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.

Alto means high, referring to altitude when talking about wine, in both Spanish and Italian. Recently higher altitude locations have been planted more and more. A few decades ago, these areas were not seen as suitable for growing quality grapes as the climate back then was too cool. Today, with many producers witnessing a rising temperature, and a lot of new techniques in the vineyard, these areas are finally becoming viable. The higher you plant the cooler the temperature will be, but you will also receive more sun which in turn helps ripen the grapes. The temperature will be quite warm during the day, but very cool at night. This leads to ripe fruit aromas developing during the day, followed by a cool nighttime keeping the fresh acidity in the grapes, the best of both worlds for the grapes.

In Italy this development has been very prominent in northern Piemonte in the last decade. There is now talk about an area called Alto Piemonte, comprised of a few different wine regions. They are all located higher up in the mountains, and like the most famous wines from Piemonte many are based on the Nebbiolo grape. The most well-known wine regions would be Ghemme, Gattinara, and Boca.

But Alto Piemonte is not the only area where the term is used. In quite a few cases, in both Italy, Spain, Argentina and Chile the term can be seen used as part of a producer name or even as the name of a specific wine, sometimes to convey the wine is from a high planted vineyard. It is not uncommon however for winemakers to use the term to show it&rsquo;s their highest quality wine, not a wine from high altitude.

More wine growers have shown interest in high altitude vineyards lately, and the record of the highest planted one is something a few are trying to beat. It&rsquo;s safe to say the positive effects the altitude has on the growing grapes mean these vineyards are here to stay, and terms as alto may be used in more languages soon.

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

In this special episode of CorkRules, Robert Tas interviews Bartholomew Broadbent, founder and CEO of Broadbent Wines Limited. 

Interview with Bartholomew Broadbent of Broadbent Wines

Robert Tas

Bartholomew Broadbent

&nbsp;

Bartholomew Broadbent:

RT: Hello and Welcome to Corkrules!&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Excited to announce our CorkRules app is now available for download, it has over 40K of your favorite restaurants where you can get personalized recommendations, price transparency, and connect with your friends. It&rsquo;s a place to discover and order wine with confidence.

&nbsp;

Welcome to today&rsquo;s podcast with my special guest, Bartholomew Broadbent who is wine expert specializing in madeira and port. And also, the son of industry legend Michael Broadbent.

&nbsp;

Bartholomew, Welcome to the CorkRules podcast.

&nbsp;

BB: &hellip;

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RT: Bartholomew, you and your family have some very impressive roots in the wine industry. Can you share your journey from working with Steven Spurrier to where you are today?&nbsp;

&nbsp;

BB:&hellip;

&nbsp;

RT: Wow, fantastic, journey. So, we are here to talk Madeira, I must admit I&rsquo;m very much novice, but I&rsquo;m fascinated by its rich history can we start with a little primer?

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

BB: &hellip;

&nbsp;

RT: I read the George Washington and Thomas Jefferson this was their drink of choice?

&nbsp;

BB: &hellip;

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RT:&nbsp; As I understand it Madeira almost disappeared in the US after prohibition and you brough it back in the late &lsquo;80&rsquo;s?

&nbsp;

BB: &hellip;

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RT: Can you walk us through the types of Madeira there are?

&nbsp;

BB: &hellip;

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RT: Talk about NV and Vintage Madeira? How old is old?

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BB: &hellip;

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RT: What are the best ways to enjoy Madeira? Food pairings? &nbsp;

&nbsp;

BB: &hellip;

&nbsp;

RT: Can you recommend a starter Madeira for a rookie like me?

&nbsp;

BB: &hellip;

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RT: What about something for our more experienced wine collector?

&nbsp;

BB: &hellip;

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RT: You also do a lot in Port how do they compare?

&nbsp;

BB: &hellip;

&nbsp;

RT: Let&rsquo;s pivot our conversation to the industry and how we get younger consumers to try to these fabulous wines? I don&rsquo;t see too many Gen z&rsquo;ers ordering a glass.

&nbsp;

BB:

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

RT: Bartholomew, thank you so much joining us here on CorkRules sharing your passion and knowledge. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

BB: &hellip;

&nbsp;

RT:&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.

&nbsp;

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please download the CorkRules app that has over 40K restaurants that provides personalized recommendations, provides price transparency, and allows you to connect you&rsquo;re your friends. Order with confidence.

&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

Thank you.

&nbsp;

End

&nbsp;

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

Berticot is a family-owned winery in the southwest of France. They specialize in producing wines from the Côtes de Duras and Côtes du Marmandais appellations. The winery is known for its commitment to sustainable winemaking practices and producing high-quality wines that express the unique terroir of the region.

Grilled meats, veggies & seafood with British flair in a light-filled space with a bar, plus brunch.

The American Express Centurion Global Lounge Network

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

queensyard

Saracco

Moscato d'Autunno 2021

Moscato Bianco

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Casa Smith Moscato VINO, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley 2018

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Saracco

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Nebbiolo Blend

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Mollydooker

The Boxer Shiraz 2018

Shiraz/Syrah

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Blend

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Fattoria di

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Massolino

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Ziata, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa 2019

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Costa

Tenuta di Ghizzano 'Il Ghizzano', Toscana IGT 2019

Tuscany, Italy