<a href="https://ko.momofuku.com/">Momofuku Ko</a>&nbsp;is an award-winning restaurant in NYC that offers an exceptional dining experience. &nbsp;It won two Michelin stars in 2009 and has maintained that status ever since. It was also awarded three stars by the New York Times in 2015, and in 2019, it was ranked No. 76 on the World&rsquo;s 50 Best Restaurants list. With credentials like this, you&rsquo;d expect a top-quality wine list and you would not be disappointed.

So, if dining Japanese, which wines pair well?

Japanese cuisine is quite varied and includes a wide range of seafood dishes, tempura, sushi and sashimi, pork, chicken, ramen&hellip;, the flavors and textures are diverse, which means we need a wine list with a variety of options.

With sushi and sashimi, you can go wrong with a crisp, clean white wine like a gr&uuml;ner veltliner. A white wine with high acidity and lemony, citrus notes works well with seafood. Sauvignon blanc also pairs well with sushi, and, of course, Champagne also works well.

If you opt for a bowl of ramen or miso soup, the strong umami calls for a bolder wine that won&rsquo;t be overpowered nor overpower. Consider choosing a fortified wine like an Assyrtiko from Greece or even a Manzanilla sherry. However, many ramen dishes use soy sauce, in this case, a light-bodied pinot noir will also work well.

Fried, battered and grilled dishes like tempura, katsu, karaage and agedashi tofu pair well with aromatic and full-bodied whites, such as chardonnay or pinot gris. However, light to medium reds can also work spectacularly well. Think pinot noir, gamay or grenache.

If you are thinking of dining at Momofuku Ko, &nbsp;check out the CorkRules<a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/momofuku-las-vegas/episodes/23">&nbsp;podcast </a>episode with certified sommelier Michaela Quinlan. She navigates the wine list at &nbsp;Momofuku Ko and offers a few stellar suggestions.

Cheers!

&nbsp;

About the CorkRules Podcast:&nbsp;Each week we pour a glass and share top restaurant wine list 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;

Momofuku Ko is an award-winning restaurant in NYC that offers an exceptional dining experience.  It won two Michelin stars in 2009 and has maintained that status ever since. It was also awarded three stars by the New York Times in 2015, and in 2019, it was ranked No. 76 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. With credentials like this, you’d expect a top-quality wine list and you would not be disappointed.

Pairing Wine with Japanese Food at Momofuku Ko

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

Bardot Brasserie

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Bardot Brasserie,

Wine List Review of Bardot Brasserie, Las Vegas

Maria Valetta

Bardot Brasserie Aria Casino and Resort Las Vegas 

Winelist: 

RT): Hi Everyone,&nbsp; welcome back to CorkRules! The wine podcast that&rsquo;s here to help YOU navigate all your favorite restaurant wine lists.

I&rsquo;m Robert Tas, along with Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria the Wine Blonde. Welcome back Maria

MV: Hello Robert! Today we are checking out a Las Vegas French Brasserie

RT: Tres Bien! I love it., but before we get started, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules. CorkRules was created to help you navigate the wine list so you will always love the wine you drink. With CorkRules in hand, you can easily and confidently make selections from the wine lists based on your wine preferences of flavor, style, region, and even price point. Plus, you can check out the wines your friends tried and order them yourself. So have a listen to our podcast as our top Sommeliers help you find those hidden gems, value wines, and those special celebration-worthy bottles.

RT: Today we are discovering the wine list at Bardot Brasserie, located in the Aria Hotel and casino in Las Vegas. Michael Mina designed Bardot to mimic the vibe of the intimate cafes lining the streets of Paris. The menu features elevated versions of traditional Parisian Brasserie fare for dinner and weekend brunch all served in a cozy dining atmosphere. The wine list is expansive with both new-world and old-world options. When Michael Mina is at the helm you know the wine is going to be a knock-out selection, so I can&rsquo;t wait to see what you think of this list, Maria!

&nbsp;

RT: This list is incredible! I mean I knew it would be . All of Michael Mina&rsquo;s wine lists are hand selected and super interesting. This one, of course, features plenty of options from France, but also the US, Italy, Germany, even Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina are well represented. Very well thought out.

RT: SO where do we begin with a list like this?

Well with over 25 wines by the glass I&rsquo;d say order something by the glass as you peruse through the rest of this foreverrrr list. I&#39;d recommend to start with a glass of the

MICHEL GONET, BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT, CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE&nbsp;&nbsp;this is going to be all Chardonnay grapes. I love this producer and I don&#39;t see it often available by the glass but if this is a little bit on the pricier side then I would recommend the

LUCIEN ALBRECHT, CR&Eacute;MANT DE ALSACE ROS&Eacute;,&nbsp; ALSACE, FRANCE&nbsp;&nbsp;an Alsatian sparkling wine made in the same method as champagne. The lovely deep pink color from 100% pinot noir grapes is just gorgeous!

RT: How about white and red standouts by the glass?

MV: The CRISTOM, CHARDONNAY,from&nbsp; EOLA-AMITY HILLS, in WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON&nbsp;&nbsp;

$28 I love all of their wines&hellip; especially their Chardonnay so much going on in this glass and perfect with French butter sauces.

My Red Pick by the glass is the FAMILLE PERRIN &#39;SINARDS&#39; , CH&Acirc;TEAUNEUF DU PAPE come on tell me how often do you see CH&Acirc;TEAUNEUF DU PAPE by the glass at a restaurant?

RT: like never&hellip;

MV: right so this is a must-order wine especially with this style of food b because it has a rustic character.

RT: Maria Are there any treasures that one should not miss?

MV: The GREG LINN &#39;HOWLING&#39;, SYRAH from ARROYO GRANDE VALLEY, in CALIFORNIA 1.5&nbsp;Liter 2009 I have this wine in my cellar as we speak, I have 2 bottles left and I&rsquo;m going to cry when they are all gone. Hard to find this good of a wine for THIS price point remember it&rsquo;s a magnum size!

RT: wow awesome find!

RT: How about some value wines? I mean I see they have a magnum of DOMAINE DE LA ROMAN&Eacute;E-CONTI &#39;LA T&Acirc;CHE&#39; for $45,000 but seriously&hellip; who normally has that kind of budget? Can you help us find some hidden gems at great price points?

MV: Oh yeah that&rsquo;s like next next next level!

Sure, so 2 standouts <a name="CASTILLON_CÔTES_DE_BORDEAUX">GUY BRETON &#39;VIEILLES VIGNES&#39;, (veeyaya Veenya) MORGON&nbsp;2020&nbsp;</a>

$100. Morgon is one of the 10 crus of BEAUJOLAIS. IT IS MADE FROM 100% GAMAY GRAPES AND IS from one of my favorite wine importers Kermit Lynch anything he endorses is always stellar and this is going to go with everything from steak tartare to the whole roasted duck.

Now You could also go a different direction with French wine from the cooler climate of the Loire Valley in France with the DOMAINE DE NOIR&Eacute; &#39;DOLIA&#39;&nbsp;2019 Chinon.

$120, that&rsquo;s A great value, this is all cabernet franc &ndash; &ldquo;dolia&rdquo; is the Latin name for a terracotta amphora these vessels have a beautiful tulip shape. The Winemaker used only amphora to age this wine - you will get a silky texture in the mouth because of this aging process.

RT: Those sound like 2 great affordable French red beauties for our listeners. Any whites you could recommend? Something for the Trout Almondine?

MV: Yes, what is really intriguing to me is the BORGOGNO &#39;DERTHONA&#39;&nbsp;2018&nbsp;Timorasso&hellip; which is a white grape from Italy, indigenous to the NW area of piedmont.&nbsp; This is one of those wines that would have been extinct but was recently revived thanks to local winemakers. They are usually full-bodied whites with a little bit of floral honey on the nose. &nbsp;I say get out of the chardonnay box and try some TimorAsso! $120

RT: Fun! Trying a grape I have never had. Sign me up! Now obviously you could really splurge here given the price of that DRC Burgundy, but what about something that is special, still pairs well with the food, is celebration-worthy and ya know&hellip; still attainable for wine lovers like you and me?

MV: yes.. ha-ha &ndash; I got ya! So If you&rsquo;re at Bardot for Brunch then Champagne or Ros&eacute; are the way to go and you can&rsquo;t go wrong with the PIPER HEIDSIECK &#39;RARE&rsquo; 2006&nbsp;vintage region&hellip; this beautiful bottle is Piper&rsquo;s Top Cuvee. I just popped a magnum of this baby, the 1998 vintage and it was magical.

And for a stunning Ros&eacute; The CH&Acirc;TEAU D&#39;ESCLANS &#39;GARRUS&#39;, C&Ocirc;TES DE PROVENCE&nbsp;2019 $285 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I&#39;m sure you heard of whispering Angel?

RT: yes !

RT: well, this is the top bottle from the same producer but this is no ordinary rose this is single-vineyard Ros&eacute;, made from nearly 100-year-old Grenache vines fermented and aged in new large French oak barrels and that&rsquo;s why it&rsquo;s so much more expensive.

RT: NICE! Any reds we can treat ourselves to?

My Pick, the CH&Acirc;TEAU PONTET - CANET&nbsp;

$525 a Bordeaux blend dominated by cab sauvignon, Pauillac produces some of the most concentrated and complex wines in the world and they need TIME&hellip; so here you go aged and ready to drink and ready to pair with that herb-roasted prime rib.

RT: now that sounds satisfying to the soul!

MV: C&rsquo;est Vrai! It&rsquo;s Heaven really!

RT: Well thank you Maria for finding us some fabulous gems on the wine list at Tom Colicchio&rsquo;s Craftsteak at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Thank you everyone for joining us today you can find more wine tips from Maria on Instagram @Mariathewineblonde. Remember the only rule in wine is &ldquo;drink what you LOVE&rdquo;.

MV: Have a favorite wine List? Let us review it here. Send us your requests at <a href="mailto:info@corkrules.com">info@CorkRules.com</a> You can find previous episodes on your favorite podcast platform and on

The CorkRules website. Be sure to follow @CorkRules on Instagram for episode and app updates. Prices and selections subject to change, please drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&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

Priest Ranch is a family-owned and operated winery that is dedicated to producing high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of Napa Valley. Through a combination of traditional winemaking techniques and modern technology, Priest Ranch creates elegant and complex wines that are a true expression of their vineyards.

Cuban restaurant & bar serving traditional dishes, shakes & cocktails in a tropical-themed setting.

Popina

The Atlantic Grill

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

Rumba Cubana

Louis Roederer

Brut Premier Champagne NV

Chardonnay

Champagne, France

Veuve Clicquot

Yellow Label Brut NV

Champagne, France

Craggy Range

Gimblett Gravels Le Sol NV

Shiraz/Syrah

Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Marqués de Riscal

Rioja Reserva NV

Tempranillo

Rioja, Spain

San Pedro

Gato Negro Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Cabernet Sauvignon

Curico Valley, Chile

Red Peak

Zinfandel NV

Zinfandel

California, USA

Cavaliere d'Oro

Chianti Classico NV

Sangiovese

Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

Masia J

Tempranillo NV

Tempranillo

La Mancha, Spain

Orben

Orben NV

Blend

Rioja, Spain

Lan

Reserva Rioja NV

Tempranillo

Rioja, Spain

Wynns

Shiraz NV

Shiraz/Syrah

South Australia, Australia

Marqués de Murrieta

Dalmau Rioja NV

Tempranillo

Rioja, Spain

Pascual Toso, Alta, Maipu NV

Mendoza, Argentina

Smith & Perry

Pinot Noir NV

Pinot Noir

Oregon, USA

Catena

Malbec NV

Malbec

Mendoza, Argentina