Omakase is experiencing a surge in popularity, let&rsquo;s dig into what it is and of course what wines to drink.

Omakase, a term that translates to &quot;I&#39;ll leave it up to you&quot; in Japanese, is rapidly gaining popularity in the culinary world. This dining experience places your meal entirely in the hands of the chef, who meticulously crafts each course based on seasonal ingredients and their personal creative flair. It&#39;s not just about seafood; while sushi often features prominently due to its status as a cornerstone of Japanese cuisine, an omakase menu can include anything from Wagyu beef to seasonal vegetables.

In comparison with ordering &agrave; la carte sushi, omakase offers a more immersive and adventurous dining experience. The cooking techniques vary widely depending on the dish; sashimi may be delicately sliced raw fish or seafood, nigiri might involve hand-pressed rice topped with wasabi and neta (topping), while other dishes could be grilled or simmered.

An omakase meal typically lasts two to three hours and consists of anywhere between 10-20 courses. To show gratitude towards the chef for their skillful preparation, customers usually express verbal appreciation after each course is served.

Pairing wine with omakase can elevate this already exquisite experience even further. Here are some wines that complement different elements of an omakase meal:

1. <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Von-Winning-Riesling-Herrenletten-Erste-Lage-Trocken-2021-w2600484yk">Riesling - Von Winning - Riesling Herrenletten Erste Lage Trocken 2021- $39.99</a>

Von Winning Winery has been producing wines since 1849 in Germany&#39;s Pfalz region known for its diverse soil types ideal for growing Riesling grapes. This particular wine showcases bright acidity balanced by notes of ripe peach and apricot alongside mineral undertones&mdash;a perfect match for delicate sashimi dishes.

2. <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Hiedler-Gruner-Veltliner-Ried-Thal-2021-w5616107gk">Gruner Veltliner - Hiedler - Gruner Veltliner Ried Thal 2021 - $26.99</a>

Hailing from Austria&rsquo;s Langenlois region, Hiedler has been making wine since 1856. Their Gruner Veltliner Ried Thal is characterized by its fresh and lively acidity, with flavors of green apple and white pepper&mdash;excellent for cutting through richer omakase dishes.

3. <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Domaine-LaFage-Rose-Miraflors-2022-w2115833ea">Ros&eacute; - Domaine LaFage - Ros&eacute; Miraflors 2022 - $18.99</a>

Domaine Lafage in France&#39;s Roussillon region is known for their high-quality wines produced from old vines. Their Ros&eacute; Miraflors boasts a vibrant pink hue with notes of red berries and citrus fruits&mdash;a versatile choice that can complement a variety of omakase courses.

4. <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/sake/Konteki-Pearls-Of-Simplicity-Junmai-Daig-w52718362g">Sake - Konteki - Pearls Of Simplicity Junmai Daiginjo (720ml) - $37.99</a>

Produced in Kyoto, Japan&rsquo;s ancient capital, Konteki Sake represents the epitome of Japanese tradition. The &quot;Pearls Of Simplicity&quot; Junmai Daiginjo offers clean and smooth flavors with hints of pear and melon&mdash;an authentic pairing to honor the origins of omakase dining.

In conclusion, an Omakase meal is not just about eating; it&#39;s about surrendering yourself to the chef&#39;s expertise while embarking on a culinary journey that tantalizes your taste buds one course at a time&mdash;and when paired with carefully selected wines or sake, this experience becomes even more unforgettable.

Omakase is experiencing a surge in popularity, let’s dig into what it is and of course what wines to drink.



 Omakase, a term that translates to "I'll leave it up to you" in Japanese, is rapidly gaining popularity in the culinary world. This dining experience places your meal entirely in the hands of the chef, who meticulously crafts each course based on seasonal ingredients and their personal creative flair. It's not just about seafood; while sushi often features prominently due to its status as a cornerstone of Japanese cuisine, an omakase menu can include anything from Wagyu beef to seasonal vegetables.

Omakase and Wine Pairing: A Booming Gastronomic Journey

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

Huertas

Cecilia Bonet

Huertas

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where we review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Cecilia Bonet, wine educator and certified sommelier

Hello Cecilia, great to have you back for another great wine list.

CB: Hello 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 wine lists can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, 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.

HUERTAS NYC

Huertas serves Basque-influenced fare, evoking the lively eating and drinking culture of Northern Spain and creatively inspired by our home in NYC. 
 
<a href="http://huertasnyc.getbento.com/menu/">OUR MENU&nbsp;</a>combines the playful elements of a Pintxo Bar, and the elevated aspects of cuisine in the Basque country. We offer a rotating assortment of&nbsp;pintxos,&nbsp;or small bites, and larger seasonally evolving&nbsp;raciones, accompanied by unabashedly &amp; classic Spanish beverages, such as&nbsp;refrescos, house made vermouth, and a long list of Spanish wine, sherry &amp; cider.

Spanish Basque inspired fare with a menu of pintxos and shared plates

With a full bar area overlooking the open kitchen

Located in the East Village

The answer to your group dinner plans

Top Level View

I&rsquo;d like to resume in one sentence &ldquo;Versatile wine list with lotta options to drink with amazing pintxos&rdquo;. All the wines you will find here, are a perfect selection of Spanish wines, and not just classic Tempranillos. You can also choose to drink from the Canary and the Balearic Islands too.

Unique Stuff

Ignios Or&iacute;genes Baboso Negro | 2017 | Ycoden-Daute-Isora, Canary Islands

Ignios Baboso comes from a 20-year-old single vineyard on volcanic clay loam in northwestern Tenerife, converted to organic farming by Tenerife vigneron, Borja P&eacute;rez Gonz&aacute;lez.

Baboso is the most bodacious of the Canary red varieties. Fruit-forward by nature, is very fresh and balanced, with a remarkable minerality typical of the volcanic soils. It requires decanting and 20 minutes of patience to unravel all the perfume of black fruits, tea, spices and toast that it treasures.

This wine cries out for grilled meals as the Happy Valley Steak or with some Roasted Mushrooms.

Value Wines

I recommend you a wine named Bitoku by Adega do Demo winery. It was produced in 2019 in Ribeiro, a region 45 km. from the Atlantic Ocean, within Galicia, Spain.

This is a blend of treixadura and Loureiro, a perfect example of a Ribeiro wine. Ever heard of the treixadura grape varietal? It&rsquo;s refined and smooth. The Treixadura is a white grape, and the jewel of this region. It sprouts and ripens slowly, therefore it is sensitive to altitude, growing mainly in valleys and slopes.

There&#39;s energy and minerality in the texture of this 2019 Bitoku. Reminds us a little of Northern Rhone whites, Rousanne/Marsanne but with more freshness.

Perfect match with seafood, so try the Gambas al Ajillo!

Bigger budget/Special Occasion 

I&rsquo;d like to introduce you with a remarkable, unusual old-fashioned wine from La Rioja Alta, Spain.

Vi&ntilde;a Tondonia Reserva 2008, is the flagship wine from the Lopez Heredia Estate, and a wine not to be missed.

Lopez Heredia is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful stories in the world of Spanish wine. The winery was founded in 1877 by Rafael L&oacute;pez de Heredia y Landeta, great-grandfather of the current owners, together with a French n&eacute;gociant who returned to his country once the phylloxera crisis was over.

This incredibly complex ruby red wine was created with mainly tempranillo, with the addition of graciano and mazuelo grapes; in an alluvial amphitheatre overlooking the Ebro. Then barrel aged for six years.

The 2008 was a relatively cool vintage, but a fantastic year for giving acidity to this wine and all that is needed for a long development in bottle. It captures the classic house style, savoury, earthy yet with fine dark fruit definition.

Try it with the Jamon Iberico, and even if a bottle seems too much, you can also find it by the glass.

Cecilia, Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate the wine list at &nbsp;HUERTAS. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try your great suggestions.&nbsp; &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

Castello del Poggio is a historic winery in the heart of Italy's Piedmont region. With over 300 years of winemaking experience, the Morando family has always been dedicated to producing wines that express the unique character of the terroir. Today, the winery is owned by the Zonin family, who have continued the tradition of producing high-quality wines while also embracing innovation.

Frenchette

Le Bernardin

Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels

La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels

Charlie Bird

Becco

Buddha-Bar Restaurant New York

Buddha Bar

Franks Wine Bar

Frank's

Maison

Maison Premiere

Pastis

Aldo Sohm Wine Bar

Aldo Sohm

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

Skagit Cellars

Available Wines
Total Wines - 9

Hiyu

Pinot Gris 2021

Pinot Gris

Columbia Gorge (WA), USA

Rocky Pond Winery Clos Chevalle Vineyard Rose, Lake Chelan 2021

USA

' cinder viognier' 2021

USA

Ash Ridge

Alti Sparkling Syrah 2019

Shiraz/Syrah

Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Ash Ridge

Alti Sparkling Syrah 2020

Shiraz/Syrah

Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Masia J

Tempranillo 2019

Tempranillo

La Mancha, Spain

Silver Gate

Pinot Noir 2019

Pinot Noir

California, USA

Catena

Malbec 2020

Malbec

Mendoza, Argentina

North by Northwest (NxNW)

Riesling 2020

Riesling

USA