowledgeable staff is more than happy to help you find the perfect pairing for your meal, making the dining experience even more enjoyable.

Service: (4/5) And speaking of the staff, let&#39;s talk about the service at Babbo. From the moment you step through the doors, you&#39;re greeted with warm smiles and attentive hospitality. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the food and wine they serve, and they go above and beyond to ensure that every guest feels well taken care of. It&#39;s the kind of service that makes you feel like a VIP.

Vibe: (4/5) Finally, let&#39;s talk ambiance. If you&#39;re looking for a cozy and intimate setting for date night, Babbo is the place to be. The restaurant has a charming rustic decor, with warm lighting and exposed brick walls that exude a welcoming atmosphere. The energy is lively and vibrant, making it the perfect spot for a celebratory dinner or a romantic date night. And if you&#39;re looking to host a private event, Babbo also offers a private dining room that can accommodate larger parties.

Babbo is one the quintessential restaurants in NYC and is simply outstanding. From the incredible food to the exceptional service, this place has it all. Whether you&#39;re a fan of Italian cuisine or just looking for a memorable dining experience, Babbo is definitely worth a visit. So go ahead and make a reservation and prepare to indulge in the best of Italian flavors. You won&#39;t be disappointed!

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Back in 1998, renowned chef Mario Batali opened this gem in the heart of Greenwich Village. It quickly became one of the hottest spots in the city, attracting food lovers from all over the world. Fast forward to today, and the restaurant is now under the expert management of chef-owner Mark Ladner, who has taken Babbo to new culinary heights.

Babbo Ristorante in NYC! An Italian Classic!

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

The Chanticleer

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit The Chanticleer in Nantucket. 

Wine Review of The Chanticleer, Nantucket

Michaela Quinlan

The Chanticleer:

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&nbsp; 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 Chanticleer. Deemed one of the most romantic restaurants on Nantucket, this restaurant features an extensive wine list, local seafood, and room to host any special occasion.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: Chanticleer features an incredible, French dominant wine list featuring a number of small producers. We have several standouts for you today to enjoy in their luxurious dining room or fragrant rose garden.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: If you are celebrating in the Rose Garden, a wonderful way to begin your experience at Chanticleer would be with the Naveran, Brut Rose, Cava from Catalonia, Spain. This dry, sparkling rose is a blend of organic pinot noir and Parellada featuring aromas and flavors of citrus, strawberry, a hint of watermelon, and bright acidity. A wonderful companion to cheeses, and shellfish.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ:A beautiful white Burgundy to consider to pair with salmon and lobster would be the 2018 Paul Garaudet Bourgogne Blanc. Paul Garaudet is a 4th generation winemaker where he produces spectacular pinot noir and chardonnay in the heart of Cote de Beaune. This elegant chardonnay showcases citrus, green apple, minerality, and a touch of vanilla on the finish.

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 must-try would be the 2019 Serge Laporte Cuvee MAGES Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley. This isn&rsquo;t just any Sancerre, this is Laporte&rsquo;s limited, top cuvee which can age up to 9 years. MAGES is an acronym for the members of the family (Marylise, Alexandre, Guillaume, Elizabeth, and Serge). This Sauvignon Blanc features aromas and flavors of white flowers, lime zest, grapefruit, and fresh acidity. This would make a wonderful companion to fish and cream sauces.

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: Of course! Another stand out to consider for the table would be the 2017 Domaine Serene &ldquo;Evanstad Reserve&rdquo; Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley. I have had the pleasure of visiting Domaine Serene, and it is aptly named! Spectacular views of the vineyard and the most breathtaking sunsets. Their &ldquo;Evanstad Reserve&rdquo; is their flagship pinot noir which showcases aromas and flavors of ripe, red cherries, blackberries, spice, and earth. This pinot noir would pair beautifully with a number of seafood dishes and 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: The first consideration would be the 2018 Jena-Pierre Large, Beaujolais Cru from Burgundy. The red grape in this rich Beaujolais is the Gamay grape and is quite robust compared to other Beaujolais wines. It features aromas and flavors of plumb, ripe, red cherries, blackberries, spice, and a touch of vanilla on the finish, all at an excellent price.

RT: That sounds great. Any other values on the list?

MQ: another favorite, quality and value wine would be the 2018 Couly Dutheil Chanteaux from the Loire Valley. Couly Dutheil is one of the most famous producers in Loire, and this limited production Chenin Blanc is truly a can&rsquo;t miss. This Chenin Blanc features aromas and flavors of tropical fruit, pineapple, melon, and bright acidity. This wine would pair well with cheeses, tuna, salmon, and lighter proteins.

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 course. You will notice Chanticleer features an extensive list of wines from producer Henri Boillot. He is a 5th generation winemaker who is truly unparalleled in both his winemaking skills and his superior vineyard locations in Burgundy. One to consider to add to your celebration or special occasion would be the 2020 Henri Boillot Puligny Montrachet. This white Burgundy has earned 95 points from Decanter Magazine and features aromas and flavors of citrus, green apple, peach, almond, minerality, and a touch of smoke. A legendary wine from a legendary producer to accompany any event.

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Chanticleer&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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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

CK Mondavi is a family-owned and operated winery located in the heart of California's wine country. With over 1,850 acres of vineyards, CK Mondavi produces a range of high quality, accessible wines that can be enjoyed by everyone.

Hosting live music on weekends, this eatery serves hearty food from Germany, Austria & Switzerland.

Steak Frites

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

Certified sommelier Alexis Percival

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

Jagerhof

Available Wines
Total Wines - 6

Leitz

Dragonstone Riesling Sekt 1991

Riesling

Rheingau, Germany

Savian Cabernet Franc Venezia, Veneto NV

Veneto, Italy

Pfaffenheim

Gewurztraminer Goldert Alsace Grand Cru 2015

Gewurztraminer

France

Thörle

Holle Spatburgunder NV

Spatburgunder

Rheinhessen, Germany

Ruffino

Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico NV

Sangiovese

Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

Laurenz V.

Singing Gruner Veltliner NV

Gruner Veltliner

Niederosterreich, Austria