<a href="https://www.viacarota.com/">Via Carota</a>&nbsp;is a trattoria located at 51 Grove Street in the West Village. Via Carota is all about honoring its Italian roots and this is clearly represented in the ambience, the food, the decor, and, of course, the wine. If you are dining at Via Carota, listen to the CorkRules&rsquo; <a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/via-carota/episodes/20">podcast on the wine list </a>to pick up a few suggestions from a certified sommelier.

In an earlier article, we identified the Italian wine regions, but in this article, we&rsquo;re going to focus on Italian wine labels to help you understand more about the bottle you are ordering.

A few key terms you should understand about Italian wine labels&nbsp;are the official designations: DOCG, DOC, and IGT. Just like the French counterpart, appellations, the designations identify the rules of wine cultivation and production that are in place for the locations that receive the designations.

So, let&rsquo;s take a look at what they mean and how that affects the wine you buy.

DOCG is the abbreviation for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita ((Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin). This is the top classification and the most strict. It governs all aspects of production, including which varieties can be grown, where they can be grown, and how the wines are aged. Quite simply, the stricter the rules the higher the quality of wine. There are only 74 DOCGs in Italy, with the majority of them located in &nbsp;Piedmont, Veneto, and Tuscany. This is why these regions are considered to be the best wine-producing regions.

DOC is the abbreviation for Denominazione di Origine Controllata (Denomination of Controlled Region) The rules of this designation govern production and style, the less stringent rules allow more wine producers to jump achieve certification. Currently, there are 334 DOCs in Italy.

And finally, the least regulated classification is IGT, an abbreviation for Indicazione Geografica Tipica (Typical Geographical Indication) this was first introduced in 1992, &nbsp;and is basically a classification that only refers to location but allows wine producers to use grapes and production styles that are not allowed under DOC and DOCG regulations. Despite the ease of production regulations, currently, there are only 118 IGTs in Italy. Most wine producers want to focus on quality and earn recognition for producing quality wine.

In addition to the official classifications, there are a few other terms you should become familiar with:

Classico: This refers to a zone within a region that is considered the original area of production.

Azienda Agricola: This indicates the farm or estate that produces the grapes and produces wine.

Annata or Vendemmia: This refers to a specific harvest or vintage and is hugely informative if you understand the particular &lsquo;good&rsquo; or &lsquo;bad&rsquo; years in grape cultivation, most specifically, the influence of the weather.

Produttore: Is the producer - a producer could be anyone who makes the wine. So, it&rsquo;s generally best to choose a producer that is also the estate and vineyard.

Tenuta: Refers to the Estate

Vigneto: Quite simple, the vineyard

So, now that you can read the label, all that remains is to taste the wine and, the most difficult part, remember which wines you love, because in this industry, regardless of locations, producers, and grape, the most important point is to drink the wine you love.

Cheers!

&nbsp;

About the CorkRules Podcast:&nbsp;Each week we pour a glass and share top restaurant wine lists picks, providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the wine list through sommelier recommendations, suggested food pairings and expert insights

About CorkRules:&nbsp;CorkRules, the first digital wine app experience, makes it easier for you to navigate the restaurant wine list, and provides you with personalized wine recommendations from your favorite restaurants. Through CorkRules you can find the perfect wine for every occasion based on your preferences. Connect with friends and wine experts to discover new wines to try and learn about wine. CorkRules makes it easier to discover and drink what you love. &nbsp;

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Via Carota is a trattoria located at 51 Grove Street in the West Village. Via Carota is all about honoring its Italian roots and this is clearly represented in the ambience, the food, the decor, and, of course, the wine. If you are dining at Via Carota, listen to the CorkRules’ podcast on the wine list to pick up a few suggestions from a certified sommelier.

Italian Wine Labels Explained at Via Carota

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

Girasole

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas embark on another wine adventure as they peruse the wine list at Girasole. Chef-owned and operated, Girasole serves authentic Italian cuisine.

Wine List Review of Girasole, Virginia

Michaela Quinlan

Girasole

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode, we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier.

&nbsp;

Hello Michaela,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to be back together for another episode.

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MQ: Hi Robert!

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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.

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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.

&nbsp;

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

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RT: Today we are talking about Girasole. Located in The Plains, the heart of Virginia&rsquo;s Hunt Country, Girasole is chef owned and operated and features authentic Italian cuisine with house made pasta and local ingredients.

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Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

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MQ: Girasole offers an extensive, Italian dominant list with half bottles, local wine selections, and a limited Reserve list. There are many options to pair with their fresh and local menu. We hope you enjoy today&rsquo;s selections.

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RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked the list did you see anything jump out at you?

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MQ: The first to catch my eye was the 2020 Wilhelm Walch &lsquo;Prendo&rsquo; Pinot Grigio from the Alto Adige of Italy. This Northern Italian white wine is well balanced with bright acidity, tangerine, ripe green apple, and citrus, along with fresh herbs on the mineral finish. A perfect way to begin your dining experience or to pair with cheese and salads.

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RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

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MQ: Heading to Tuscany, a red that caught my eye was the 2018 Elisabetta &lsquo;Brunetti&rsquo; Sangiovese. While medium bodied with soft, round tannins, this Sangiovese can still stand up to richly sauced pasta and proteins. The ripe red cherries, blackberries, hints of white pepper, cedar, earth, and cocoa make this Sangiovese and excellent pairing with Girasole&rsquo;s menu.

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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;?

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MQ: Travelling further south to Puglia, a must try is the 2020 Leone de Castris &lsquo;Five Roses&rsquo; Rose. This is the Rose for red wine drinkers. Consisting of a blend of Negroamaro and Malvasia Nera, this richly colored Rose features citrus, tangerine, watermelon, and ripe strawberries, along with bright acidity, and a mineral finish. Pair this Rose with herbed proteins and charcuterie.

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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?

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MQ: Returning to Tuscany, a wine to consider for the table would be the renowned and consistently highly rated and organic 2018 Avignesi &lsquo;Desiderio&rsquo; Merlot. This full bodied, aromatic red wine features notes of sage, fennel, and eucalyptus, along with ripe black berries, boysenberry, and ripe plumb. The long, mineral finish lingers with smoke and leather. A winner for all richly sauced pasta and proteins.

&nbsp;

RT: Ooh, Terrific.

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Michaela, speaking of price, sometimes people have a budget in mind.&nbsp; Any other great value wines you&rsquo;d point us to?&nbsp;

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MQ: I am a fan of this next grape varietal and I hope you become one as well. Consider the 2020 Tasca d&rsquo;Almerita Grillo from Sicily. Grillo is a white grape that produces bright, dry, and aromatic white wines. This wine features bright acidity, lemon and lime zest, notes of salinity, white flowers, and that classic almond/nuttiness on the finish. Pair this excellent quality and value wine with shellfish, seafood and cheese.

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RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

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MQ: Let&rsquo;s return to Tuscany for the 2019 Castell di Poppiano Syrah. If you have not tried many Syrah from Italy, do give this one a try. It showcases all of the Syrah qualities we love such as ripe red cherries, ripe plumb, notes of sage, black pepper, earth, and smoke. The round tannins and herbal notes make this an excellent quality and value wine to pair with pasta, pizza, and herbed proteins.

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RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

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&nbsp;MQ: What would an Italian list review be without mentioning a Barolo? If you are looking to add to your dining experience, consider celebrating with the 2018 Giacomo Conterno &lsquo;Cascina Francia&rsquo; Barolo from the Piedmont. While Barolo is the region within the Piedmont, the red grape in this stellar wine is Nebbiolo. This 97 point rated Barolo is rich and full bodied with fresh acidity, ripe red cherries, ripe blackberries, with notes of raspberries and herbs. The classic aromas of rose and licorice, along with smoke and tobacco on the finish make this wine one to celebrate. Extend your special event by allowing this wine to be decanted.

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RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Girasole&rsquo;s wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try them myself. &nbsp;

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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 and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

&nbsp;

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;

&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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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

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Luca

Old Vine Malbec 2019

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Roederer Estate

Brut NV

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Honig

Sauvignon Blanc 2017

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Heritage Collection Merlot 2019

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Castello Nipozzano

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Balletto, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley NV

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Cellars

Ladd, Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2014

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Green & Red Vineyard Chiles Canyon Vineyards Zinfandel NV

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