Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico&hellip; 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&rsquo;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.

This development has not been historically exclusive to Chianti, leading to the creation of more than one Classico district. In general, the Classico wines tend to be slightly better as these regions are smaller and have stricter rules regarding plantings and winemaking. If not better, at least more traditional and typical of the region.

The most well-known Classico regions, apart from Chianti, would be Valpolicella Classico making red wine from Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara, also known as the grapes for Amarone. Valpolicella Classico is located within Valpolicella in the region Veneto, also home to two lesser known Classico regions: Bardolino Classico and Soave Classico. Bardolino Classico is located to the west of Valpolicella and produced from the same grapes, while Soave Classico, in contrast to the rest, makes white wine from the local Garganega. All great wines and certainly part of the Italian wine history.

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

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

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

Tavern on the Green

Cecilia Bonet

TAVERN ON THE GREEN &ndash; NEW YORK

Wines reviewed include:

PINOT NOIR Bethel Heights, &#39;Aeolian&#39; 115 Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon 2017,

CHABLIS Domaine Drouhin-Vaudon, 1er Cru Burgundy, France 2017, 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON BLEND Quintessa - Rutherford, California 2016&nbsp;

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where&nbsp;we review a Wine List from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Cecilia Bonet certified sommelier. It&rsquo;s great to be back together again for another episode.

CB: Hey Robert! Happy to be here :)

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 those lists can sometimes be intimidating and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list with confidence, 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.

Today we are talking about a landmark in nestled in Central Park, since 1934 Tavern on the Green delivers an experience unlike any other.&nbsp; Some say magical. This elegant and upscale restaurants&rsquo; excellent American cuisine.

Cecilia, I&rsquo;m excited to hear you take on their wine list?

Top Level View

The wine menu is varied. Within its wine selection, we find orange wines, those whites that have been fermented with their skins; a wide range of grape varieties, and rare ones such as a Bolivian Tannat,

RT: Can you tell us a little about orange wines and what type of foods they might pair well with?

RT: Let&rsquo;s pivot back to the list, they looked like they had some delicious red, what do you see?

The red wine section it is mainly oriented to full-bodied and structured red wines. Wines from the warm California, great syrahs from the Rh&ocirc;ne Valley, but not forgetting their blends of up to 13 different varieties, and Italy with its Super Tuscans and Amarones.

As well big-size bottles in case you are celebrating as a group.

I would like to highlight the great selection of craft and foreign beers if wine is not your thing.

RT: Thanks for pointing that out. As you looked through the list, did anything unique jump out to you?

Unique Stuff

I really enjoy picking wines that are versatile for most dishes on a menu. For this I usually choose light reds that allow me to eat anything from fish to meat, you never know what to eat in a restaurant! So, this time I have selected a Pinot Noir, from Oregon, the 2017 Bethel Heights, &#39;Aeolian&#39; from Eola-Amity Hills. Light ruby red color in the glass, with really nice aromas of red cherry, cranberry and spice.

RT: Excellent. What wines for value hunters?

Value Wines

Going for a white wine, pairing with the Blue Oysters or fish dishes, I would say&hellip; drink the 2017 CHABLIS 1er Cru Domaine Drouhin-Vaudon of Burgundy, France. 

The chablis wines are produced with 100% unoaked chardonnay, being its most notorious characteristic, its minerality due to its soils. This chardonnay grows in prehistoric marine fossil soils, resulting in fresh wines with delicate acidity.

RT: Ok, this is a special occasion place. The last time I went in fact was my mother. What would be a special occasion wine for us to consider?

Bigger budget/Special Occasion

My choice for this one it is the 2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON BLEND Quintessa. This iconic Californian red is a Meritage or Bordeaux Red Blend style wine, from estate vineyards in the heart of the Rutherford Bench district, Napa Valley. The 2016 vintage is unquestionably one of the finest for California Cabernet Sauvignon in the past two decades. It has a medium to full body, with layers of soft tannins and long finish. Simply amazing!

&nbsp;

RT: Cecilia, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Tavern on the Green&rsquo;s wine list.

&nbsp;

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.&nbsp; 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.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

Thank you.

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End

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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

Jermann is one of Italy's most renowned wineries, producing some of the finest white wines in the country. The winery is known for its meticulous attention to detail and dedication to quality.

Steaks & seafood offered in an old-school, wood-paneled space with photos of famous past patrons.

Cafe Champagne

The Metropolitan Grill

Ray’s Boathouse

Ray's Boathouse

Purple Café and Wine Bar

Purple Cafe & Wine Bar

Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar

Seastar

The Butcher's Table

Sofreh

Have & Meyer

Don Angie

Ruffian

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

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