Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico&hellip; 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&rsquo;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.

This development has not been historically exclusive to Chianti, leading to the creation of more than one Classico district. In general, the Classico wines tend to be slightly better as these regions are smaller and have stricter rules regarding plantings and winemaking. If not better, at least more traditional and typical of the region.

The most well-known Classico regions, apart from Chianti, would be Valpolicella Classico making red wine from Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara, also known as the grapes for Amarone. Valpolicella Classico is located within Valpolicella in the region Veneto, also home to two lesser known Classico regions: Bardolino Classico and Soave Classico. Bardolino Classico is located to the west of Valpolicella and produced from the same grapes, while Soave Classico, in contrast to the rest, makes white wine from the local Garganega. All great wines and certainly part of the Italian wine history.

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

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

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

Hy's Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Hy’s Steakhouse in Toronto. 

Wine List Review of Hy's Steakhouse in Toronto, Canada

Michaela Quinlan

Hy's Steakhouse

Hy&rsquo;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!

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 Hy&rsquo;s Steakhouse. With locations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Winnipeg, this fine dining establishment has been providing exceptional steakhouse fare and hospitality for over 65 years.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list.

MQ: A Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence winner, this list consists of standout classic producers, limited releases, and local selections.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: Let&rsquo;s begin with a local selection. The 2020 Wild Goose Riesling from the Okanagan Valley of Canada. This Riesling is on the dry end of the sweetness spectrum, with bright acidity, and features honeysuckle, ripe, green apple, dried apricots, with a mineral finish. Enjoy this Riesling with cheese and charcuterie, and any spicy dish.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: Staying local, consider the 2017 Vanessa Vineyard Syrah from the Similkameen Valley of Canada. This standout Syrah has all of the ripe, red cherries, ripe raspberries, white pepper, and thyme you would hope for in a rich, full-bodied Syrah. Pair this wine with richly sauced proteins and pasta.

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;?

MQ: A must try is the 2019 Domaine Chante-Perdrix Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc. This Southern Rhone Grenache Blanc blend is medium-bodied with bright acidity, ripe peach, cantaloupe, and lime zest. This Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is a perfect companion to dense fish and lightly sauced proteins. &nbsp;

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: Since we are dining at Hy&rsquo;s Steakhouse, consider the 97-point rated 2018 Tenuta Sette Ponti &ldquo;Oreno&rdquo; from Tuscany. This Super Tuscan is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, all grown in Tuscany. The winery&rsquo;s flagship wine showcases aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries, cassis, plumb, fig, and black cherries, with notes of licorice and cocoa on the finish. A wonderful companion to all rich dishes on Hy&rsquo;s Steakhouse&rsquo;s menu.

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: A wine of excellent quality and value that caught my eye was the 2018 Jolie Farm Muscat from the Okanagan Valley in Canada. This Muscat Blanc has a touch of sweetness, making it an excellent pairing for spicy and fried dishes. Aromas of tropical fruit such as mango, and pineapple, along with bright acidity and citrus, make this wine a wonderful, local consideration.

&nbsp;

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: Let&rsquo;s head to Spain for our full-bodied, quality and value red wine. Consider the Domino de Tares &ldquo;Cepas Viejas&rdquo; Mencia from Bierzo. This Mencia showcases ripe blackberries, cassis, and leather, with notes of cocoa and nutmeg on the finish. Another excellent pairing for all rich and richly sauced proteins, all for an excellent price.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: A classic wine pairing for a classic steakhouse. Consider the 2019 Obsidian Ridge &ldquo;Half Mile&rdquo; Cabernet Sauvignon from the Lake County of California. The grapes are grown on steep, volcanic hillsides, a half mile in elevation, allowing the grapes at this higher elevation to enjoy more warmth from the sun. The splash of Petit Verdot and Petit Syrah add to the rich aromas and flavors of prune, ripe blackberries, cassis, herbs, lavender, leather, and cocoa. The richness of this wine welcomes all rich dishes for any special occasion.

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Hy&rsquo;s Steakhouse&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.

&nbsp;

End

&nbsp;

BRAT

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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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