<a href="https://majorfood.getbento.com/new-york-city-and-boston/">Dirty French</a>&nbsp;is a bistro-style restaurant in Lower Manhattan and Miami &nbsp;that serves classic, traditional French dishes and brings them into contemporary New York by utilizing modern techniques and adding bold twists inspired by our current love of global cuisine.

But when it comes to the wine list, French wines dominate and they are curated from every region, including the lesser-known Savoie region. So let&rsquo;s head over to the mountainous region of the Alps and explore the wines of Savoie.

Where else in the world can you ski in your shorts and sip champagne, and breathe in the pristine alpine air while goat bells ring in the distance? This is Savoie. The eastern border of France and just a short drive through Mont Blanc and you&#39;re in Switzerland and Northern Italy, but we&rsquo;re here for the wine. So let&rsquo;s pop the cork on what the experts have to say about wines from this region.

Savoie&rsquo;s 2,000 hectares of vineyards stretch across four areas: Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Isere, and Ain. This mountainous region provides plenty of sloping hillsides while the large lakes help moderate the climate. The cooler temperatures and shorter summer work well for white wine grapes such as &nbsp;In fact, 70 percent of the wine produced in Savoie is white. Of all 23 grape varieties planted here, five are white and only two are red grape.

The most popular white wines from Savoie are produced from the following varietals.

Jacquere produces an early drinking, lively dry wine with flavors that range from floral and fruity (pear, white peach, grapefruit) to mineral and flinty. This varietal is the most commonly grown and used.

Altesse or Roussette &nbsp;is a white variety that ages well, achieving a noted complexity after just a few years in the bottle. Roussanne is known in Savoie as Bergeron, an aromatic wine with firm acidity.

Chasselas produces light-bodied, easy-drinking dry wines that are best drunk young. Gringet is a native varietal in this region, but despite its heritage here, it has only 54 acres of varietals, perhaps because it produces low-alcohol, easy drinking white wines, however, this grape has also produced some elegant and refreshing sparkling wines.

&nbsp;

Moving on to red wine from Savoie; the main red grape varieties are mondeuse and persan. Mondeuse is a native grape first cultivated by the Gauls, a Roman writer noted the grape as being &ldquo;the grape variety that ripens amidst the snow&rdquo; This grape brings a deep purple color to the wine with a well-structured acidity and well-integrated tannins that allow the wine to age well.

Persan is also a native variety but it is difficult to grow and prone to downy mildew. It produces dense tannins and acidity, and while wine from this grape can be harsh when young, it ages well and can kept for over ten years. &nbsp;

Of course, although these are the grapes that provide wine with interesting notes and are designed to thrive in this environment, today&rsquo;s winemakers in this region often turn to the more well-known varietals that can also thrive here and are more resilient to changing weather patterns.

To find a few of the best bottles on the wine list at this restaurant, head on over to<a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/dirty-french/episodes/19">&nbsp;the CorkRules&rsquo; podcast on Dirty French</a>&nbsp;where certified sommelier Michaela Quinlan shares her expertise and offers a few professional suggestions on wines to choose and, most importantly, enjoy.

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 thanks to sommelier recommendations, suggested food pairings and expert insights

About CorkRules:&nbsp;CorkRules, the first digital wine app experience aimed at making it easier for you to navigate the restaurant wine list, 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;

Dirty French is a bistro-style restaurant in Lower Manhattan and Miami  that serves classic, traditional French dishes and brings them into contemporary New York by utilizing modern techniques and adding bold twists inspired by our current love of global cuisine.

Dirty French Wines from Savoie

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

North Italia - Las Vegas

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas head to Las Vegas where they review the wine list at North Italia.

Wine List Review of North Italia, Las Vegas

Maria Valetta

North Italia

\North Italia Las Vegas in Summerlin

RT): Hi Everyone, welcome back to CorkRules! The wine podcast that&rsquo;s here to help YOU navigate all your favorite restaurant wine lists.

I&rsquo;m Robert Tas, along with Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria The Wine Blonde. Welcome back Maria

MV: Hello Robert! Today we are checking out an Italian spot that&rsquo;s a favorite amongst the locals&nbsp; here in Las Vegas

RT: That&#39;s right, today we are talking about the wine list at North Italia Las Vegas in the suburb of Summerlin. This national chain restaurant is different from most: the food is made from scratch daily with lots of love and there are daily specials that add to the menu of Italian-American favorites. This casual hotspot is always buzzing and busy, for Lunch, Brunch, and especially dinner.

RT: Sounds like a place that probably has plenty of Italian wines on offer, so Maria walk us through the wine list at North Italia Las Vegas.

MV: Sure thing. I frequent this place a lot and I have also been to one of their Arizona locations. It is always reliably good. The wine list by the bottle is short and sweet, offering just as much by way of California as they do Italy, but what impresses me the most are the wines by the glass &ndash; they offer more than most restaurants and they have some interesting wines at that plus the pours are also available by the Terzo !

RT: The terzo?

MV: Terzo means third in Italian so (3rd of the bottle) basically 8 ounces.

RT: Got it...&nbsp; I like that option. so, what are the impressive standouts?

MV: for instance, they have a Vermentino by the glass for white, the Gianni Gagliardo &ldquo;Fallegro&rdquo; Lange (where here they call it Favorita) And they also have a Pecorino by the glass&hellip; The Terra d&rsquo;aligi &ldquo;Zite&rdquo; from Abruzzo and I know what you&rsquo;re thinking&hellip;nope it&rsquo;s not the cheese. It&rsquo;s a grape too. It usually has these nutty citrus and stone fruit aromas.

RT: Yeah you don&rsquo;t see either of those by the glass much... do they have some interesting Italian reds as well?

MV: YES, they do!&nbsp;&nbsp; In Reds they have a Frapatto from Sicily &ndash; the donnafugatta &ldquo;bella assai&rdquo; a lighter bodied red... Barbera, the Marchesi di Gresi Barbera d&rsquo;asti and another fun one, the negroamaro Li Veli &ldquo;Pezzo Morgana&rdquo; Riserva from Salice Salentino (Puglia). All native grapes to Italy... a negroamaro and the Italian meatballs with creamy polenta is going to hit the spot..

RT: Great yummy options there to begin with, so what about by the bottle &ndash; I know you said it&rsquo;s limited but what are your top 2 choices for value bottles on the list?

MV: I&rsquo;ll give you more than that because honestly what&rsquo;s great about this list is that most of the wines are under $100! Amazing!!!

RT: WOW! That&rsquo;s incredible&hellip; A RAREITY! Soo then... give us all your favorites&hellip;

MV: My ultimate line up would be to start with the

Ferrari Blanc de Blanc sparkling from way up north In Trentino... made in the champagne method from 100% chardonnay grapes aged for over 30 months on the lees this to pair with the burrata starter&hellip; then I would choose a lighter-bodied white... the Jermann Pinot Grigio (everyone who knows me knows I don&rsquo;t often drink PG but this one is my fav) perfect for the arancini or the Mediterranean mussels.

RT: Then what, a richer white?

MV: You guessed it&hellip; the ZD Chardonnay when I want that rich buttery style.. butternut squash Anolini&nbsp; OR chicken pesto pasta with this bad boy&hellip;

RT: ooohhhh&hellip; now What about a good pizza red? I bet their pizzas are pretty darn good &hellip;?

MV: oh yeah the PIG pizza (meat lovers obviously) I like barbera and also sangiovese with pizza.. so the Viberti la gemella barbera d&rsquo;alba&nbsp; or the Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico - tomato paste..&nbsp; could go with that PIG and the Bolognese tagliatelle too.

RT? And the finale &hellip; how about a real big red?

MV: I&rsquo;m going for it.. the roasted porchetta and braised short ribs are not to be missed and for these, I&rsquo;d end with the Allegrini Amarone... Veneto 45% Corvina Veronese, 45% Corvinone, 5% Rondinella, 5% Oseleta intense concentrated ripeness here&hellip;

Now If dry wines aren&rsquo;t your thing then the sangria could be right up you taste bud alley.. they have one that&rsquo;s made with a sparkling ros&eacute; and of course a red sangria. both are fantastic. I can vouch! Lol!

RT: well, thank you Maria for giving us an incredible wine lineup at North Italia Las Vegas. Thank you everyone for joining us today you can find more wine tips from Maria on Instagram @Mariathewineblonde. Be sure to download the CorkRules app! And remember, the only rule in wine is &ldquo;drink what you LOVE&rdquo;.

MV: Have a favorite wine list? Let us review it here. Send us your requests at <a href="mailto:info@corkrules.com">info@CorkRules.com</a> You can find previous episodes on your favorite podcast platform and on

The CorkRules website. Be sure to follow @CorkRules on Instagram for episode and app updates. Prices and selections subject to change, please drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

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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.

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