Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico&hellip; 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&rsquo;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.

This development has not been historically exclusive to Chianti, leading to the creation of more than one Classico district. In general, the Classico wines tend to be slightly better as these regions are smaller and have stricter rules regarding plantings and winemaking. If not better, at least more traditional and typical of the region.

The most well-known Classico regions, apart from Chianti, would be Valpolicella Classico making red wine from Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara, also known as the grapes for Amarone. Valpolicella Classico is located within Valpolicella in the region Veneto, also home to two lesser known Classico regions: Bardolino Classico and Soave Classico. Bardolino Classico is located to the west of Valpolicella and produced from the same grapes, while Soave Classico, in contrast to the rest, makes white wine from the local Garganega. All great wines and certainly part of the Italian wine history.

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

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

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

Brera Osteria

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Brera Osteria. 

Wine List Review of Brera Osteria in Las Vegas

Maria Valetta

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Brera Osteria Venetian 

Wine bottle list

<a href="https://www.venetianlasvegas.com/content/dam/venetian/restaurants/brera-osteria/wine-menu.pdf">https://www.venetianlasvegas.com/content/dam/venetian/restaurants/brera-osteria/wine-menu.pdf</a>

Wine glass list plus cocktails

<a href="https://www.venetianlasvegas.com/content/dam/venetian/restaurants/brera-osteria/cocktail-menu.pdf">https://www.venetianlasvegas.com/content/dam/venetian/restaurants/brera-osteria/cocktail-menu.pdf</a>

Dinner

<a href="https://www.venetianlasvegas.com/content/dam/venetian/restaurants/brera-osteria/dinner-menu.pdf">https://www.venetianlasvegas.com/content/dam/venetian/restaurants/brera-osteria/dinner-menu.pdf</a>

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RT): Hi Everyone, welcome back to CorkRules! The wine APP &amp; podcast that&rsquo;s here to help YOU navigate all your favorite restaurant wine lists.

I&rsquo;m your host, Robert Tas, along with Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria The Wine Blonde on Instagram. Welcome back Maria

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MV: Hello Robert we are transporting ourselves to Italy today

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RT: That&rsquo;s right&hellip; via Las Vegas because today we are reviewing the wine list at Brera Osteria, in St. Mark&rsquo;s Square in the Grand Canal Shoppes of the Venetian Hotel and casino. Italian for Lunch, dinner and Happy hour is the name of the game here with Chef Auriana&rsquo;s Risotto Milanese being critically acclaimed as &ldquo; Magical&rdquo;. So grab a seat facing the square and people watch to your heart&#39;s content with a glass of Italian vino and savor the moment. Maria, let&#39;s take a look at what we should be sipping on!

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MV: Sure thing! So Breza is def focused on Italian wines which makes sense given the menu is Italian,, there are of course the obligatory champagne offerings and also a sprinkle of USA and few other French wines, but I say, stick with Italian vino starting with a glass of the FALANGHINA San salvatore, Campania, Italy 2019 for something crisp and bright and refreshing or For a red robust option , the NERO D&rsquo;AVOLA Crisera Luna Nuova, Sicilia, Italy 2019&nbsp; which will be dry and intense with dark black fruits and a little forest floor earthiness.

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RT: I see there are tons of great appetizers to choose from, so how about selecting some value options for us by the bottle that would be very food versatile?

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MV: Oh yeah they have everything from Panzanella, to charred octopus to beef Carpaccio and even pizzas - great dishes for sharing.. so I would go for the VERMENTINO Mesa, Sardegna, Italy 2017&nbsp; or from the other Italian island&hellip; the CARRICANTE BLEND terra Costantino &ldquo;deaetna&rdquo;, Sicilia, Italy 2016 because we are talking about island wines you just know that they will pair well with fresh fish and seafood fare.

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RT: well that makes a lot of sense, I like those options&hellip; and great pricing on both! Now, we decided to order ALL the starters what&rsquo;s going to work with seafood and meat and cheese options?

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MV: That&rsquo;s easy actually&hellip; the AGLIANICO San Salvatore, &ldquo;Vetere&rdquo;, Campania, Italy 2020. This is an Italian Rosato or what we call ros&eacute; - made from Aglianico grapes &ndash; so a beautiful pink hue, organic grapes, and a funky little shaped bottle.. If you want to step up your Ros&eacute; game, this is the wine to do it with also great with spicy food.

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RT: I can get on board with that&hellip; now I&rsquo;m sure you have some value reds for us too.

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MV: I do! The MONTEFALCO ROSSO Tenute Lunelli, &ldquo;ziggurat&rdquo;, 2013 is a wine that Italians love to drink it&rsquo;s from Umbria and is a mix of mostly Sangiovese plus about 15% sagrantino and 15% merlot

another good one is the&nbsp;

DOLCETTO Bruno Giacosa, Piemonte, italy 2017. We just opened up the 2018 of this wine and could not believe how big it was&hellip; the 18 needed more time but this 17 should be ready to go- Giacosa is one of my very fav producers in Piedmont.

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RT: So many great options at great prices&hellip; so what if we want to step up our wine game what stands out as REALLY good juice?

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MV: Two reliable standouts for me are the Valdicava BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO Toscana, Italy 2016. I know how much we both love Brunello and Valdicava never disappoints or you could try the Borgogno, BAROLO &ldquo;Cannubi&rdquo;, Piemonte, Italy 2010, if you like some age on your wine like I do.. this one is all cherries, black top and dried roses, elegant yet powerful at the same time, traditional in style and a lovely vintage as well. It&rsquo;s calling for that BRAISED PORK SHANK with parmesan risotto.

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RT: And that&rsquo;s what I call a perfect note to end on!

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MV: Right? Cue the Italian Music!

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RT: RT: Well, thank you Maria and thank you, everyone, for joining us on another episode of CorkRules. Be sure to download the app from the Appstore and start getting your personal restaurant wine recommendations right to your phone. You can find more wine educational tips from Maria on Instagram @mariathewineblonde and on the CorkRules app.

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MV: It&rsquo;s here! The CorkRules App! Download it for free today from the app store so you can browse restaurant wine lists, connect with your friends, and start drinking wines you love.&nbsp;

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 app. Be sure to follow @CorkRules on Instagram for episode updates. Prices and selections subject to change, please drink responsibly.

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BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

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Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Peju is a family-owned winery located in the heart of Napa Valley. We are committed to producing high-quality, handcrafted wines that reflect the unique character of our vineyards. Our winemaking philosophy is based on a deep respect for the land and a dedication to sustainable farming practices.

Elevated Mediterranean dishes are matched by wine & craft cocktails at this upmarket restaurant.

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Spago Las Vegas by Wolfgang Puck

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Jeune Et Jolie

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Rossoblu

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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

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