Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 <a href="https://www.jamesbeard.org/awards">James Beard Awards!</a> These talented individuals and establishments have demonstrated exceptional skills and contributed to the culinary world in remarkable ways. Here&#39;s a praise for each winner:

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Outstanding Chef: Rob Rubba of Oyster Oyster in Washington, D.C., showcases a mastery of flavors and a commitment to sustainable and plant-based cuisine.

Outstanding Restaurant: Friday Saturday Sunday in Philadelphia, PA, captivates diners with its impeccable service, innovative dishes, and an inviting atmosphere.

Best New Restaurant: Kann in Portland, OR, brings a fresh and exciting culinary experience to the city, pushing boundaries and delighting taste buds.

Outstanding Restaurateur: Ellen Yin, the driving force behind High Street Hospitality Group, including Fork, a.kitchen + bar, and High Street Philly in Philadelphia, PA, has created a dining empire known for its exceptional quality and diverse offerings.

Outstanding Hospitality: The Quarry in Monson, ME, stands out for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, ensuring that guests feel truly cared for.

Emerging Chef: Damarr Brown of Virtue in Chicago, IL, has emerged as a rising star, showcasing culinary creativity and a deep passion for his craft.

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Margarita Manzke of R&eacute;publique in Los Angeles, CA, creates stunning desserts that are as visually captivating as they are delicious.

Outstanding Bakery: Yoli Tortilleria in Kansas City, MO, crafts artisanal tortillas that elevate any meal with their authentic taste and texture.

Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Ototo in Los Angeles, CA, offers an impeccable selection of wines and other beverages that enhance the dining experience with every sip.

Outstanding Bar: Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu, HI, is a haven for cocktail enthusiasts, delivering exceptional libations with skill and flair.

Best Chef: Midwest: Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger of Fairchild in Madison, WI, create a culinary symphony, fusing local ingredients with inventive techniques.

Best Chef: Mountain: Kris Komori of KIN in Boise, ID, showcases the diverse flavors of the region, combining culinary traditions with contemporary flair.

Best Chef: South: Natalia Vallejo of Cocina al Fondo in San Juan, PR, celebrates the vibrant flavors of Puerto Rican cuisine with a modern twist.

Best Chef: Northeast: Sherry Pocknett of Sly Fox Den Too in Charlestown, RI, captivates diners with her creative dishes rooted in indigenous ingredients and traditions.

Best Chef: Southwest: Andrew Black of Grey Sweater in Oklahoma City, OK, dazzles diners with his innovative approach to regional ingredients and bold flavors.

Best Chef: Southeast: Terry Koval of The Deer and the Dove in Decatur, GA, showcases a deep understanding of Southern cuisine, blending tradition with contemporary techniques.

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic: Chutatip &ldquo;Nok&rdquo; Suntaranon of Kalaya in Philadelphia, PA, takes diners on a culinary journey through the flavors of Thailand, beautifully balancing authenticity and innovation.

Best Chef: New York State: Junghyun Park of Atomix in New York, NY, crafts refined and intricate dishes that pay homage to Korean cuisine with a contemporary twist.

Best Chef: California: Justin Pichetrungsi of Anajak Thai in Sherman Oaks, CA, showcases the rich and complex flavors of Thai cuisine, creating a memorable dining experience.

Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific: Vince Nguyen of Berlu in Portland, OR, presents a menu that celebrates the bounty of the Pacific Northwest, highlighting local and sustainable ingredients.

Best Chef: Texas: Benchawan Jabthong Painter of Street to Kitchen in Houston, TX, brings the vibrant and diverse flavors of Thai street food to the heart of Texas, creating an unforgettable culinary experience.

Best Chef: Great Lakes: Tim Flores and Genie Kwon of Kasama in Chicago, IL, craft innovative Filipino-inspired dishes that celebrate the flavors and traditions of their heritage.

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Special mentions for the wine-related categories:

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Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Ototo in Los Angeles, CA, impresses with its curated wine selection, showcasing a diverse range of varietals and regions.

Outstanding Bar: Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu, HI, offers an exceptional selection of wines, spirits, and cocktails, ensuring a memorable drinking experience for all.

&quot;At CorkRules we&rsquo;d like to congratulate&nbsp;the winners of the 2023 James Beard Awards! You inspire us with your passion and innovation. The restaurant industry continues to reimagine itself and these winners are leading the inspiration&rdquo;, Robert Tas, CEO/Founder of CorkRules.

Cheers to all the winners.&nbsp;

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

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

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the wine list at the French brasserie, La Voile. 

Wine List Review of La Voile, Boston

Michaela Quinlan

La Voile

La Voile

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 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 La Voile. This classic, French Brasserie is located in Boston and Brookline, MA. Featuring lunch and dinner seven days a week, this menu has it all, including three course tasting menus.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: Calling all Francophiles! Not only do they offer a three-course dinner tasting, but a three-course dessert wine tasting as well. LaVoile&rsquo;s wine list is truly a lesson in French wines. I wanted to find some unique selections for us today, as there are so many wonderful options.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: The first wine to catch my eye was 2020 Clos du Palet, Vouvray from the Loire Valley. This white wine consists of Chenin blanc which showcases aromas of white flowers, peach, apricot, and a nutty finish. A white wine to consider as you begin your dining experience, or to pair with shellfish, and lightly sauced proteins.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: &nbsp;A stand-out Bordeaux to consider would be the 2016 Chateau Vieux Chaigneau, from Lalande de Pomerol. Lalande de Pomerol is located on the Right Bank of Bordeaux just north of the prestigious Pomerol appellation. This Bordeaux blend of merlot and cabernet sauvignon is rich and smooth with aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, cherries, cassis, earth and smoke. The lingering finish will also pair beautifully with richly sauced proteins.

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: For our fans of rich, red wines, consider the 2016 Chateau Montus, from Madiran, located in Southwest France. This red wine received 95 points from the Wine Enthusiast and consists of tannat and cabernet sauvignon. The tannat grape is similar to Malbec and is known in Southwest France and Uruguay. This must-try red features ripe blueberries, blackberries, fresh acidity, spice, and a finish of earth and smoke. A wonderful companion to rich pastas and sauces.

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: A beautiful bottle for the table would be the 2019 Domaine Tinel-Blondelet, Pouilly Fum&eacute; from the Loire Valley of France. Not to be confused with Pouilly Fuisse which produces chardonnay, the Pouilly Fume subregion produces sauvignon blanc. This white wine features bright acidity, and minerality with flavors of ripe pear, citrus, lime zest, and a hint of salinity on the finish. This is a wonderful selection if the table is kicking off the evening with a cheese plate, or to pair with light seafood.

&nbsp;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: the first quality/value wine that caught my eye was the 2021 Domaine le Freud Pinot Gris, Tendance Sec from Alsace, France. This is a versatile, floral white wine that showcases white flowers, apricot, lime zest, with notes of honey on the finish. This dry, medium-bodied wine is perfect to pair with cheese, rich proteins, and spicy foods.

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: For our red wine fans, a stellar quality/value wine is the 2019 Chateau de la Liqui&egrave;re, from Faug&egrave;res in the Languedoc region of France. This Syrah and Grenache blend is rich, full bodied, and showcases ripe blueberries, cherries, spice, black pepper, and notes of licorice on the finish. If you are eyeing pasta or richly sauced proteins, this is the wine to consider.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: A stellar wine for any special occasion would be the 1988 Chateau Labegorce Margaux from Bordeaux, France. This Left Bank Bordeaux winery is truly a classic, dating back to 1821. This blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc is certainly on the Bordeaux lover&#39;s list of wines to enjoy. The classic ripe red cherries, cassis, smoke, leather, and earth combined with rich, round tannins, make this classic vintage a joy to add to any special occasion.

RT: Michaela, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate LaVoile&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.

&nbsp;

Thank you.

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End

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Sleek choice offering Italian fare such as pasta & pizza, plus weekend brunch, macaroons & pastries.

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Bottega Louie - WEHO

Brocard Chablis Burgundy France 2020

Burgundy, France

Nicolas Feuillatte

Reserve Exclusive Rose Champagne NV

Blend

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Taittinger

Brut La Francaise Champagne NV

Blend

Champagne, France

The White Knight

Viognier 2021

Viognier

Clarksburg, USA

King Estate

Pinot Gris 2021

Pinot Gris

Oregon, USA

Cirelli

Pecorino Colline Pescaresi 2020

Pecorino

Italy

Feudi di San Gregorio

Falanghina 2020

Falanghina

Campania, Italy

Vigne

Le, di Zamo, Ribolla Gialla, Friuli Colli Orientali 2020

Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy

The Four Graces

Pinot Noir 2021

Pinot Noir

Oregon, USA

Luna Nuda Prosecco Treviso Italy NV

Veneto, Italy

Araldica

Barbera Piemonte 2021

Barbera

Piemonte, Italy

Jeio

Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Brut NV

Glera

Veneto, Italy

Mastroberardino

Greco di Tufo 2021

Greco

Campania, Italy

Château Fleur d'Eymerits

Lalande de Pomerol 2020

Merlot

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Failla

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California, USA