Pairing wine with Asian food&nbsp;is a common dilemma. Just what should you order with the Spicy Yellowtail Yu Sheng or the Mongolian Lamb Chops? How do we make palatable choices that cross cultures and bring out the best in each location&rsquo;s use of herbs and spices?

Buddakan is an Asian restaurant that has merged the best of East and West to create an inviting space with an adventurous edge. This restaurant is well-known for culinary creations that present the exotic and vivid flavors of the Far East. &nbsp;The menu offers pan-Asian fare inspired by multiple traditions and favorites such as Dim sum, noodle soups, seafood and whole Peking duck, but what is truly representative of our modern global culture is the meeting of Asian cuisine with European decor, which is reminiscent of the elegance of Paris in the 16th century. The wood panels, ornate chandeliers and renaissance paintings offer elegance and comfort. This melding of cultures is represented in the partnership of an Asian menu and a carefully curated wine list that provides a fine selection of old-world and new-world wines.

Asian food was not originally paired with wine. Traditionally, Asian food was accompanied by sake and soju, wine made out of fermented rice kernels. The notes and effect of the wine on the food were vastly different from that of wine made from grapes. So, as we discovered a love of Asian food in the west, we wanted to match our new love with our old love -- wine.

Let&rsquo;s release the genie from the bottle and find the best wines to pair with Asian food. First of all, we need to recognize the herbs and spices used in the meal, we also need to consider how sweet or sour the dish is. These two factors play an important role in the choice we make.

With spicy Asian dishes, consider a sweeter, demi-sec or off-dry wine with decent acidity. At Buddakan, there are several aromatic dry whites on the wine list. The Trimbach Riesling

&#39;Cuv&eacute;e Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric Emile&#39;, from Alsace, France is a great choice.

If you&rsquo;re hot for the Tea Smoked Spare Ribs on the menu, consider choosing a Zinfandel, this red wine has tannins that help cut the fat and work with the char flavor of barbecued ribs and the fruitiness of this grape enhances the spices.

Generally, lighter, dry reds that are low on tannins and snappy, clean, high-acid wines that bring a refreshing quality to the mouth are your best bet. Gewurztraminers and rieslings are usually a good choice. However, if there is a diverse range of meals on the table, why not bring a little effervescence to the table with some bubbles, because, can you ever go wrong with bubbles?

Spicy foods are often said to pair well with sweeter, typically white wines like a demi-sec Chenin Blanc, an off-dry Riesling, or crowd-favorite Moscato d&rsquo;Asti. And that&rsquo;s not entirely unfair: as long as the residual sugar levels are modest, and there&rsquo;s a decent acidity cutting through it all, a slightly sweet wine can arguably make a great pairing for spicy Asian food.

Learn more about pairing wine with Asian food in <a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/buddakan/episodes/12">six minutes on the CorkRules wine review podcast</a>.

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;

Pairing wine with Asian food is a common dilemma. Just what should you order with the Spicy Yellowtail Yu Sheng or the Mongolian Lamb Chops? How do we make palatable choices that cross cultures and bring out the best in each location’s use of herbs and spices?

Pairing Wine with Asian Food at Buddakan

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

Madcap

Certified sommelier Michaela Quinlan and Robert Tas review the wine list at Madcap, California

Wine List Review of Madcap, California

Michaela Quinlan

Madcap:

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 Madcap. Madcap is a must visit if you are in the San Anselmo, CA area. Madcap features a seasonal tasting menu showcasing local and organic ingredients in an upscale environment.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: I love when wine lists not only feature classic wine regions but also highlight unique varietals. We have some excellent selections for you today.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: A unique selection that caught my eye was the 2021 Nigl Zweitgelt Rose from Austria. &nbsp;Zweitgelt is a cross between the red grapes of Blaufrankisch and St Laurent and is similar in style to Pinot Noir. This rose is a deep salmon color with bright cranberries, raspberries, citrus, and a dry, mineral finish. This rose is rich enough to stand up to hard cheese and dense fish such as tuna and salmon.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: Absolutely! The 2018 Gamba Vineyards Etrusca Velia, Red blend from the Russian River Valley of California. This blend of Zinfandel, Alicante, Cagignan, and Petit Syrah is full bodied and dry, with aromas and flavors of ripe red cherries, plums, blackberries, smoke, oak, smooth, round tannins, and herbs on the lingering finish, making this wine a perfect companion for 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 beautiful, must-try wine is the 2018 Ch&acirc;teau de Fosse-S&egrave;che, Arcane, from the Saumur which is located in the Loire region of France. This wine consists of Chenin Blanc, which is a light to medium bodied white grape featuring bright acidity, green apple, pear, dried apricots, and a mineral finish. This wine is a perfect companion to lighter fare such as soft cheese and seafood.

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: Knowing how well Madcap crafts their tasting menus with local ingredients and herbs, I had to mention a favorite grape varietal. Consider the 2019 Domaine du Bel Air, Les Vignt Lieux, &nbsp;Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley of France. The ripe cherries, earth, mushrooms, herbs, and oak make this an excellent crowd pleaser for the table.

RT: Michaela, speaking of price, sometimes people have a budget in mind. Any other great value wines you&rsquo;d point us to?&nbsp;

MQ: A stand-out quality and value white wine on the list is the 2021 Caravaglio, Infatata, Malvasia Secca from the island of Salina. This Italian, organic wine features the Malvasia grape which takes us straight to the Mediterranean. The bright acidity, melon, tangerine, lime zest, with salinity on the finish make this an excellent companion to shellfish and lightly sauced seafood.

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: another organic, quality and value wine to consider is the 2020 Laurent Fayolle, Crozes-Hermitage from the Southern Rhone of France. This wine is 100% Syrah and features flavors and aromas of ripe, red cherries, herbs, smoke, blackberries, with notes of black pepper and violets on the finish. Pair this red with richly sauced or herbed proteins.

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 standout, classic, white wine that always compliments a special occasion is the 2019 Domaine Didier Silex, from Pouilly-Fum&eacute; in the Loire Region of France. The appellation of Pouilly Fume produces award winning Sauvignon Blanc. This Sauvignon Blanc is crisp, flinty, and showcases gooseberry, lemon zest, and bright acidity. The Silex designation reflects the mineral-driven nature of the wine as a result of the limestone soils. This is truly a winner when pairing with rich seafood and special occasions.

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Madcap&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.

&nbsp;

Thank you.

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End

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