It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to the legendary winemaker, Miljenko &quot;Mike&quot; Grgich. His passing marks an end of an era in the world of wine; his legacy, however, will continue to inspire generations.

Born and raised in Croatia, Mike found his passion for wine at a young age. His journey led him across oceans where he became instrumental in putting Napa Valley on the global viticulture map. In 1976, at what came to be known as The Judgement of Paris - one of the most pivotal moments in modern wine history - Mike&#39;s Chateau Montelena Chardonnay outshone its French counterparts. This monumental victory not only brought international recognition for California wines but also shattered preconceived notions about New World Wines.

Grgich Hills Estate was born soon after this historic event and quickly gained fame for producing some of America&rsquo;s finest wines like <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Grgich-Hills-Cabernet-Sauvignon-Napa-Valley-2018-w3230104mo">Cabernet Sauvignon</a>, Zinfandel and Merlot alongside their signature <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Grgich-Hills-Chardonnay-Napa-Valley-2020-w1289321q5">Chardonnay</a>. Each bottle crafted under Mike&#39;s meticulous supervision bore testimony to his commitment towards quality over quantity &ndash; a principle that won them numerous accolades including consistent 90+ scores from critics such as Wine Spectator and Robert Parker.

But even amidst all these achievements abroad, Mike never forgot his roots. He returned home to Croatia establishing Grgić Vina on the Pelje&scaron;ac Peninsula where he produced Posip (white) and Plavac Mali (red), bringing international attention back onto Croatian wines.

The impact left by Mike Grgich extends beyond just awards or high critic scores; it lies within every vineyard inspired by his sustainable farming practices; within every sommelier who appreciates the balance between tradition and innovation; within every sip savored by a connoisseur who recognizes quality when they taste it.

As we mourn this great loss today let us also celebrate what he stood for &ndash; a testament to the power of passion, hard work and an unwavering belief in one&#39;s craft. We raise our glasses to you, Mike Grgich - for teaching us that wine is not just about tasting notes or vintage years but about people, places and stories. Your life&rsquo;s work has forever changed the landscape of winemaking; your spirit will continue to inspire it.

Rest in peace, dear maestro. The world of wine is richer because of you.

It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to the legendary winemaker, Miljenko "Mike" Grgich. His passing marks an end of an era in the world of wine; his legacy, however, will continue to inspire generations.

Legendary Winemaker Mike Grgich, Key Figure in the Judgement of Paris, Passes Away at 100, Leaving a Lasting Impact on the Global Wine Community

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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

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Bardot Brasserie

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Bardot Brasserie,

Wine List Review of Bardot Brasserie, Las Vegas

Maria Valetta

Bardot Brasserie Aria Casino and Resort Las Vegas 

Winelist: 

RT): Hi Everyone,&nbsp; 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 a Las Vegas French Brasserie

RT: Tres Bien! I love it., but before we get started, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules. CorkRules was created to help you navigate the wine list so you will always love the wine you drink. With CorkRules in hand, you can easily and confidently make selections from the wine lists based on your wine preferences of flavor, style, region, and even price point. Plus, you can check out the wines your friends tried and order them yourself. So have a listen to our podcast as our top Sommeliers help you find those hidden gems, value wines, and those special celebration-worthy bottles.

RT: Today we are discovering the wine list at Bardot Brasserie, located in the Aria Hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Michael Mina designed Bardot to mimic the vibe of the intimate cafes lining the streets of Paris. The menu features elevated versions of traditional Parisian Brasserie fare for dinner and weekend brunch all served in a cozy dining atmosphere. The wine list is expansive with both new-world and old-world options. When Michael Mina is at the helm you know the wine is going to be a knock-out selection, so I can&rsquo;t wait to see what you think of this list, Maria!

&nbsp;

RT: This list is incredible! I mean I knew it would be . All of Michael Mina&rsquo;s wine lists are hand selected and super interesting. This one, of course, features plenty of options from France, but also the US, Italy, Germany, even Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina are well represented. Very well thought out.

RT: SO where do we begin with a list like this?

Well with over 25 wines by the glass I&rsquo;d say order something by the glass as you peruse through the rest of this foreverrrr list. I&#39;d recommend to start with a glass of the

MICHEL GONET, BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT, CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE&nbsp;&nbsp;this is going to be all Chardonnay grapes. I love this producer and I don&#39;t see it often available by the glass but if this is a little bit on the pricier side then I would recommend the

LUCIEN ALBRECHT, CR&Eacute;MANT DE ALSACE ROS&Eacute;,&nbsp; ALSACE, FRANCE&nbsp;&nbsp;an Alsatian sparkling wine made in the same method as champagne. The lovely deep pink color from 100% pinot noir grapes is just gorgeous!

RT: How about white and red standouts by the glass?

MV: The CRISTOM, CHARDONNAY,from&nbsp; EOLA-AMITY HILLS, in WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON&nbsp;&nbsp;

$28 I love all of their wines&hellip; especially their Chardonnay so much going on in this glass and perfect with French butter sauces.

My Red Pick by the glass is the FAMILLE PERRIN &#39;SINARDS&#39; , CH&Acirc;TEAUNEUF DU PAPE come on tell me how often do you see CH&Acirc;TEAUNEUF DU PAPE by the glass at a restaurant?

RT: like never&hellip;

MV: right so this is a must-order wine especially with this style of food b because it has a rustic character.

RT: Maria Are there any treasures that one should not miss?

MV: The GREG LINN &#39;HOWLING&#39;, SYRAH from ARROYO GRANDE VALLEY, in CALIFORNIA 1.5&nbsp;Liter 2009 I have this wine in my cellar as we speak, I have 2 bottles left and I&rsquo;m going to cry when they are all gone. Hard to find this good of a wine for THIS price point remember it&rsquo;s a magnum size!

RT: wow awesome find!

RT: How about some value wines? I mean I see they have a magnum of DOMAINE DE LA ROMAN&Eacute;E-CONTI &#39;LA T&Acirc;CHE&#39; for $45,000 but seriously&hellip; who normally has that kind of budget? Can you help us find some hidden gems at great price points?

MV: Oh yeah that&rsquo;s like next next next level!

Sure, so 2 standouts <a name="CASTILLON_CÔTES_DE_BORDEAUX">GUY BRETON &#39;VIEILLES VIGNES&#39;, (veeyaya Veenya) MORGON&nbsp;2020&nbsp;</a>

$100. Morgon is one of the 10 crus of BEAUJOLAIS. IT IS MADE FROM 100% GAMAY GRAPES AND IS from one of my favorite wine importers Kermit Lynch anything he endorses is always stellar and this is going to go with everything from steak tartare to the whole roasted duck.

Now You could also go a different direction with French wine from the cooler climate of the Loire Valley in France with the DOMAINE DE NOIR&Eacute; &#39;DOLIA&#39;&nbsp;2019 Chinon.

$120, that&rsquo;s A great value, this is all cabernet franc &ndash; &ldquo;dolia&rdquo; is the Latin name for a terracotta amphora these vessels have a beautiful tulip shape. The Winemaker used only amphora to age this wine - you will get a silky texture in the mouth because of this aging process.

RT: Those sound like 2 great affordable French red beauties for our listeners. Any whites you could recommend? Something for the Trout Almondine?

MV: Yes, what is really intriguing to me is the BORGOGNO &#39;DERTHONA&#39;&nbsp;2018&nbsp;Timorasso&hellip; which is a white grape from Italy, indigenous to the NW area of piedmont.&nbsp; This is one of those wines that would have been extinct but was recently revived thanks to local winemakers. They are usually full-bodied whites with a little bit of floral honey on the nose. &nbsp;I say get out of the chardonnay box and try some TimorAsso! $120

RT: Fun! Trying a grape I have never had. Sign me up! Now obviously you could really splurge here given the price of that DRC Burgundy, but what about something that is special, still pairs well with the food, is celebration-worthy and ya know&hellip; still attainable for wine lovers like you and me?

MV: yes.. ha-ha &ndash; I got ya! So If you&rsquo;re at Bardot for Brunch then Champagne or Ros&eacute; are the way to go and you can&rsquo;t go wrong with the PIPER HEIDSIECK &#39;RARE&rsquo; 2006&nbsp;vintage region&hellip; this beautiful bottle is Piper&rsquo;s Top Cuvee. I just popped a magnum of this baby, the 1998 vintage and it was magical.

And for a stunning Ros&eacute; The CH&Acirc;TEAU D&#39;ESCLANS &#39;GARRUS&#39;, C&Ocirc;TES DE PROVENCE&nbsp;2019 $285 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I&#39;m sure you heard of whispering Angel?

RT: yes !

RT: well, this is the top bottle from the same producer but this is no ordinary rose this is single-vineyard Ros&eacute;, made from nearly 100-year-old Grenache vines fermented and aged in new large French oak barrels and that&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s so much more expensive.

RT: NICE! Any reds we can treat ourselves to?

My Pick, the CH&Acirc;TEAU PONTET - CANET&nbsp;

$525 a Bordeaux blend dominated by cab sauvignon, Pauillac produces some of the most concentrated and complex wines in the world and they need TIME&hellip; so here you go aged and ready to drink and ready to pair with that herb-roasted prime rib.

RT: now that sounds satisfying to the soul!

MV: C&rsquo;est Vrai! It&rsquo;s Heaven really!

RT: Well thank you Maria for finding us some fabulous gems on the wine list at Tom Colicchio&rsquo;s Craftsteak at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Thank you everyone for joining us today you can find more wine tips from Maria on Instagram @Mariathewineblonde. 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.

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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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