Learning about wine can be an exciting but challenging journey. With thousands of wine varieties, regions, and winemaking techniques to discover, it&#39;s no wonder that many beginners feel overwhelmed (as do we) when starting their wine education. However, numerous resources are available to help people build their wine knowledge, and wine magazines are among the best tools for aspiring oenophiles (wine geeks).

Wine magazines offer a wealth of information that can guide and educate readers about the vast world of wine. Whether you are a beginner looking to dip your toe into the wine industry or a seasoned connoisseur seeking to expand your expertise, there is a magazine out there to suit your needs. Let&#39;s take a closer look at some of the top wine magazines and what they offer.

<a href="https://www.winespectator.com/">Wine Spectator</a> is a highly respected publication that has been at the forefront of the wine industry since its inception in 1976. This magazine aims to educate and entertain readers by covering wine regions, winemakers, and tasting notes. Wine Spectator is known for its in-depth articles, comprehensive wine ratings, and exclusive interviews with industry experts. While Wine Spectator can be enjoyed by wine enthusiasts of all levels, its content is especially appreciated by intermediate to advanced wine lovers looking for detailed insights and wine recommendations.

If you&#39;re just getting started in the world of wine, <a href="https://www.wineenthusiast.com/">Wine Enthusiast</a> is an excellent resource to begin your journey. This magazine caters to beginners and covers a wide range of topics, including wine basics, varietal profiles, and wine and food pairing suggestions. Wine Enthusiast also offers comprehensive buying guides, tasting notes, and expert reviews to help readers navigate their wine choices. With its approachable content and focus on education, Wine Enthusiast is a great magazine for beginners seeking to build a solid foundation in wine knowledge.

For those with a more adventurous palate and a desire to explore the global wine scene, <a href="https://www.decanter.com/">Decanter</a> is a must-read and our favorite periodical. This UK-based magazine provides a global perspective on wine, highlighting various wine regions, producers, and styles from around the world. Decanter offers in-depth features, wine travel guides, and expert opinions on emerging trends in the industry. With its emphasis on international wines and insider knowledge, Decanter appeals to wine enthusiasts who are looking to broaden their horizons and discover new and exciting wines.

If you&#39;re looking for a wine magazine that breaks away from traditional norms while still providing valuable content, <a href="https://noblerot.co.uk/shop/magazine">Noble Rot</a> is a fascinating choice. Noble Rot takes a more unconventional and playful approach, focusing not only on wine but also on the intersection of wine and culture. This magazine combines wine with art, music, and literature, resulting in a unique and entertaining reading experience. In addition to articles on wine regions and producers, Noble Rot features interviews with influential figures in the wine and culinary world, as well as thought-provoking essays that delve into the cultural significance of wine. With its creative and unconventional approach, Noble Rot appeals to wine lovers who appreciate a more eclectic and multidimensional perspective on wine.

No matter which wine magazine you choose, the key is to find a publication that aligns with your interests and level of wine knowledge. Explore different magazines and see which ones resonate with you the most. Remember, building wine knowledge is a journey, and these magazines are excellent resources to guide you along the way. Cheers to your wine education! Learning about wine can be a challenging but rewarding endeavor. Wine magazines such as Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, and Noble Rot offer valuable content and resources to help individuals build their wine knowledge. From comprehensive wine ratings and in-depth articles to beginner-friendly guides and unconventional perspectives, these magazines cater to wine enthusiasts of various levels and interests. So, whether you&#39;re just starting your wine journey or seeking to expand your expertise, these magazines are readily available to provide you with the information and inspiration you need to explore and appreciate the wonderful world of wine.

Learning about wine can be an exciting but challenging journey. With thousands of wine varieties, regions, and winemaking techniques to discover, it's no wonder that many beginners feel overwhelmed (as do we) when starting their wine education. However, numerous resources are available to help people build their wine knowledge, and wine magazines are among the best tools for aspiring oenophiles (wine geeks).

Our favorite wine magazines to help your wine 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

Barbuto

Samantha Hohl, certified sommelier,  joins Robert Tas to review the wine list at Barbuto, an Italian restaurant heavily influenced by California vibes. 

Wine List Review of Barbuto, New York City

Sam Hohl

Barbuto

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!

A podcast where, in each episode, we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Samantha Hohl, certified sommelier.

Hello Sam, it&rsquo;s great to have you on this episode.

SH: Hi Robert! I&rsquo;m very excited to be here. I&rsquo;m so thrilled to be talking about the wine list at Barbuto with you today!

RT: I&rsquo;m glad you&rsquo;re here to talk us through it!&nbsp; CorkRules was created 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, even more so if it&rsquo;s hard to pronounce.

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.

Today we are talking about Barbuto! The West Village restaurant that has been a neighborhood gathering spot welcoming locals and visitors alike for over 15 years.&nbsp;The name Barbuto means &ldquo;bearded&rdquo; in Italian. When developing the concept, Jonathan and his business partner at the time Fabrizio Ferri both sported beards and this is where the name was born!

So, Sam, what&rsquo;s your overall impression of the list @ Barbuto?

SH: As a sommelier in the Napa Valley, I love to see some amazing California gems hidden on a wine list in NYC! Chef Jonathon Waxman at Barbuto features a unique take on Californian-Italian cuisine that is simple and seasonal. Their wine list features an eclectic selection of Italian, French, and California wines, amongst other lesser-known varietals from all over the world.

RT: That concept of Italian-Californian cuisine does sound intriguing. Are there any dishes on their menu that jumps out to you? Any hidden gems on the wine list you&rsquo;d pair with those dishes?

SH: Definitely, the Polpettone appetizer enticed me right away! It&rsquo;s a tomato-based crispy pork stuffed meatball dish. The 2018 Vigneti Luigi Oddero e Figli &lsquo;La Morra&rsquo; from Barbera d&rsquo;alba comes to mind. The fresh acidity serves as a balance beam upon which savory red fruits leap and strut, and the wine displays a marked sense of liveliness. With its high acidity, and medium to low amounts of tannin, Barbera would be a perfect match for the Polpettone dish!

RT: That sounds like a delicious pairing! Any other pairings for those interesting California wines you were mentioning earlier?

SH: But of course, Robert! I found an absolute favorite wine of mine that would go spectacular with the Insalata Fagiolii Tonnato dish. The 2018 Lieu Dit, Sauvignon Blanc from the Santa Ynez Valley in Central California. Founded by longtime friends Eric Railsback and Justin Willett, Lieu Dit seeks to highlight the unique microclimates and soils of Santa Barbara, focusing on Loire Valley grape varieties. This sauvignon blanc is zesty on the palette and marked by flavors of citrus rind, pear skin, white flowers, and a bright minerality on the finish.

RT: Wow, you really sold me on that pairing! Sheena, are there anymore wines that caught your eye? You spoke about some lesser-known varietals that were on the list, I&rsquo;m curious to hear a little more about them.

SH: Certainly! Since Barbuto features mostly Italian cuisine, I would like to talk about a lesser-known varietal grown in the Southern part of Italy, on a little island called Sicily. The 2019 Feudo Montoni &lsquo;Lagnusa&rsquo;, Nero d&#39;Avola gives us a very accurate portrayal of the grape, with plenty of ripe, dark and purple fruits followed by scorched earth, toasted almond and a hint of black olive.&nbsp;The producer, Fabio Sireci, culls fruit for this wine from 35-year-old vines propagated from his ancient Vrucara plot.&nbsp;The name of the wine, Lagnusa, is named after the Sicilian word for &quot;lazy&quot; because of the low yields associated with this particular growing site with heavy clay soils. Nero d&rsquo;Avola&nbsp;is the most widely planted red variety in Sicily and is great either as single varietal bottling or in blends with other indigenous varieties or even with international ones.

RT: I&rsquo;ve said this once and I&rsquo;ll say this again, there is always so much to discover with the wines of Italy!

SH: There really is, and I&rsquo;m totally here for it! Haha

RT: Me too, Sam! Thank you so much for being our guide and helping us navigate the Italian/Californian wine list at Barbuto. I can&rsquo;t wait to do some food and wine pairing there! 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: Info@CorkRules.com or visit our web website where&nbsp;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.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

END

&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

Casa Noble is a tequila producer that prides itself on using sustainable and organic practices to create award-winning tequilas. The company was founded in 1997 by Jose 'Pepe' Hermosillo, who comes from a long line of tequila producers. Casa Noble's products are made using traditional methods and modern technology to ensure the highest quality tequila.

Classic Italian trattoria with whitewashed walls, tiled floors, ceiling beams and rear courtyard.

28-50 Wine Workshop & Kitchen

28-50

Bleu Provence

KOCHINYC

Kochi

Wally's

Hav & Mar

Bern's Steakhouse

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

Taberna Etrusca

Occhipinti

Nero D'Avola - Frappato Sicilia SP68 NV

Blend

Terre Siciliane, Italy

Isola

Alcesti, dei Profumi Grecanico - Inzolia Sicilia IGT NV

Sicily, Italy

Feudi del Pisciotto

Nero d'Avola 2018

Nero d'Avola

Sicily, Italy

Pieno Sud

Bianco 2020

Grecanico

Terre Siciliane, Italy

Bodegas Aalto P.S. Pagos Seleccionados Tinto NV

Ribera del Duero, Spain

Candidato

Tempranillo - Garnacha 2019

Blend

Castilla y Leon, Spain

Bodegas Valdemar

Conde de Valdemar Tempranillo 2019

Tempranillo

Rioja, Spain

Sandhill

Cabernet - Merlot NV

Blend

Okanagan Valley, Canada

Bodegas Valdemar

Conde de Valdemar Finca Alto Cantabria 2020

Viura

Rioja, Spain

Cupertinum

Copertino Riserva 2011

Blend

Italy

Castello di Spessa, La Boatina Ribolla Gialla, Venezia Giulia IGT NV

Venezia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy

La Boatina Ribolla Gialla Venezia Giulia IGT, Italy, Friuli 2020

Ribolla Gialla

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

La Piuma

Chianti 2019

Sangiovese

Chianti, Italy

Mirabello

Pinot Grigio 2021

Pinot Nero

Delle Venezie, Italy

Marche

Santa Barbara Stefano Antonucci Rosso Piceno 2021

Marche, Italy