Craft New York is the debut restaurant from renowned chef Tom Colicchio. It opened in 2001 and has become a timeless classic and a must-visit destination for those seeking an exceptional dining experience.

Food: 4.5/5 &ndash; Craft New York offers an outstanding culinary experience with a thoughtfully curated farm-to-table menu that caters to a wide range of tastes and preferences. The standout dish for me was the perfectly cooked Prime T-Bone steak, which was tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The selection of sides, like the Hen of the Woods (mushrooms) and Gnocchi, complemented the main courses beautifully. However, I was slightly disappointed by the absence of exceptional fries, but this minor blemish was overshadowed by the overall excellence of the food. Also, the souffle was a true masterpiece, leaving me in awe of its exceptional taste and texture. A must-have!

Service: 4.5/5 &ndash; The service at Craft New York is genuinely excellent. The staff is highly attentive, welcoming, warm, and knowledgeable. They displayed a genuine passion for providing exceptional service and went the extra mile to ensure every guest had a memorable dining experience. However, there were a few instances where the staff seemed slightly overeager. Nonetheless, the overall level of service was exceptional.

Wine Program: 5/5 &ndash; Cheron Cowan, the Beverage Director, has curated a fabulous wine list. The selections are extensive and offer a thoughtful choice of wine for casual enthusiasts and wine nerds. The list includes all the classic bottles one would expect, as well as some hidden gems for those seeking a unique experience. The staff is well-versed in the wine offerings and can provide expert recommendations to pair with your meal. Additionally, Craft New York offers a selection of after-dinner digestives, adding the perfect touch to conclude your dining experience. Please check out the wine list in the <a href="https://www.corkrules.com/restaurants/craft/49">CorkRules</a> app for reference and also note our two CorkRules podcasts reviewing their list:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.corkrules.com/craft/episodes/649" target="_blank">Episode #304</a>&nbsp;with Cheron Cowan and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.corkrules.com/craft/episodes/61" target="_blank">Episode #55</a>&nbsp;with Grace Hood.

Vibe/Atmosphere: 6/5 &ndash; The vibe at Craft New York is simply fabulous. The restaurant exudes a trendy and hip ambiance while maintaining a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. The energy in the dining area is vibrant, making it an ideal setting for social gatherings or business dinners. Despite the lively ambiance, the acoustics are well-managed, allowing enjoyable conversations without strain. The seating arrangements are spacious and comfortable, and the modern decor adds to the aesthetic appeal. Even the bar areas look like a neighborhood place to enjoy a libation with delicious bites.

Craft New York surpassed my expectations in every regard and continues to be one of my go-to places. When I entered the restaurant, I was greeted with warm hospitality and attentive service. The menu presented various tantalizing options, and each dish exceeded my expectations regarding flavor, presentation, and quality. The wine selection was impressive, and the staff&#39;s knowledge and recommendations enhanced the dining experience. The stylish and inviting ambiance added to the overall enjoyment, making Craft New York a must-visit destination for any food lover. I highly recommend this restaurant for a remarkable dining experience, whether for a special celebration, a business event, or a memorable night out.

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Craft New York is the debut restaurant from renowned chef Tom Colicchio. It opened in 2001 and has become a timeless classic and a must-visit destination for those seeking an exceptional dining experience.

Craft New York Restaurant Review

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

Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Freya in Detroit. 

Wine List Review of Freya in Detroit

Tina Johansson

Freya

Freya 

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!

I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma Graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier.

Hi Tina, thanks for being back with us on another episode of CorkRules, - a podcast where we help simplify and demystify the wine lists at some of your favorite restaurants. We talk with certified sommeliers and wine professionals who point out interesting bottles, classic food and wine pairings, hidden gems, value wines, or splurge wines that will take your dining experience over the top.

TJ: Thank you, Robert.

RT: Today we are exploring the wine list in Freya, a Detroit restaurant serving a five-course menu only. The menu has options though so you choose from a few dishes to create your own five course meal. Even though the food is great with a lot of details, the ambiance is warm. In Freya the work hard making all people feel welcome and not uncomfortable like one might feel in some other fine dining restaurants.

TJ: Yeah, the food looks great! The dishes are very fun and creative with a lot of seasonal vegetables and innovating combinations. All is locally sourced of course in line with the current way of cooking. And the wine list is also very fun! Quite short but with exciting bottles to share. And they go further to make everyone feel comfortable with the list as well, as it&rsquo;s sorted under styles like&rdquo; aromatic &amp; fresh&rdquo; or even headings like &rdquo;looking for a pinot noir?&rdquo;.

RT: I like restaurants that dare to do their own thing with the list. So if we&rsquo;re starting with something to drink with the first part of the menu and dishes like roasted sweet potato with muhammara and pomegranate, or apple carpaccio with coconut and pink peppercorns, what do you propose we drink? A nice white perhaps?

TJ: Yes, let&rsquo;s start with white! I&rsquo;m thinking something more full-bodied and flavorful to handle those bold flavors. I&rsquo;d drink the 2019 Domaine Huet Le Haut Lieu. It&rsquo;s a Chenin Blanc from Vouvray in France with richer fruit aromas and a rounder texture to hold up against the muhammara for example.

RT: Off to a good start! Chenin Blanc is certainly a food-friendly grape variety. What else on the list is fun? A style of wine hard to come by?

TJ: Well, have you ever tried wine from the dry-farmed, old vines of Maule in Chile? Because that would by my most exciting style of wine on the list for the curious drinker! The 2021 Garage Wine Co makes their Old Vine Pale from Carignan grapes and it&rsquo;s more like a ros&eacute; than a red wine but bursting with flavor. Dry-farming is becoming more and more common in Maule, but this is a wine unique even within its niche.

RT: Oh, sounds like something quite different from a lot of the wines you would usually find from Chile.

TJ: It is! But the more modern style of wine made in Chile is very exciting for anyone looking to expand their wine horizon a bit. They make a lot of wine from a grape called Pais that used to be for bulk wine only, but in the right hands today it can produce beautiful, light reds that would remind you of a fresh Grenache or a juicy Pinot Noir.

RT: Wow, a wine country to really keep an extra eye on for the moment that is! Always fun to try new wine of course. So, if we pick one more bottle, something special to end the dinner with, what would it be? What would you like to drink in Freya if you were here to celebrate a special occasion?

TJ: How about we go to the different side of the spectrum for the last bottle of wine and go with a heavy red instead? I would celebrate with the 2017 Ashes &amp; Diamonds Red Hen Vineyard, so a Napa Cab that is. Always a good pick and a producer that deliver with every bottle! I&rsquo;m sure it would be a stunning match with the Angus Hanger steak with Peruvian potato and maitake mushrooms on the menu as well.

RT: Well, you know I won&rsquo;t say no to that! Sounds like a great bottle for an amazing time in Freya. Thank you for joining us again, Tina. 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: Info@corkrules.Com 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 wherever you get your podcasts.

And please download our new CorkRules, which has all your favorites restaurant wine lists and lets you connect and learn from your friends. Now available on apple app store.

And finally, drink what you love and please make

sure you drink responsibly.

END

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Bocca di Lupe

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Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Bond produces some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon wines in Napa Valley. The winery's philosophy is to create the finest expression of the land, and they achieve this by sourcing grapes from some of the most iconic vineyards in the region.

Modern ramen spot with Japanese-style noodle bowls & sake in a big interior with a warm vibe.

Frenchette

Le Bernardin

Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels

La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels

Charlie Bird

Becco

Buddha-Bar Restaurant New York

Buddha Bar

Franks Wine Bar

Frank's

Maison

Maison Premiere

Pastis

Aldo Sohm Wine Bar

Aldo Sohm

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

IZAKAYA E.A.K. Hell's Kitchen

Available Wines
Total Wines - 8

Santa Maria La Palma

Aragosta Vermentino di Sardegna 2018

Vermentino

Vermentino di Sardegna, Italy

Herència Altés

Garnatxa Negra 2018

Grenache

Catalunya, Spain

Broadside

Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Cabernet Sauvignon

California, USA

Santa Maria La Palma

Aragosta Vermentino di Sardegna 2018

Vermentino

Vermentino di Sardegna, Italy

Brusset

Les Boudalles Ventoux 2020

Assemblage

Rhone, France

Cavit

Collection Pinot Grigio 2018

Pinot Gris

Valdadige, Italy

Kenzo Estate

Asatsuyu Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Sauvignon Blanc

California, USA

Le Grand Courtâge

Grande Cuvee Brut Rose NV

Blend

Vin de France, France