Drops&nbsp;of&nbsp;God, the popular manga series by Tadashi Agi and Shu Okimoto, has been adapted into a television series by AppleTV and has some buzz in the wine world. The AppleTV series tells a story about a competition between Camille&#39;s (Fleur Geffrier) estranged daughter and Issei (Tomohisa Yamashita), the prot&eacute;g&eacute; after the death&nbsp;of&nbsp;Camille&#39;s father, a famous wine collector, to win his world-renowned wine collection valued at $100M+.

The show has been compared to the 2004 movie Sideways, which follows the journey&nbsp;of&nbsp;two friends as they travel through California&#39;s wine country. Both&nbsp;Drops&nbsp;of&nbsp;God&nbsp;and Sideways share a common theme&nbsp;of&nbsp;discovering wine&#39;s joys and the culture surrounding it. The film had an immediate impact on both tourism and sales by introducing people unfamiliar with wines.

However,&nbsp;Drops&nbsp;of&nbsp;God&nbsp;takes it to a new level with its intricate and detaileddescriptions&nbsp;of&nbsp;wines, vineyards, and the people behind them. The series has created a buzz in the wine world, with viewers becoming curious about the winesmentioned in the show and eager to try them themselves.

The cultural impact&nbsp;of&nbsp;Drops&nbsp;of&nbsp;God&nbsp;has been immense in Japan, with the manga series selling over 30 million copies and the television series was a huge hit. The show has inspired a generation&nbsp;of&nbsp;young people to explore the world&nbsp;of&nbsp;wine and has even led to an increase in tourism to wine regions.

This is a golden opportunity, but yet it&#39;s surprising the wine world has not leaned into&nbsp;Drops&nbsp;of&nbsp;God&nbsp;more, missing a chance to bring people&nbsp;of&nbsp;all ages into the wine world. With the decline in wine sales, it&#39;s clear that the industry needs to reimagine how it markets its products and brings new consumers into its ecosystem.

This emphasis on education is something that many experts argue could be key for helping bring new consumers into the wine world who have until now been unaware or intimidated by all there is out there; young people can significantly benefit from having access to this kind&nbsp;of&nbsp;information without needing expensive classes or sommelier certifications first.

Drops&nbsp;of&nbsp;God&nbsp;comes at a unique point in time for the wine world and&nbsp;offers a significant opportunity to educate and bring people&nbsp;of&nbsp;all ages into the wine world. The cultural impact&nbsp;of&nbsp;the series in Japan and the potential impact it could have in the US and around the world cannot be ignored.&nbsp;Time is ticking, and the wine world cannot afford to miss this opportunity.

&nbsp;

Drops of God, the popular manga series by Tadashi Agi and Shu Okimoto, has been adapted into a television series by AppleTV and has some buzz in the wine world. The AppleTV series tells a story about a competition between Camille's (Fleur Geffrier) estranged daughter and Issei (Tomohisa Yamashita), the protégé after the death of Camille's father, a famous wine collector, to win his world-renowned wine collection valued at $100M+.

Drops of God: The AppleTV Series That Could Save the Wine Industry

1803 is a Cajun restaurant that brings a little of New Orleans’ eclectic culture to the streets of New York. It’s a sexy, sultry space with a penchant for Deep South decadence and jazz. For a memorable culinary experience, this is the place to bring a date.

Pairing Wine with Cajun Food at 1803

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

The Nautilus

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at The Nautilus. 

Wine Review of The Nautilus, Boston

Michaela Quinlan

Nautilus

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode, 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.

&nbsp;

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 Nautilus. Located in both Boston and on Nantucket, Nautilus focuses on sharable seafood plates with Latin, Asian, and Mediterranean inspirations. This lively environment also focuses on the cocktail and wine selections.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: It would be an understatement to say their wine list is vast, along with their Sake selections. Nautilus offers wines from around the world to enjoy with their incredible menu, and I must admit, I could offer several recommendations for each category. I hope you enjoy these favorites!

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: The first wine that caught my eye, is a long-standing favorite, the 2021 Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc from Walker Bay in South Africa. The wine is named after the Southern Right whales that frequent the Walker Bay, and the winery makes a contribution to their conservation with each bottle sold. Along with their standout Pinotage, this sauvignon blanc exudes aromas and flavors of lemon zest, grapefruit, bright acidity, minerality, and a hint of salinity on the finish. This is a perfect companion to cheese and shellfish.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: I can&rsquo;t resist a single varietal cabernet franc. One to consider would be the 2014 Clos de l&#39;Elu, Cabernet Franc, from the Loire Valley. This medium-bodied Cabernet Franc showcases ripe raspberries, earth, olives, and black pepper, all which would pair well with the variety of spices and flavors on Nautilus&rsquo; menu.

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;?

MQ: An absolute must-try is the 2020 Savage Grace, &#39;Blanc de Franc,&#39; from the Yakima Valley of Washington. Michael Savage was the one-man band when he decided in 2011 to switch from studying wine to producing it. When you extract the juice of a wine grape, the juice is clear, whether a red frape or white grape. The color comes from the contact of the juice with the skins. Therefore, Michael only allowed limited contact of juice and skins with his Cabernet Franc to create a white wine, or in this case, the Blanc de Franc. This white wine has fresh acidity, citrus, and stand-out herbal aromas and flavors. Another compliment to the Nautilus menu.

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 happen to be eyeing some of the seafood dishes, you must try the 2018 Santo Winery, &#39;Aspa,&#39; Assyrtiko from Santorini. The Assyrtiko grape is grown in volcanic soil near the ocean. Prepare yourself for bright acidity, minerality, lime zest, pear, and notes of salinity on the finish. This is your go-to for shellfish and other seafood 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: Why not head to the Amalfi coast and try the 2019 Reale, &#39;Aliseo&rdquo;, Falanghina, in Campania, Italy. The Falanghina grape is fuller-bodied with pear, green apple, citrus, minerality, and notes of almond on the finish. A wine to consider to pair with richly sauced dishes, all at an excellent price.

RT: That sounds great. What other value wines stood out to you?

MQ: Another beautiful red wine to consider would be the 2020 Kumeu River, Pinot Noir, Kumeu, New Zealand. Located in the North Island of New Zealand, this Pinot Noir stands out with cranberries, red cherries, herbs, and an earthy finish. These soft tannins will pair beautifully with any proteins on the menu.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: Why not conclude our travels today in the Northwest region of Spain with the 2010 Bodegas Vega Sicilia &#39;Pintia,&#39; Tinta de Toro. Vega Sicilia has an outstanding reputation producing Tina de Toro, which is viewed as the superior clone to Tempranillo. This highly-rated red wine showcases blackberries, cassis, smoke, minerality, with ripe, round tannins. A beautiful wine to pair with any special occasion.

RT: Michaela, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Nautilus&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.

End

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Meson

Dear Annie

Rossoblu

Lago

Le Farfalle

Petit Trois

The Red Dory

Audrey

Cowboy Star

Longtime fixture offering classic American fare including seafood & steak plus a porch & live music.

Per Se

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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.

Middleton Tavern

Available Wines
Total Wines - 9

Veramonte

Chardonnay Organico Reserva NV

Casablanca Valley, Chile

Carmel Road

Monterey Pinot Noir NV

California, USA

Prophecy

Sauvignon Blanc NV

Marlborough, New Zealand

Gascon

Malbec NV

Mendoza, Argentina

Riff

Pinot Grigio NV

Venezia, Italy

Louis M. Martini

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Sonoma County, USA

Honoro Vera

Rioja NV

Rioja, Spain

Hope Estate

The Ripper Shiraz NV

Western Australia, Australia

Edna Valley Vineyard

Merlot NV

Central Coast, USA