Nestled along the South Carolina coastline, Charleston boasts a rich history, vibrant culture, and a burgeoning food scene that has quickly captured the attention of food enthusiasts and wine lovers alike. With an array of innovative restaurants and a focus on locally sourced ingredients, the city is a must-visit destination for gastronomes and oenophiles seeking a truly unforgettable culinary experience.&nbsp;

Charleston&#39;s food scene has been shaped by its historical roots, blending traditional Southern cooking with influences from African, French, and Caribbean cuisines. From the early plantation days to the present moment, the city&#39;s chefs have expertly crafted meals that pay homage to both its storied past and exciting future.&nbsp;

Over the past decade, Charleston&#39;s food scene has experienced remarkable expansion and innovation. With a new generation of talented chefs pushing the boundaries of culinary creativity, the city has become a hotbed for unique dining experiences that blend tradition with innovation. This burgeoning scene has attracted culinary enthusiasts from around the world, ensuring that Charleston remains at the forefront of the global culinary landscape.&nbsp;

Here are some of our favorites: &nbsp;

<a href="https://eatatfig.com/">FIG</a> - Offering Transcendent Flavors and Impeccable Service:&nbsp;

FIG, an acronym for &quot;Food Is Good,&quot; is a restaurant that has become synonymous with excellence in the Charleston food scene. Known for its transcendent food and inspired and informed waitstaff, FIG has garnered a loyal following of food enthusiasts. The restaurant takes pride in its seasonal food menu, which showcases the freshest ingredients sourced from local farmers and fishermen. Additionally, FIG&#39;s impeccable wine program complements its dishes perfectly, with knowledgeable staff recommending the ideal wine pairings to enhance the dining experience.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.corkrules.com/the-fig/episodes/782">CorkRules Podcast Episode #362</a> &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.cheznouschs.com/">Chez Nous</a> - Elevating Culinary Distinction from France and Europe:&nbsp;

For those seeking an elevated dining experience, Chez Nous is an exceptional choice. This hidden gem stands out for its culinary excellence and attention to detail. The menu at Chez Nous changes daily, reflecting the chef&#39;s creative vision and utilizing the finest local and seasonal ingredients. The restaurant&#39;s intimate atmosphere adds to its allure, making every visit a memorable and personal experience. To complement the culinary journey, Chez Nous offers a thoughtfully curated wine list, showcasing a selection of both Old and New World wines that beautifully complement the dishes.&nbsp;

<a href="https://eattheordinary.com/">The Ordinary</a> - A Seafood Haven with Unparalleled Freshness: Charleston&#39;s coastal location lends itself to an abundance of fresh seafood, and no restaurant captures the essence of the city&#39;s seafood scene quite like The Ordinary. With its outstanding reputation, this seafood-focused establishment consistently delivers top-notch dishes that highlight the best flavors of the sea. From oyster sliders to indulgent bisque soup, The Ordinary offers a menu that satisfies seafood lovers&#39; cravings. To enhance the dining experience, the restaurant boasts an impressive wine program that pairs beautifully with the flavors of the sea. From crisp whites to full-bodied reds, the carefully selected wine list elevates the seafood offerings, creating a harmonious tasting journey.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.corkrules.com/the-ordinary/episodes/811">CorkRules Podcast Episode #367&nbsp;</a>

<a href="https://leonsoystershop.com/">Leon&#39;s Oyster Shop</a> - Where Oyster&rsquo;s &amp; Fried Chicken and Champagne Collide:&nbsp;

For a unique twist on traditional Southern cuisine, Leon&#39;s Oyster Shop beckons with its delectable combination of seafood and fried chicken. But it&#39;s not just the food that sets this establishment apart. Leon&#39;sis renowned for its exceptional grower champagne list, recognizing that bubbles go hand-in-hand with a variety of flavors. The addition of champagne to the menu adds an element of luxury and celebration to the dining experience, making Leon&#39;s a popular destination for both foodies and oenophiles.&nbsp;

A Must-Visit Destination for Foodies and Oenophiles:&nbsp;

Charleston&#39;s food scene has become a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts and oenophiles seeking a truly remarkable culinary and wine experience. The city&#39;s historical influences, expansion, and innovation have created a thriving environment for culinary creatives to showcase their talents. From FIG&#39;s transcendent flavors and impeccable service to Chez Nous&#39; culinary excellence and attention to detail, Charleston offers a diverse range of dining options that cater to all tastes.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nestled along the South Carolina coastline, Charleston boasts a rich history, vibrant culture, and a burgeoning food scene that has quickly captured the attention of food enthusiasts and wine lovers alike. With an array of innovative restaurants and a focus on locally sourced ingredients, the city is a must-visit destination for gastronomes and oenophiles seeking a truly unforgettable culinary experience.

Charleston Food Scene:

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

Frenchie Wine Bistro

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Frenchie Wine Bistro in Boston where they review the wine list and offer pairing suggestions. 

Wine List Review of Frenchie Wine Bistro in Boston

Michaela Quinlan

Frenchie Wine Bistro:

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&nbsp; 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 Frenchie Wine Bistro. Located in Boston&rsquo;s South End, Frenchie&rsquo;s is the place to relax, meet friends, and enjoy a French inspired menu. Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what you think of their wine list?

MQ: This predominately Old World wine list organizes selections by style, and showcases a number of favorites.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: Let&rsquo;s begin with a favorite destination in the Loire Valley, known as Vouvray. The 2019 Vincent and Tania Careme &lsquo;Spring&rsquo; Vouvray. The grape in this dry white wine is Chenin Blanc and features ripe peach, tangerine, and green apple, along with aromas of white flowers and a mineral finish.

I mention minerality often, and this is the dryness that you taste in a wine, many define it as chalk dust, or I liken it to the smell when the first raindrops hit the sidewalk on a hot day. This comes from the soil composition in each growing region. Here in Loire, you will find limestone and schist, so certainly the grapes will take on these characteristics. This minerality is one of the reasons why this wine pairs beautifully with shellfish and seafood.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: Another famous French wine region is the Northern Rhone.&nbsp; Do consider the 2019 Domaine Lionel Faury Syrah, from the Saint-Joseph appellation of the Northern Rhone. This full-bodied Syrah features rich ripe blackberries, black cherries, and plumb with smoke, leather, and a hint of nutmeg on the finish. This wine is meant to pair with richly sauced and herbed dishes, along with anything from the grill.

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: The Loire Valley features one of my favorite appellations, Chinon. The 2020 Chateau Du Petit Thouars, Chinon &quot;Les Georges&quot; Cabernet Franc. I enjoy the balance of fruit and earthiness of this wine. The ripe cherries and strawberries pair with black olives, black pepper, and earth, making this an excellent pairing for herbed and savory dishes.

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: Many may think of Provence only for their stellar rose, however, Provence produces standout red and white wines as well. A white wine to consider would be the 2020 Clos Saint Madeleine Cassis Blanc which consists predominantly of Marsanne and Ungi Blanc. This dry, medium-bodied blend features aromas of white flowers and honeysuckle, along with flavors of lemon curd, ripe peach, and lime zest, along with bright acidity and a mineral finish. Being fuller-bodied, this wine would pair beautifully with dense fish such as salmon and tuna.

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: I always look for quality/value wines, and when you find a top sparkler in there, you have to go for it!&nbsp; Do consider the Caneva da Nani, Col Fondo Valdobbiadene, Glera from the Veneto. Glera is often the grape used in Prosecco. This Glera is light, dry, citrusy, and refreshing. This is a wonderful way to begin your dining experience or if you are considering any shellfish, cheeses, or fried dishes, look no further. A fun, light sparkler at an excellent price.

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: We had some fun with that sparkler, now let&rsquo;s get serious and head to Cahors in Southwestern France. The 2016 Domaine du Prince &quot;Le Plaisir du Prince, Malbec, from Cahors. This bold and rich Malbec features ripe plumb and dried blackberries, with cinnamon and clove. This is your selection to pair with richly sauced proteins.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: If you are considering a dessert wine to add to your special event and are having difficulty deciding, one to consider would be the 2016 Planeta, Passito di Noto, from Sicily. Passito is the Italian word for raisin. Much like other late harvest wines, such as Sauternes, the Moscato grapes in this dessert wine also over-ripen to maintain natural sweetness. Featuring aromas and flavors of apricot, mango, honey, and tropical fruit, this dessert wine is the perfect pairing with dessert, cheeses, and any special occasion.

RT: Michaela, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Frenchie Wine Bistro&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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BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Louis Michel & Fils is a renowned producer of Chablis wines. With a history dating back to 1850, the winery has been in the Michel family for six generations. Today, the estate is run by Guillaume Michel and his uncle Jean-Loup Michel, who are committed to producing exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of Chablis.

Upscale chain known for its sophisticated decor, long wine list & classic steak & seafood menu.

Steak Frites

Alexis Percival is a New York City based CMS certified sommelier, consultant and event planner who puts the art in party.

Certified sommelier Alexis Percival

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

Ocean Prime Detroit

Alexander Valley Vineyards

Estate Merlot 2018

Merlot

Alexander Valley, USA

Kim Crawford

Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough, New Zealand

Tormaresca

Negroamaro Salento Calafuria Rosato 2019

Negroamaro

Salento, Italy

Viña Cobos

Felino Malbec NV

Malbec

Mendoza, Argentina

Swanson Pinot Grigio, USA, California, Napa Valley 2019

Pinot Grigio

California, USA

Brown Estate

House of Brown Chardonnay NV

Chardonnay

Central Valley, USA

La Crema

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2019

Pinot Noir

Sonoma Coast, USA

Benziger

Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Cabernet Sauvignon

Sonoma County, USA

Domaine de la

Terre Rouge Syrah, USA, California, Sierra Foothills 2016

Syrah

Sierra Foothills, California, USA

Viña Cobos

Felino Malbec 2020

Malbec

Mendoza, Argentina

Orso

Friuli Colli Orientali Pinot Grigio, Italy, Friuli-Venezia 2019

Pinot Grigio

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Erath

Pinot Noir 2019

Pinot Noir

Oregon, USA

Château d'Esclans

Whispering Angel Rose 2021

Grenache

Provence, France

Kim Crawford

Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough, New Zealand

Bellacosa

Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast 2017

North Coast, California, USA