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&rsquo; 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.

Master Sommelier at the SF Giants

Wine writer, educator, and Master Sommelier, Evan his written three books on wine and has been twice cited in the &ldquo;Top 100 Most Influential People in the U.S. Wine Industry&rdquo;, by IntoWine.com. Evan&rsquo;s vision to improve the Giant&rsquo;s wine program included encouraging Giants fans to learn more about wine by conducting in-person and virtual wine tasting sessions and increasing the selections of wines featured by introducing fans to a variety of regions and profiles.

To expand the Giant&rsquo;s relationship with the wine industry, he collaborated with current and former Giants players who are involved in the wine industry, and this win-win relationship was further strengthened by curating wine-related programs for the Giants community, including field trips to wine country, member discounts, and other wine-related activations such as wine pairings and Giants&rsquo; specific culinary events. In fact, the Trefethern Family Vineyards website clearly welcomes and offers free shipping to SF Giant fans.

Pairing Wines at Baseball Games

Despite the perception that quality wines are best paired with haute cuisine, Evan reminds us that there is no need to be snobbish about pairing wine. It&rsquo;s all about what taste good to you. A good wine can be paired with hot dogs and traditional game food, yes we said it. Gilroy&#39;s Garlic Fries and Gerwutzrtaminer sounds absolutely binge worthy.

As the wine industry grows by popular demand in North America, and more celebrities step into the industry, Evan also sees his role&nbsp;as wine educator and consultant for players who want to invest in a business outside of the game.

The San Francisco Giants are also partial to quality bubbles. They have a long-time partnership with Mumm Napa, and when the SF Giants wone the 2012 and 2014 World Series, Mumm Napa issued a limited-release good luck elixir to celebrate.

The experience at the hot dog stand and sitting in the stalls has just taken a Giant leap forward.

To listen to Evan&rsquo;s interview on curating wine for the SF Giants, check out <a href="https://corkrules.com/san-francisco-giants/episodes/359">Episode 261 of CorkRules.</a>

Evan&rsquo;s&nbsp; books are : <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Pairings-Sommeliers-Practical-Partnering/dp/0520243773/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&amp;keywords=Perfect+Pairings%3A+A+Master+Sommelier%E2%80%99s+Practical+Advice+for+Partnering+Wine+with+Food&amp;qid=1629248122&amp;sr=8-3">Perfect Pairings: A Master Sommelier&rsquo;s Practical Advice for Partnering Wine with Food</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Daring-Pairings-Sommelier-Distinctive-Favorite/dp/0520254783/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&amp;keywords=Daring+Pairings%3A+A+Master+Sommelier+Matches+Distinctive+Wines+with+Recipes+from+His+Favorite+Chefs&amp;qid=1629248184&amp;sr=8-1">Daring Pairings: A Master Sommelier Matches Distinctive Wines with Recipes from His Favorite Chefs</a>; and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wines-South-America-Essential-Guide/dp/0520273931/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&amp;keywords=Wines+of+South+America%3A+The+Essential+Guide&amp;qid=1629248259&amp;sr=8-3">Wines of South America: The Essential Guide</a>.

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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

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

Bar Mezzana

Sam Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas talk wine, food, and wine producers as they explore the wine list at Bar Mezzana in Boston.

Wine List Review of Bar Mezzana in Boston

Sam Hohl

Bar Mezzana

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, wine educator and certified sommelier. Hello Sam,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to have you!

SH: Hi Robert! Great to be back.

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. Today, Sam and I are reviewing&hellip;

Overview

Bar Mezzana is located in the South End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. They feature Italian coastal cuisine with a focus on their crudo selection and homemade pasta.&nbsp;

Where to start

Bar Mezzana&rsquo;s beverage list has classic Italian cocktails and some interesting finds for wine bottles. This wine list is set up by sections that have titles like &ldquo;Cabernet Adjacent&rdquo; and &ldquo;Not Quite Chard&rdquo; so if you know what you usually like, find the section and experience something new in your preferred taste profile.

What stood out to me right away was their section from Chertok wines. These wines are made by Max Rose, who is originally from Boston and set out determined to make wines that are basically New England in a bottle. He&rsquo;s worked with fruit from vineyards all over New England before finding a farm in Vermont where he grows grapes and apples. He does the farming by hand and is deeply committed to the health of the farm&rsquo;s ecosystem and the products he creates. The bottle called &ldquo;Midrash&rdquo; is made from Marquette which is a hybrid grape varietal created for cold climate growing, ideal for Vermont. It tends to have a medium body with notes of cherry and dark berries and would make a great partner with pasta, like their Agnolotti stuffed with duck confit.

Value 

A bottle that would pair really well with a lot dishes on the menu that is also affordable would be the 2020 Kontozisis &ldquo;A-Grafo&rdquo; Assyrtiko. Assyrtiko is a classic Greek grape varietal and this bottle comes from the Kontozisis organic vineyards in the Thessaly region. A-Grafo means &ldquo;unchartered&rdquo; in Greek, and this bottle definitely stands out from other Assyrtikos. The grapes were fermented whole-cluster so it gives it more structure, it&rsquo;s got that shining acid the grape is known for, but also some lovely floral notes and refreshing citrus as well. It would be delicious with the PEI mussels, or the Paccheri pasta with Lobster, since it&rsquo;s so good with seafood and the acid would be a great palate cleanser to the lobster crema.

Celebratory 

So I just have to mention a few options for your shindig because there are some great choices. First, the Barolo and Barbaresco section can&rsquo;t be ignored. They have some really amazing options that you can get by the bottle or glass!! What an awesome opportunity to have some really beautiful Italian wines. I would go for the 2016 Erbaluna &ldquo;Rocche Dell&rsquo;Aannunziata&rdquo; Borolo. Erbaluna is a family-owned winery in La Morra known for their high-quality wines. The 2016 is a great vintage so this bottle is not going to disappoint. Notes of strawberry and delicate floral tones, soft on the palate with balanced tannins.

Maybe your night calls for some bubbles? The 1701 Franciacorta Sat&egrave;n is made from 100% Chardonnay from Lombardy in Northern Italy. This Franciacorta winey has been around for centuries and grows Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The current owners focus on preserving all of the rich history of the estate and want tradition and purity to shine in their wines. This bottle is aromatic with notes of roasted nuts and flower petals, and has beautiful bright flavors of apple and peach. It&rsquo;s got these delicate bubbles too, so it&rsquo;s elegant and fun to drink. Try it alongside one of the fish crudos, or it would be great with subtle sweetness in the seared scallops. Totally indulgent and delicious!

RT: Sam, thank you so much for helping us navigate the wine list at Bar Mezzana.&nbsp;

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.&nbsp; If you would like Sam 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.

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 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

Mazzei is one of the oldest wineries in Italy, with a history dating back to 1435. Over the centuries, the Mazzei family has been responsible for many innovations in Tuscan winemaking, including the use of Sangiovese as a single varietal wine. Today, the winery is run by Lapo Mazzei and his sons, and is known for producing some of the finest wines in the region.

17th-century inn turned traditional American eatery for steaks, mac 'n' cheese, buffets & banquets.

Eddy V's Prime Seafood Restaurant

The View

Il Capriccio

Clarity

Bellissimo Restaurant

Bellissimo

Sandbar

Mirabelle Restaurant & Tavern

Mirabelle at Three Village Inn

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

King George II Inn

Mark West

California Pinot Noir NV

Pinot Noir

California, USA

Murphy-Goode

Red Blend NV

Blend

California, USA

J. Lohr Johannisberg Riesling Estates Monterey, USA, California NV

Johannisberg Riesling

Central Coast, California, USA

Santa Cristina

Pinot Grigio delle Venezie NV

Pinot Grigio

Delle Venezie, Italy

Gooseneck Vineyards

Prosecco NV

Glera

Prosecco, Italy

Cellars

Lloyd, Chardonnay, USA, California, Napa Valley NV

Chardonnay

California, USA

Bieler Père et Fils

Reserve Rose NV

Blend

Provence, France

Conundrum

White Blend NV

Blend

California, USA

Hayes Ranch

Red Blend NV

Blend

California, USA

Sea Sun

Chardonnay NV

Chardonnay

California, USA

Sea Sun

Pinot Noir NV

Pinot Noir

California, USA

Meiomi

Pinot Noir NV

Pinot Noir

California, USA

Chardonnay

Groth, Napa Valley NV

California, USA

Ruffino

Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico NV

Sangiovese

Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines

Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Cabernet Sauvignon

Central Coast, California, USA