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.

That&rsquo;s all about to change. Listening to Chris Phelps talk about his first foray into making wine makes you appreciate his deep knowledge and consideration for the grape and the land.

In Episode 283 of CorkRules, Robert Tas talks to Chris about his background in wine, how his son encouraged him to start making wine, and origin story of&nbsp; <a href="https://www.advivumcellars.com/">Ad Vivum,</a> but throughout this interesting conversation, one thing is clear: Chris has an immense passion for the land, the grape, and, of course, the alchemy that happens when you bring the grape through fruition, fermentation, and finally wine.

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Wine for Body, Mind and Soul

Like so many passionate vintner&rsquo;s Chris&rsquo; path into the vineyard was shaped by fate. Originally enrolled in pre-med at Davis University, he spent a summer firefighting where he encouraged a friend, a passionate wine geek, to join him at Davis where they ran a viticulture/enology program. The tables turned when the friend later encouraged Chris to jump from medicine to wine.

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Fast forward a few years of studying and working in France and at various vineyards, including a wine ch&acirc;teau within the village of Puisseguin-Saint-&Eacute;milion in Bordeaux, and Chris is now a consultant for wineries, including Inglenook in Napa Valley, and Grounded Wine Company.

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For Chris, the joy of selecting a varietal that produces exceptional and original fruit is just the beginning. He talks passionately about finding those unique grapes, picking them at the right time, not an hour later or earlier, and how the moment of tasting the raw, as yet unfermented fruit, a few days after cold soaking, reveals the aromatics and top notes.

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Today, Chris produces small productions of select wines, usually just several hundred cases each year. The wines are selectively and directly distributed locally at wine shops and restaurants. He is the winemaker, and his son runs the business side of sales and promotion. The father-son team also run Coil Wines where they produce a Mendocino County Pinot Noir and a rare old-vine Napa Valley Chenin Blanc.

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Chris believes the secret to good wine lies in the love of the land. He spends time in the vines, getting to know them, watching how they grow so he knows when they should be harvested. Timing is key when picking grapes, the sugar content and ripe factor play a major role in the final product. And of course, good vintners know that the vitality of the terroir is, well, vital for the health, growth, and taste of the grape. He pays attention to which grapes do well in which area of the land. He takes note of the sun, water, wind, and minerals in the soil all of which play a role in the magical science that turns vine into wine.

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However, Chris also believes that wine is about more than selective wine tasting and the snobbery that may be encountered within the industry. Wine is about life, and his philosophy rings true with many wine lovers across the globe for whom the love of the juice reaches far beyond tasting notes: it&rsquo;s about sharing and pairing; it&rsquo;s about long conversations and enjoying an evening of&nbsp; convivial company.

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As Chris so eloquently states, &ldquo;Ad Vivum was the first single-vineyard wine to emerge from a unique name: Ad infers movement toward a goal with intention. Vivum is the synthesis of two Latin words &mdash; vivere (to live) and vinum (wine). Ad Vivum, is, therefore, where wine and life meet.&rdquo;

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Cheers to that, Chris, and may your wine glass be always half full.

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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

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

Carmine's - Las Vegas

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Carmine’s in Las Vegas.

Wine List Review of Carmine's Las Vegas

Maria Valetta

Carmine's

Carmine&rsquo;s Las Vegas 

<a href="https://www.carminesnyc.com/menus/menus-clv-q420-beverages">https://www.carminesnyc.com/menus/menus-clv-q420-beverages</a>

<a href="https://www.carminesnyc.com/menus/menus-clv-q420-dining">https://www.carminesnyc.com/menus/menus-clv-q420-dining</a>

RT): Hi Everyone, welcome back to CorkRules! The wine podcast that&rsquo;s here to help YOU navigate all your favorite restaurant wine lists so you can order wine with confidence.

I&rsquo;m Robert Tas, along with Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria the Wine Blonde on Instagram. Welcome back Maria

MV: Hello Robert!&nbsp; Great to be back.. Today we are checking out THE WINE LIST AT an Italian restaurant that&rsquo;s always a good time.

RT: That&rsquo;s right MARIA, today we are talking about the wine list at Carmine&rsquo;s Las Vegas location. You can find Carmine&rsquo;s in the Forum shops which connect to Caesar&rsquo;s Palace. This 20,000-square-foot restaurant serves up hearty portions of Southern Italian favorites served family-style along with memorable-sized desserts. The restaurant also has 4 private dining rooms making it the perfect venue for ordering the very best wines on their list for serving at your next corporate event or special celebration. Maria, does the wine list match the portion sizes here?

MV: I am really liking this list&hellip; sometimes with chain-style restaurants, wine selections seem to be a little dumbed down&hellip; you know what I mean Robert?

RT: I Do... laughs

MV:&nbsp; but not at Carmine&#39;s, and it&rsquo;s not just Italian either&hellip; I mean sure&hellip; there are more Pinot grigio options than I&rsquo;ve seen in a long time on a list&hellip; but the good thing is, it doesn&rsquo;t stop there. We have Lambrusco, Franciacorta, German Riesling, Malbec from Argentina&hellip; cali favorites, and of course lots of lovely Italian reds to choose from!

RT: SOUNDS GREAT! So can you guide us through. Let&rsquo;s start with wines by the glass give us your top picks on whites and Reds here.

MV: Okay great! If you are a PG fan, (and hey.. I remember when that was the only Italian white you would see on an Italian wine list by the glass) try the . <a href="https://www.carminesnyc.com/menus/menus-clv-q420-beverages">Pinot Grigio, Tiefenbrunner, Alto Adige, Italy</a> so way up NE in that upper corner of the boot you&rsquo;ll find quite a bit of German Influence hence the name&hellip; this is going to be crisp with citrus and apple.. with a touch of almond, a great aperitif.

Or if you like a buttery style chard with some nice oak influence then the&nbsp; Chalk Hill Chardonnay from RR Cali is for you..&nbsp;

RT: I&rsquo;m holding out for the reds&hellip;

MV: yes, I know you are &hellip;.so red BTG I&rsquo;m liking the Nero d&rsquo;Avola from Sicily by Regaleali&hellip; that&rsquo;s kind of fun to say, round tannins, juicy fruit profile remember the food at carmine&#39;s is southern Italian so going with the Sicilian wine absolutely makes sense for the food here

And not only do they offer these by the glass and the bottle but also the quartino.. one-third of a conventional 750-milliliter wine bottle, enough for two small glasses, or enough to carry one diner through a plate of pasta.

RT: Nice a little extra wine.. count me in.. so let&rsquo;s have a peak at the bottles you recommend..

MV: There are some standouts on the bubbly list not to be missed that I mentioned quickly above&hellip; the Ca&rsquo; Del Bosco Cuvee Prestige Franciacorta I call the Champagne of Italy..the bottle itself is beautiful! Great price too&hellip; a value wine for sure.

And also the Cleto Chiarli Lambrusco from the Emilio Romagna (the area where we get parmigiana reggiano and also prosciutto&hellip; Lambrusco is making a come back.. it&rsquo;s so fun to drink&hellip; this is great with a plate of cold antipasto ya know&hellip; Italian meats and cheese so give it whirl.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.carminesnyc.com/menus/menus-clv-q420-beverages">Lambrusco, Cleto Chiarli, Emilia Romagna</a>

RT: I like both of these options.. what about some whites and reds that could be wallet-friendly?

MV: that&rsquo;s easy. The <a href="https://www.carminesnyc.com/menus/menus-clv-q420-beverages">Soave Classico, Pieropan</a> is a great option for the food here. From stuffed artichokes to a bowl of hot mussels to Clams and spaghetti this wine made from the Garganega &nbsp;from one of the best producers.. and from the classico part of the region is going to be perfect and fit with any budget.

My red wallet-friendly <a href="https://www.carminesnyc.com/menus/menus-clv-q420-beverages">Barbera, Pio Cesare</a> a very very old Barolo producer.. family owned

For more than 100 years and through generations &hellip; lots of ripe fruit here bolstered by complexity. Veal marsala or <a href="https://www.carminesnyc.com/menus/menus-clv-q420-dining">Chicken Saltimbocca </a>

&nbsp;With this lush wine.

If you want a denser wine the <a href="https://www.carminesnyc.com/menus/menus-clv-q420-beverages">Valipolicella-Ripasso, Sant&#39; Antonio</a> 2018 this&nbsp; estate wine from the Veneto is a great bet and also great price.. the grapes here have been passed through the must of Amarone grapes which is why it&rsquo;s called Ripasso.. it means to repass&hellip;that give a riper denser fruit character, more tannins and makes it more interesting. A porterhouse steak could work with this wine.

RT: We should all drink more Valpolicella Ripasso!

Now say you&rsquo;ve secured one of those private event rooms and you&rsquo;re throwing a special party.. what are you pouring?

MV: If I plan on making an impression, then this is my line up&hellip; the Perrier Jouet grand Brut Champagne from Epernay France to great my guests&hellip;

Then on to a super interesting white &hellip;.get this!!!! They have a Gruner Veltliner from Italy&hellip; usually an Austrian variety&hellip; but this is so far up north in Italy that we&#39;re at the border of Austria so this makes sense.&nbsp; Abbazia di Novacella Gruner Veltliner 2020 a quarter of this wine is fermented in large oak casks giving it a silky texture and lean finish to go with the baked green apple, peach and wet stone notes.

Then &hellip;.on to the 2 kings of Italy: Barolo and Brunello. Nebbiolo and Sangiovese

The Damilano Barolo 2016 which is the Nebbiolo grape is going to be Tar, leather dried roses and dried cherries with polished tannins and then Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino&nbsp; 2017 is going to be Tart Cherries, Tomato paste, Italian oregano and a powerful finish..&nbsp; both of these clock in at about 14,5 % alc so robust for sure..&nbsp; and tasting these side by side is really going to be a lot of fun for guests and will be excellent with Carmine&rsquo;s red gravy dominated dishes

RT: Sounds like an event I&rsquo;d like to be invited to... killer, line up Maria

RT: well that&rsquo;s it for today&#39;s podcast episode on Carmine&rsquo;s Italian restaurant 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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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

Fernand Girard is a family-owned winery in the Loire Valley of France. They are known for producing high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of their vineyards. The winery was founded in 1934 by Fernand Girard, and is now run by his descendants.

Casual, arty grill featuring a jumbo menu with breakfast & diverse American eats, plus a patio.

Viva Garcia

Brera Osteria

Buddy V's

Yardbird

CHICA Las Vegas

Chica

Bar Zazu

Hell's Kitchen, Las Vegas

Brera

Jasmine

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

Outrigger

Available Wines
Total Wines - 10

Barefoot

Pinot Grigio NV

Pinot Gris

California, USA

Canyon Road

Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Cabernet Sauvignon

California, USA

Canyon Road Chardonnay, California NV

California, USA

Via

Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Hacienda, Chile, Rapel NV

Cabernet Sauvignon

Rapel Valley, Chile

Francois Lurton 'Sauvignon Blanc de Bordeaux' NV

Bordeaux, France

Mirassou

Pinot Noir NV

Pinot Noir

California, USA

Canyon Road

Merlot NV

Merlot

California, USA

Alamos

Malbec NV

Malbec

Mendoza, Argentina

Ghost Pines

Chardonnay NV

Chardonnay

California, USA

Whitehaven

Sauvignon Blanc NV

Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough, New Zealand