Ok. Now that you know the correct bottles, what now? Assuming you can manage to not drink them immediately out of excitement, the most important things to consider while aging wine is temperature and angle. So, please, no storing wine vertically on top of the fridge in the hot sun! If you are planning to purchase high end bottles and hold them for 20-30 years, I highly recommend investing in a wine fridge. I currently own a 36 bottle Danby fridge I purchased off Amazon for $300, but there are fridges and cellar systems that range up into the thousands, like the 166 bottle Wine Enthusiast Cellar fridge. I don&rsquo;t think you need all of that unless you plan on collecting hundreds of wines for years, but please keep them cold. This does not mean a shoe box in your closet or under the bed behind the lawn chairs. It&rsquo;s also very important to store wines in the horizontal position, not vertically. This prevents an oxygen gap between the wine and the cork which can lead to spoilage.

If you are buying a current new release of any of the bottles or regions I suggested above, at the very least, hold the bottle for 10 years. But you&rsquo;ll achieve way more interesting results if you hold it for at least 20. It&rsquo;s hard to predict the exact maximum aging potential of each wine but 40 years is a safe peak window.

The rest is quite simple! Live life and pull that bottle out for a special occasion down the road. I hope these tips save you from your own wine horror story and brings you immense pleasure for future celebrations, birthdays, and anniversaries to come.

&nbsp;

For more wine tips and recommendations download the CorkRules app in the Apple app store or follow us on instagram @corkrules.&nbsp;

The most important things to consider while aging wine is temperature and angle. So, please, no storing wine vertically on top of the fridge in the hot sun!

How to Age Wine

Omakase is experiencing a surge in popularity, let’s dig into what it is and of course what wines to drink.



 Omakase, a term that translates to "I'll leave it up to you" in Japanese, is rapidly gaining popularity in the culinary world. This dining experience places your meal entirely in the hands of the chef, who meticulously crafts each course based on seasonal ingredients and their personal creative flair. It's not just about seafood; while sushi often features prominently due to its status as a cornerstone of Japanese cuisine, an omakase menu can include anything from Wagyu beef to seasonal vegetables.

Omakase and Wine Pairing: A Booming Gastronomic Journey

California Chardonnay: it's a name synonymous with sunshine, buttery richness, and maybe even a splash of white wine envy (looking at you, Bridget Jones). But how did this grape, originally hailing from France, become a Californian icon? Buckle up, because we're diving into the world of CA Chard, from its unexpected origins to the reasons it continues to reign supreme on wine lists.

Buckle up, because we're diving into the world of CA Chard!

Forget everything you think you know about sweet, syrupy wines. Lambrusco is a sparkling red wine from Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region that’s as light and bubbly as a summer day.

Lambrusco: The Party in a Bottle You Need to Try under $25

As the days grow longer and warmer, it's time to trade in your full-bodied reds and crisp whites for a glass of refreshing rosé. This versatile wine is not only perfect for spring but also pairs beautifully with a wide variety of foods all year round.



Rosé originates from France, specifically Provence - the world’s leading rosé region. It has been produced there since 600 BC when Greeks brought vines to southern France. Unlike its red and white counterparts, rosés are made using an array of grape varietals including Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault among others.

Spring into Rosé: The Perfect Wine for Warmer Weather

We are interested in understanding your dining and wine consumption habits to gain valuable insights into the wine and restaurant industry.

State of Wine and Restaurant Survey 2024

Aligoté: Burgundy's Unsung Hero Steps Out of the Shadows

For Chardonnay lovers seeking a refreshing, value-driven alternative, Aligoté, Burgundy's "other" white grape, beckons with its crisp acidity, subtle minerality, and undeniable charm. Often overshadowed by its more illustrious neighbor, Aligoté is finally gaining recognition for its unique qualities and exceptional quality-to-price ratio.

Aligoté: Burgundy's Unsung Hero Steps Out of the Shadows

A Hungarian Legacy: Imagine yourself in Tokaj, Hungary, a region steeped in winemaking tradition. For centuries, Furmint has thrived in its volcanic soil, basking in the warm sunshine. These grapes, loved for their thick skin and high acidity, became the cornerstone of Hungary's most famous wine: Tokaji. These sweet, honeyed treasures were once enjoyed by royalty and popes!

Furmint: Hungary's Hidden Gem for Wine Lovers

Check out these four whites wines under $24, from some great producers across various terroirs – France, Italy, Spain. Spring is in the air.

Four must try white wines for under $24 from France, Spain, and Italy

Eric Asimov's recent article isn't just about the "luxury" of sommeliers vanishing from restaurants. It's a stark warning about the potential collapse of a vibrant corner of our social and cultural ecosystem: the world of wine.

Why the Decline of Sommeliers Is a Crisis for All of Us

Meadowsweet

Camila Alvarez

Meadowsweet

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where we review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Camila Alvarez, wine sommelier and consultant.

Bonjour Camila,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to have you join our CorkRules Family from Paris!

CA: Hello 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 wine lists can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, 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 Meadowsweet Michelin-star New York&hellip;.

It has a great energy and wine list to match.

Camila, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their extensive wine list?

CA: In this wine list we can find the two faces of the same grape variety from different countries. And also some blends that we can find in the ros&eacute; and orange section. A short wine list, but with what is necessary for a good dinner.

RT: That&rsquo;s great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

CA: I don&rsquo;t know why my eyes jumped into the grape variety Chenin blanc, why? Because in this wine list, they try to put attention in showing the diversity of the grape variety depending on the country. So, the Chenin Blanc from Bosman Family Vineyards &rsquo;20 from Wellington in South Africa is completely different than a Chenin blanc from France. This one is golden and very aromatic into the tropical flavors, some freshness. This is a young wine to drink young for an entry course.

RT: Ooohh those sound great.

So, Camila, their list seems to have lots of ways we could go but was there anything that you would say is a &ldquo;must-try&rdquo;?

CA: Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah &ndash; Chozas Carrascal, Las Ocho, 2016 &ndash; Valencia, Spain.

This wine is made with new production techniques, for example, the use of concrete for fermentation and several grape varieties to give balance to this wine. Deep ruby colours, with red jammy aromas like cherry, blackcurrant, and herbal notes. The blend between these four grapes varieties made it the perfect mix between Bordeaux and Spanish style. A great pairing with the American wagyu bavette.

&nbsp;

So, this list has so many great choices, what other wines would you suggest for our second or third course?

&nbsp;

CA: My first suggestion is a Pinot Noir from Vine and Supply from Willamette, Oregon, vintage 2015. Why a pinot noir, or why this pinot noir? Well, this producer only does small production from small plots of land. 12 months in French oak and 12 in the bottle, this means that the aromas of pinot noir here are mostly accentuated, with a strength that is difficult to find in other pinot noirs from the same area. The aromas of ripe red berries and cedar are there not only because of the oak, but also because the vintage 2015.

Second option, we are going to travel to Italy in one of the best areas the Piedmont, Dolcetto d&#39;Alba, Reva 2019 from Piemonte, Italy.

Dolcetto is a grape variety with aromas of sweet red fruits, usually vinification is made in vats to so that the fruit aromas are preserved in the wine. Flavours of jam, dried fruits and nuts give structure to this wine.

RT: Ooh, terrific. Camila, speaking of price, sometimes people have a budget in mind.&nbsp; any other great value wines you&rsquo;d point us to?&nbsp;

CA: In general, this wine list has a good price for their wines, one example is:

Carignan &ndash; Budwood, Ancient Vines Own Rooted 2019, Contra Costa County, CA

If you don&rsquo;t know too much about Carignan, this is a nice wine to start with, because California is one of those regions where Carignan develops very well. High concentration of red fruit flavours and medium to high acidity.

RT: Now Camila, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

CA:&nbsp; Grenache, Mourv&egrave;dre, Cinsault &ndash; Xavier Vignon, Ch&acirc;teauneuf du Pape Anonyme 2016 from Rh&ocirc;ne, France.

If you want to surprise someone, you can try this Chateauneuf du Pape, great wine with a little&nbsp;mystery, because we don&rsquo;t know exactly the percentage of the blend. But the philosophy of this wine producer and the vintage 2016 made of this one of the best wines in this wine list. Blueberries, hot spices, and some herbal aromas like lavender and cardamon, with a round and powerful body. You can drink it now or until 2026, if you have a special occasion this is a great wine to do it.

RT: Grenache is always something good and this blend and vintage rocks!

CA: I 100 percent agree

RT: Camila Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Meadowsweet&rsquo;s list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go back and try your great suggestions.&nbsp;&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.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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

Hubert Brochard is a family-owned winery located in the heart of the Loire Valley. They specialize in producing high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region. The winery has been in operation since 1950, and is known for their commitment to sustainable farming practices.

Classic dishes such as roast pig & ropa vieja are boosted by live son music & hand-rolled cigars.

Craft

Craft L.A.

Barbrix

Wally's

The Belvedere

Spago Las Vegas by Wolfgang Puck

Spago

Jeune Et Jolie

Cucina Urbana

Rossoblu

Petit Trois

Cowboy Star

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

Cuba

Hardys

Nottage Hill Chardonnay NV

Chardonnay

South Eastern Australia, Australia

Rose

Krug NV

Champagne, France

Gosset

Grande Reserve Brut Champagne NV

Blend

Champagne, France

Campo Viejo

Reserva NV

Tempranillo

Rioja, Spain

El Muro

Tempranillo - Garnacha NV

Blend

Aragon, Spain

Rimarts

Cava Reserva 18 Brut NV

Blend

Cava, Spain

Kono

Sauvignon Blanc NV

Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough, New Zealand

Saved

California NV

California, USA

Josh Cellars

Prosecco NV

Glera

Prosecco, Italy

Borsao Bodegas

Tres Picos Garnacha NV

Grenache

Campo de Borja, Spain

Tiamo

Pinot Grigio NV

Pinot Gris

Venezia, Italy

Séduction

Cabernet - Syrah NV

Cuvee

Pays d'Oc, France

Finca el Origen

Estate Malbec NV

Malbec

Mendoza, Argentina

Vilarnau

Cava Barcelona Brut Reserva NV

Blend

Cava, Spain

Pichon-Darlagne

Champagne Extra Dry Cuvee De Reserve NV

Assemblage

Champagne, France