&nbsp;

Forget everything you think you know about sweet, syrupy wines. Lambrusco is a sparkling red wine from Italy&rsquo;s Emilia-Romagna region that&rsquo;s as light and bubbly as a summer day.

The Lowdown on Lambrusco

Lambrusco comes in a variety of styles, from dry to sweet, and red to ros&eacute;. But unlike its fancy cousin Prosecco, Lambrusco tends to have a lower alcohol content and a fizz that&rsquo;s more playful than palate-cleansing.

What Makes Lambrusco Different?

Lambrusco is made using a method called Charmat, where the second fermentation (which creates the bubbles) happens in large tanks instead of individual bottles. This keeps the price tag down, making Lambrusco a super affordable option &ndash; we&rsquo;re talking around $15 to $30 a bottle!

So, What Does it Taste Like?

Lambrusco&rsquo;s flavor profile can vary depending on the type, but generally you can expect a fruity taste with hints of cherry, plum, and sometimes even violet. There&rsquo;s a touch of sweetness too, but not enough to make your teeth ache.

Lambrusco Food Pairings

Lambrusco&rsquo;s versatility is another reason to love it. It&rsquo;s perfect for an aperitif, or pair it with lighter fare like pasta dishes, grilled pizza, or even cured meats. Feeling fancy? Sparkling wine and chocolate is a classic pairing, and Lambrusco&rsquo;s subtle sweetness makes it a great match for dark chocolate.

The Perfect Summer Sipper

With its light, refreshing taste and easy-going bubbles, Lambrusco is the ideal wine for kicking back and enjoying some warm weather. So next time you&rsquo;re at the wine store, ditch the usual suspects and grab a bottle of Lambrusco. Your taste buds (and your wallet) will thank you!

Check out these staff favorites:

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Medici-Ermete-Lambrusco-Reggiano-Concerto-2020-w14205594n">Medici Ermete - Lambrusco Reggiano Concerto 2020 - $22.99</a>

The Medici Ermete winery was founded in 1938 in Sorbara, in Modena&rsquo;s Lambrusco DOC zone. It is one of the most respected producers of Lambrusco in Italy [2]. This particular bottle is a Concerto Lambrusco Reggiano from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy

The Wine Itself

Concerto Lambrusco is a single-vineyard Lambrusco made from the Lambrusco Salamino grape. The wine undergoes a second fermentation in large pressurized tanks, which gives it its signature bubbles. The Concerto Lambrusco Reggiano 2020 is a DOC wine, meaning it meets the strict quality standards set out for Lambrusco from Reggio Emilia.

What it Looks Like

Concerto Lambrusco is a bright ruby red color.

Aromas and Flavors

The Concerto Lambrusco has a fruity nose with aromas of black cherry, plum, and violets. On the palate, the wine is dry and refreshing with flavors of red berries and a touch of spice. The bubbles are light and playful, making it a very easy-drinking wine.

Food Pairings

Concerto Lambrusco&rsquo;s versatility makes it a great food pairing wine. It&rsquo;s perfect for an aperitif, or pair it with lighter fare like pasta dishes, grilled pizza, or cured meats. Because of its subtle sweetness, it&rsquo;s also a great match for dark chocolate.

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Saetti-Rosso-Dell-Emilia-Viola-Lambrusco-2022-w10029770n">Saetti - Rosso Dell Emilia Viola Lambrusco 2022 - $23.99</a>

100% Lambrusco Salamino (a particular sub-variety of Lambrusco known for thick skins, dark color, high acidity and tight bunches). Certified-organically farmed, hand-harvested fruit from 50-year-old vines, crushed and spontaneously fermented in small steel tanks. Fermentation is spontaneous and is taken to complete dryness. Secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle, initiated by the addition of fresh grape must. The bottles are hand-riddled and -disgorged. No sulfur is added at any stage of the process, and the grapes are grown in full respect of nature.

Luciano Saetti makes stunning, evocative Lambrusco just outside of Modena. He is of a generation that decided to return to traditional methods and eschew modern practices that contributed to Lambrusco&#39;s poor reputation. The 2.8 hectares of vines he works were planted by his family in 1964. Prior to his taking over, they sold off most of their fruit to the local coop.

Luciano, however, thought that they could do better and so after a successful first career as an egg distributor in Modena, he founded Vigneto Saetti in 1998. He saw the value in the family&rsquo;s old vines of a particular local strain of the Lambrusco grape called Salamino di Santa Croce. It&rsquo;s thick-skinned, tight-bunched, darker-colored and higher in natural acidity than some other more common varieties of Lambrusco.&nbsp;

Lambrusco is a crisp, dry wine that pairs well with Italian food, fried foods, hearty meats, and salty cheeses. It&#39;s best served chilled at around 45-55 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can refrigerate it for about an hour before serving.

Enjoy!! Cin cin!!

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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

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

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas take a trip to Cape Cod where they review the wine list at Brewster’s Fish House.

Wine List Review of Brewster's Fish House, Massachusetts

Michaela Quinlan

Brewster's Fish House

Brewster Fish House:

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 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 Brewster Fish House. Located in Brewster, MA, this Cape Cod Bistro is open year-round for lunch and dinner and features the freshest seafood and local produce.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: This is one of my favorite locations on the Cape. Their ever-changing menu will always impress. We have standout Old World and New World wines to add to your seafood enjoyment.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: A wonderful place to begin would be the 2020 Lucien Crochet, Le Ch&eacute;ne Sancerre from the Loire Valley of France. Sancerre is the subregion of Loire and this sauvignon blanc boats bright acidity, aromas and flavors of grapefruit, and citrus with a mineral finish. A crisp, refreshing aperitif, or pair with soft cheeses and shellfish.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: I find Malbec never disappoints. The 2018 Decero, Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina is an excellent consideration. While this red wine features bold, ripe red cherries, and blueberries with notes of black pepper, the soft, round tannins and smooth finish make this wine a perfect companion to richly sauced dishes and dense fish.

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;?

&nbsp;

MQ: With the variety of fish selections, you may be interested in a slightly fuller-bodied white wine. One to consider would be the 2019 Markus Huber Gr&uuml;ner Veltliner from Austria. While this dry, white wine does feature notes of citrus, the standout aromas and flavors are of ripe green apple, pear, peach, with a slight note of honey on the finish. The Gr&uuml;ner Veltliner would pair beautifully with spice, or their cioppino.

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: If you are eyeing a seafood and pasta dish, a red wine consideration would be the 2019 Ch&acirc;teau de Pierreux Brouilly Beaujolais. The Gamay grape is lighter bodied with aromas and flavors of red cherries, and plumbs with a touch of earth and oak on the finish. A perfect red to pair with fish dishes.

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: My go-to white wine for seafood and shellfish, especially oysters, is always Muscadet. The fact that it is of excellent value is truly a bonus. The 2020 La Berriere, Muscadet from the Loire Valley of France. Muscadet is a subregion of Loire and the white grape is Melon de Bourgogne. This crisp, dry, white wine is light and refreshing showcasing aromas and flavors of citrus, melon, green apple, with a mineral finish and hint of salinity.

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: If you are admiring any of the richly sauced dishes on the menu, another winner in both the quality and value categories is the 2016 Ondarre Reserva from Rioja, Spain. With the Reserva designation, this Tempranillo has aged for a minimum of three years, with at least 12 months in oak. This bold, dry, red wine features ripe red cherries, blackberries, and cassis, with soft tannins and notes of vanilla on the finish, thanks to the time in oak.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: Always an Old World fan, I would consider the 2019 Domaine du Vieux Lazaret, Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, from the Rhone Valley. Chateauneuf du Pape is a subregion of the Southern Rhone. Many wine enthusiasts may only be familiar with the red blends of Chateauneuf du Pape, however, this white blend of predominately Roussanne and Grenache Blanc is a conversation piece with each sip. The floral aromas of white flowers, with flavors of ripe pear, green apple, and peach, along with a slight mineral finish, make this white blend a wonderful companion to dense fish, such as tuna and salmon, as well as any special occasion.

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Brewster Fish House&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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End

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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.

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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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