Certified sommelier and CorkRules&rsquo; resident Somm, Michaela Quinlan shares her expertise on the wine list of <a href="https://ilbuco.com/">il Buco.</a>&nbsp;il Buco&rsquo;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 &quot;one of the best and most exciting in America&quot; by Gourmet magazine and the wine list has won <a href="https://www.winespectator.com/">Wine Spectator&rsquo;s</a>&nbsp;&quot;Award of Excellence&quot; several times.

The wine cellar was created by Roberto Paris, a childhood friend of Alberto Avalle&#39;s, the co-owner. Roberto is from the small town of Foligno, Umbria and he has brought his knowledge of the artisan producers to il Buco. The selection of wines is dedicated to small lesser-known producers of artisan wines that are expressions of the soils and cultures However, on a 400-wine list, you&rsquo;d expect to see wines from the world&rsquo;s more renowned wineries, and indeed, you will find a large selection of well-known and well-loved wineries.

In the by-the-glass section, try the La Lecciaia Brunello Riserva, Toscana. Made from sangiovese from a winery in central Italy, this wine is light, fruity and dry with notes of ripe red fruit, raspberry and cherry.

Another must-try on the by-the-glass section is the Arnaldo-Caprai &#39;Cuvee Secret&#39;, Umbria. Umbria is a region famed for the quality of its wine, and this one lives up to expectations. It&rsquo;s round and soft, at the same time fresh with notes of delicate flavors and citrus. It also comes from central Italy and is made from the grechetto grape.

Moving to the north of Italy, the Magia Lambrusco 2016 from Emilia-Romagna has a dark purple hue that pours a beautiful purple fizzy head. The bubbles are small and light, the notes are floral with red fruits. Delightful on a hot summer night.

Taking a break from Italian wines, let&rsquo;s move on to Slovenia and try a bottle of the Simčič Ribolla Classic 2016. The ribolla varietal is indigenous to Slovenia and is best grown in the mild Mediterranean climate. The bouquet is soft with notes of lemon, green apple, citrus and grapefruit. This wine would pair well with the Tagliatelle (house-made egg pasta, Perigord black truffle, parmigiano or the Risotto (Principato di Lucedio carnaroli rice, Oregon porcini, thyme, pecorino di noce).

If a trip to wine country in Italy is out of the question, may we suggest a visit to il Buco where you can peruse artisan wines&nbsp;at your pleasure.

Cheers.

&nbsp;

About the CorkRules Podcast:&nbsp;Each week we pour a glass and share top restaurant wine list picks, providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the wine list thanks to sommelier&rsquo;s recommendations, suggested food pairings, and expert insights.

About CorkRules:&nbsp;CorkRules, the first digital wine app experience makes it easier for you to navigate the restaurant wine list, and provides you with personalized wine recommendations from your favorite restaurants. &nbsp;CorkRules will help you find the perfect wine for every occasion based on your preferences. Connect with friends and wine experts to discover new wines to try and learn about wine. CorkRules makes it easier to discover and drink what you love. &nbsp;

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

Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 James Beard Awards! These talented individuals and establishments have demonstrated exceptional skills and contributed to the culinary world in remarkable ways. Here's a praise for each winner

2023 James Beard Award Winners Spotlight

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

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

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

Kesté Pizza & Vino

Cecilia Bonet

Keste Pizzeria

Kest&eacute; Pizza &amp; Vino

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 Cecilia Bonet, wine educator and certified sommelier.

Hello Cecilia, great to have you back for another great wine list.

CB: Hello Robert!

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine list&rsquo;s 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.

Top Level View

They have a wonderful selection of great Italian wines to choose from, and all the references are also available by-the-glass and half-litre format.

The goal here is that restaurant focuses more on you picking a wine by the glass than by the bottle, so you can try more wines!

But even so, if you are not alone and prefer a whole bottle, you can always order a glass before deciding.

Unique Stuff

CERVARO DELLA SALA CHARDONNAY Umbria 2015

The name Cervaro comes from the noble family that owned Castello della Sala in Umbria, during the 14th century. And since 1940, the Castello della Sala is owned by the Italian wine group Antinori.

I love this wine! It is a blend of chardonnay grapes and a small quantity of grechetto.

It is a rich and complex wine, with full and well-structured palate, sweet notes of butter and hazelnut, very persistent and mineral. The best pairing? Pizza del Re. Truly amazing!

Value Wines

ETNA ROSSO A&rsquo; RINA - GIROLAMO RUSSO Sicilia 2016

The 2016 Etna Rosso &#39;A Rina&#39; by Girolamo Russo, Is a blend of local red grape varieties from Sicily. Vines grow on the north slopes of Etna, on volcanic and sandy soil, rich of minerals, ranging from 50 to 100 years old and giving a wine of incredible minerality and perfumes.

The fragrances are extraordinary, centring on rocky, mineral sensations similar to the volcanic ash that characterizes the terrain. There are also nuances of blackberries, redcurrants and spices.

Try the Diavola Pizza with this Sicilian wine, not to fail!

Bigger budget/Special Occasion 

BARBARESCO PRUNOTTO Piemonte 2013

Barbaresco is one of the great wines of the Piedmont region in northwestern Italy. Similar to its more famous sibling Barolo, Barbaresco is made from 100 percent nebbiolo and shares its cult status as one of the finest wines in the world. However, Barbaresco is much brighter.

Garnet red in color, with good tonal intensity, the 2013 vintage expresses a complex aroma with notes of red fruit and licorice. It is full and velvety on the palate with a long finish and aftertaste.

This wine&#39;s full-bodied structure makes it an excellent match for the CALZONE WITH MUSHROOMS.

Cecilia, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Keste Pizza&rsquo;s wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go 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.

&nbsp;

Thank you.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Meson

Dear Annie

Rossoblu

Lago

Le Farfalle

Petit Trois

The Red Dory

Audrey

Cowboy Star

Oberlin

Blu Ristorante

Hy's Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar

Hy's Steakhouse

Chiado

Harriet's Rooftop

Barberian's Steak House

Barberians

Canoe Restaurant & Bar

Canoe

Harbour 60 Toronto

Harbour 60

The Shore Club

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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.

Nook & Cranny Restaurant

Available Wines
Total Wines - 13

San Pedro

Gato Negro Malbec NV

San Carlos, Argentina

Georges Duboeuf

Beaujolais-Villages NV

Beaujolais, France

Oyster Bay

Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris) NV

Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Maschio

Prosecco Treviso Brut NV

Prosecco Treviso, Italy

Aviary

Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Napa Valley, USA

D'Orsay

Cotes de Provence Rose NV

France

Freixenet

Premium Sparkling Alcohol Removed NV

Cava, Spain

Casillero del Diablo

Reserva Privada Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Maipo Valley, Chile

Si

Pinot Grigio NV

Provincia di Pavia, Italy

Cellars

Ballatore, Gran Spumante NV

California, USA

Copper Ridge

Vineyards Pinot Grigio NV

California, USA

Andre 'California Champagne' Blush Pink Rose, California NV

California, USA

Dom Perignon 1999

Champagne, France