Wine can bring out the best in food, and yes, that does include seafood, but it&rsquo;s not only white wine that pairs well with seafood, despite the popular misconception, some red wine pairs well with some seafood. When you are choosing wine to pair with seafood, you should pay more attention to the wine notes, sweetness and dryness, than the color of the wine.

So how do you choose which wine pairs well with seafood. Certified sommelier, Michaela Quinlan reviews the wine list at Oceana where she reviews the list and offers pairing suggestions.

The wine list at Oceana is an extensive, award-winning 33-pages. A list of this size would take quite some time to navigate, but Michaela quickly identifies fabulous standout wines from around the globe and offers a few tips on pairing wine with seafood to help you make a wiser and tastier choice all in under five minutes.

Let&rsquo;s start with the bubbles because who doesn&rsquo;t like adding a little sparkle to the beginning of the meal?

All of the sparkling whites, whether French, Italian or Spanish,&nbsp; Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, will complement fried dishes like calamari, or any seafood fried and cooked in batter, but these bottles also pair deliciously well with caviar.&nbsp; At Oceana, you can order several by the glass, including&nbsp; Prosecco, Palidin, Extra Dry, Millesimato, Veneto, Italy 2020.

Moving on to the more obvious choice of white wine with seafood, to choose wisely, all foodies should understand which whites pair well and why. For example, a dry white wine like pinot gris or sauvignon blanc pairs best with meaty fish like cod and tilapia.

Moving on to the Spanish whites Michaela recommends the Albari&ntilde;o,&nbsp; Valtea, R&iacute;as Baixas, 2020.

The traditional cuisine of Portugal and Spain are seafood rich, so it makes sense that the local varietals of albarino and veldehro pair well with shellfish dishes of mussels, crab, scallops and lobster. These wines are light and fresh with notes of lemon and the right acidity and crispness, to complement the delicate flavors of the shellfish. Just as shellfish should not be overcooked, the wine should not overpower.

If chardonnay all day is your comfort zone, you are in good company. Chardonnay is popular for good reason. These fuller whites are heavier than the pinot gris or sauvignon blanc, but work well with bass, oysters, salmon, and even lobster. The heavier the seafood the more full-bodied the wine is a good rule to follow. At Oceana, the Chardonnay, Saint-V&eacute;ran, Domaine Luquet, Burgundy, 2020 is a good way to go.

Interested in more wine tips and recommendations? Click the link and listen to <a href="https://corkrules.com/episode/details/3">the podcast wine review</a> of Oceana.

Cheers.

Wine can bring out the best in food, and yes, that does include seafood, but it’s not only white wine that pairs well with seafood, despite the popular misconception, some red wine pairs well with some seafood. When you are choosing wine to pair with seafood, you should pay more attention to the wine notes, sweetness and dryness, than the color of the wine.

Wines that Pair Well with Seafood at Oceana

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

Tiny's

Tiny&#39;s

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!

&nbsp;

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 Tiny&rsquo;s. This family run, neighborhood spot located in the heart of Tribeca features classic American fare and stand-out seafood dishes. When you are in the neighborhood, you can&rsquo;t miss Tiny&rsquo;s in the pink townhouse.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: Tiny&rsquo;s curated wine list features several standouts, and hopefully new favorites, to pair with their incredible menu.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: The first wine that caught my eye was the 2019 Vignai da Duline, Friulano from Friuli, Italy. Friulano is a dry white wine from Northern Italy and is an excellent aperitif or perfect pairing with any shellfish or seafood. Similar in style to Sauvignon Blanc with citrus and grapefruit, the Friulano also features notes of pear and ripe peach with a mineral finish.

RT: That&rsquo;s a great start. Did any red wine jump out at you?

MQ: Staying in Italy, another to consider would be the 2018 Rosso Della Motta, nebbiolo from the Piemonte region. With balanced flavors and aromas of ripe red cherries, raspberries, leather and oak, this Nebbiolo is a stand-out pairing for pastas and meat sauces.

RT: That is for sure unique.

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: &nbsp;A must try from Spain is the 2017 Marques de Tomares, Rioja Blanco. This blend of Viura and Garnacha Blanca showcases notes of citrus, pear, and herbs, along with tropical fruit, and a nutty finish. A perfect complement to roasted chicken and fish.

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: &nbsp;If you are eyeing some of the richer entrees on Tiny&rsquo;s menu, then I would consider the 2015 Montecariano, Amarone della Valpolicella from &nbsp;Veneto in Italy. Amarone consists of a rich, complex blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and a splash of Molinara. Showcasing black cherries, blackberries, and plumb, with silky tannins, and a smooth finish of vanilla, and cocoa.

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: Of course, I have two favorites for this category. To begin, I would consider the 2019 Feudi di San Gregorio, Falanghina from Campania. Falanghina is the featured white grape of Campania that features bright acidity and citrus, but also balances hints of honeysuckle, with classic nutty/almond notes on the finish. Another complement to seafood and vegetable dishes, all at an excellent price.

RT: These are all sounding great. What else caught your eye?

MQ: You may know by now, that I simply can&rsquo;t pass by a Cabernet Franc, especially a high-quality, value Cabernet Franc. With that in mind, I would consider the 2020 Sebastien David &quot;Hurluberlu&quot;, Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley in France. It is medium-bodied, but still offers all the punch of rich red wine. It features raspberries, red cherries, with notes of plumb, earth, herbs, and oak. A wonderful pairing for herb-roasted chicken and blue cheese.

RT: For me personally&hellip;

MQ: Absolutely!

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: When searching for that special bottle on each menu, I find myself seeking out family-run wineries who tell their story in every bottle. The same can be said for the 2015 Il Colle Brunello di Montalcino in Tuscany who have been meticulously making wine for over forty years. &nbsp;A perfect growing season, warm and dry during the summer months resulting in concentrated flavors of raspberries, blackberries, and currants, along with violet floral notes, smooth tannins, with hints of tobacco and nutmeg on the finish. Another wonderful addition to any occasion.

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Tiny&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

Josh Cellars was created in honor of Joseph Carr's father, a volunteer firefighter who always taught him to never forget those everyday moments that are worth celebrating. The wines are meant to be enjoyed with family and friends, and to celebrate life's small victories.

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

Poivre et Pastel

Available Wines
Total Wines - 4

Thibault Liger-Belair, Moulin-a-Vent, Champ de Cour NV

Beaujolais, France

Chateau De L'Engarran, Rose, Pays d'Oc NV

Pays d'Oc, France

Les Javeaux

Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil NV

Blend

France

Delas

Viognier Vin de Pays d'Oc NV

Viognier

Pays d'Oc, France