<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

Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier and Robert Tas to enjoy the speakeasy vibe at Yvonne’s. 

Wine List Review of Yvonne's, Boston

Sam Hohl

Yvonne's

Yvonnes

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 Samantha Hohl, wine educator and certified sommelier. Hello Sam,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to have you!

SH: Hey Robert, great to be back.

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.

You can now download our CorkRules app available on the apple app store. Where you can access all your favourite restaurant wine lists, get personalized recommendations and connect, share and learn with your friends.

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list. Today Sam and I &hellip;

Yvonne&rsquo;s 

Overview

Yvonne&rsquo;s is tucked away in the Downtown Crossing neighborhood of Boston, MA. They offer a New-American-inspired menu along with craft beverages and bottles to pair. Yvonne&rsquo;s ambiance is dark and intimate, giving off speakeasy vibes.

Where to start

Yvonne&rsquo;s is such an experience, and I would honestly be happy just sipping a glass of wine or cocktail while taking in all their stunning decor has to offer, like their library shelves, fireplace and chandeliers. But it&rsquo;s also great that their menu has plenty of delicious small plates and their 3 pages wine list packs in some fantastic options.

I&rsquo;m excited to point out some wonderful finds and will start with a white that stood out to me, which was the 2016 Tocai Friulano from Larkmead Vineyards. There&rsquo;s some really awesome history here since Larkmead Vineyards is one of the oldest wineries in Napa Valley and was started in 1895. Tocai Friulano is a varietal usually found in Italy so another unique part of this winery is the small amount of Tocai Friulano they produce from vines that were planted before prohibition! This bottle is beautifully balanced with body and acidity, and has really pretty floral, herbal and tropical notes as well. This wine is&nbsp; fun to pair and goes with a variety of dishes. You could try it with dishes like the Seared Brussel Sprouts or the Wild Gulf Shrimp.

The 2017 I Nove Fratelli from Masseria del Pino is a really great find for a red. This bottle is made from mostly Nerello Mascalese grapes grown on 120 year old vines on the slope of Mount Etna. The grapes are foot-stomped and then fermented in tanks made from volcanic basalt which are volcanic stones from Mt Etna. It&#39;s rich and complex, filled with volcanic notes of tar, smoke and minerality and bright cherry and raspberry flavors. It&rsquo;s a fantastic example of an Etna Rosso wine. It would be great with the Seared Trumpet Mushrooms or the Ribeye Steak but it&rsquo;s food friendly and flexible so it will be fun to accompany a variety of dishes.

Value

This list has really wonderful variety for pricing and there&rsquo;s some unique and delicious bottles on here that won&rsquo;t break the budget. A white that caught my eye is the 2019 Lindquist Family Marsanne. Bob Lindquist is the winemaker located in California in the Etna Valley and has over 40 years of experience. He&rsquo;s known for his beautiful expressions of Rhone varietals and this bottle of 100% Marsanne is no exception. It&rsquo;s medium-bodied with refreshing notes of citrus, along with flavors of honey and stone. Marsanne is a great choice as well since it&rsquo;s food friendly and goes well with spiced and flavorful dishes. You could try it with the Lobster Dumplings or the Coconut Rock Shrimp.

A really lovely option for a value red would be the 2019 Terre de l&#39;Elu Maupiti. This is a blend of mostly Cabernet Franc and Gamay with a little bit of Grolleau that are grown organically and harvested by hand. It&rsquo;s from winemakers Charlotte and Thomas Carsin from the village of Anjou in the Loire Valley who focus on making tasty wines to be enjoyed around the table. It&rsquo;s got lots of red fruit, and some earthy and herbal tones. It&rsquo;s rich, elegant and the tannins are well integrated. Pair it with something like the Bavette Steak or the Beef Sausage Fired Pita.

Celebratory options

Along with having a great range of value bottles this list also has a variety of special or celebratory bottles for every budget. A bottle that would be just beautiful quality and elevate the evening would be the 2018 Domaine Marcoux Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Domaine Marcoux has been run by sisters Sophie and Catherine Armenier since 1989 but they can trace their family history in the area back to the 1300s. Made from Roussanne and Bourboulenc grapes this wine is crisp with a fuller body. It&rsquo;s going to have some pretty floral tones, along with pineapple and pear flavors. It&rsquo;s a really well-crafted bottle that would just be a delight to sip on for the evening.

They&rsquo;ve got an incredible section for bubbles and you can definitely find some stunning bottles in the 400-600 dollar category, but If you are in the mood for something bubbly and memorable that isn&rsquo;t quite in that range you could try the&nbsp;2015 Pierre Gimonnet Special Club Brut Champagne is a great choice. Pierre Gimonnet This bottle is made with precision and care by blending Chardonnay from the oldest vines on the estate. It&rsquo;s complex and electric, with notes of citrus, pear and mineral qualities with a lengthy and elegant finish. It would pair nicely with the Crispy Tuna Fregola or the Lobster Fritters.

RT: Sam Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Yvonne&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.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please download our CorkRules app and check out our website for all 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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Matteo's

Domaine Mégard is a family-owned winery located in the heart of Pommard. They produce high-quality wines using traditional winemaking techniques and minimal intervention. They are known for their elegant and complex Pinot Noir wines.

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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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