Drops&nbsp;of&nbsp;God, the popular manga series by Tadashi Agi and Shu Okimoto, has been adapted into a television series by AppleTV and has some buzz in the wine world. The AppleTV series tells a story about a competition between Camille&#39;s (Fleur Geffrier) estranged daughter and Issei (Tomohisa Yamashita), the prot&eacute;g&eacute; after the death&nbsp;of&nbsp;Camille&#39;s father, a famous wine collector, to win his world-renowned wine collection valued at $100M+.

The show has been compared to the 2004 movie Sideways, which follows the journey&nbsp;of&nbsp;two friends as they travel through California&#39;s wine country. Both&nbsp;Drops&nbsp;of&nbsp;God&nbsp;and Sideways share a common theme&nbsp;of&nbsp;discovering wine&#39;s joys and the culture surrounding it. The film had an immediate impact on both tourism and sales by introducing people unfamiliar with wines.

However,&nbsp;Drops&nbsp;of&nbsp;God&nbsp;takes it to a new level with its intricate and detaileddescriptions&nbsp;of&nbsp;wines, vineyards, and the people behind them. The series has created a buzz in the wine world, with viewers becoming curious about the winesmentioned in the show and eager to try them themselves.

The cultural impact&nbsp;of&nbsp;Drops&nbsp;of&nbsp;God&nbsp;has been immense in Japan, with the manga series selling over 30 million copies and the television series was a huge hit. The show has inspired a generation&nbsp;of&nbsp;young people to explore the world&nbsp;of&nbsp;wine and has even led to an increase in tourism to wine regions.

This is a golden opportunity, but yet it&#39;s surprising the wine world has not leaned into&nbsp;Drops&nbsp;of&nbsp;God&nbsp;more, missing a chance to bring people&nbsp;of&nbsp;all ages into the wine world. With the decline in wine sales, it&#39;s clear that the industry needs to reimagine how it markets its products and brings new consumers into its ecosystem.

This emphasis on education is something that many experts argue could be key for helping bring new consumers into the wine world who have until now been unaware or intimidated by all there is out there; young people can significantly benefit from having access to this kind&nbsp;of&nbsp;information without needing expensive classes or sommelier certifications first.

Drops&nbsp;of&nbsp;God&nbsp;comes at a unique point in time for the wine world and&nbsp;offers a significant opportunity to educate and bring people&nbsp;of&nbsp;all ages into the wine world. The cultural impact&nbsp;of&nbsp;the series in Japan and the potential impact it could have in the US and around the world cannot be ignored.&nbsp;Time is ticking, and the wine world cannot afford to miss this opportunity.

&nbsp;

Drops of God, the popular manga series by Tadashi Agi and Shu Okimoto, has been adapted into a television series by AppleTV and has some buzz in the wine world. The AppleTV series tells a story about a competition between Camille's (Fleur Geffrier) estranged daughter and Issei (Tomohisa Yamashita), the protégé after the death of Camille's father, a famous wine collector, to win his world-renowned wine collection valued at $100M+.

Drops of God: The AppleTV Series That Could Save the Wine Industry

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

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit The White Horse Tavern in Rhode Island.

Wine List Review of The White Horse Tavern, 

Michaela Quinlan

The White Horse Tavern

White Horse

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 list&rsquo;s 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 White Horse Tavern. Located in Newport, RI, the White Horse Tavern is known to be the oldest operating restaurant in the US serving guests since 1673, and the 10th oldest in the world. The White Horse Tavern has been featuring the freshest fish, seafood, produce, and beef from local sellers and farms since 1673. Whether or not you are familiar with 17th Century architecture, you will immediately identify this classic, colonial Inn.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: While Newport is beautiful in the summer, the White Horse Tavern shines during all seasons. My favorite time to visit is during the holidays. Don&rsquo;t miss their beautiful fireplaces.

Staying true to classic style is not only for the Inn and dining menu, but certainly extends to the wine list. The White Horse has received the annual Wine Spectator Award of Excellence consistently for nearly a decade. Please take your time reviewing this extensive list. We have selected some stellar wines for your consideration.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: Given our restaurant today, we will start with a classic, the 2021, Fran&ccedil;oise Crochet, Sancerre, from the Loire Valley of France. This Sauvignon Blanc from the Sancerre region of Loire is grown in limestone soil which allows for beautiful minerality in this organic and biodynamic white wine. Classic aromas and flavors of lime zest, and grapefruit with bright acidity abound. This sancerre is a lovely aperitif, and pairs beautifully with goat cheese and seafood.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: Of course! A red to consider would be the&nbsp; 2019 Oberon, Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California. Oberon has been producing wine in Napa for over 45 years. This is a rich and bold Cabernet Sauvignon showcasing ripe, black cherries, cassis, smooth tannins, with a note of cocoa on the finish. A stand-out Napa cabernet sauvignon to pair with richly-sauced proteins.

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 Château de Santenay, Meursault, in the Cote de Beaune of Burgundy, France. Chateau de Santenay is one of the largest domains in Burgundy with nearly 2000 years of wine history boasting a 9th-century castle. This Chardonnay is aged in French barriques, allowing for an elegant balance of bright acidity and a soft texture featuring aromas of pear, citrus, green apple with a toasty finish. Another wonderful consideration for rich fish dishes such as swordfish or salmon.

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: Another stand out is the 2017 Penner-Ash, Pinot Noir from Eola-Amity Hills, of the Willamette Valley, in Oregon. Penner-Ash is a must visit to experience the incredible views and winery that match their remarkable pinot noir. This well balanced and structured pinot noir packs a punch and showcases ripe cranberries, cherries, and spice, with earth and oak on the finish. Another consideration for any proteins on the 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: Absolutely! Staying in Oregon, consider the 2020 Foris, Estate Grown, Pinot Blanc, from the Rogue Valley. Located in Southwestern Oregon, along the California border, Foris has been producing wines since 1974. The aromatics of this wine stand out right away. It features white flowers, pear, peach, lemon zest with a note of ginger on the finish. A food-friendly wine perfect for seafood or lighter proteins, all at an excellent price.

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: Another incredible quality and value wine to consider would be the 2021 Domaine Faury, Syrah from the Northern Rhone Valley of France. Another fragrant wine featuring ripe red cherries, spice, with a hint of lavender, not to mention the round tannins and black pepper on the finish. This Syrah can certainly stand up to any rich dishes and proteins. &nbsp;

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

&nbsp;MQ: Since we are featuring the wines of the historic White Horse Tavern, then we must include the 2007 Sauternes of Chateau d&rsquo;Yquem, from Graves, in Bordeaux, France. There are records dating winemaking practices as far back as 1593 and the following history of Chateau d&rsquo;Yquem is definitely worth the read. This 2007 Sauternes is also historic and distinctive. The terrible weather during most of the 2007 growing season was leading this Sauternes to nearly be overlooked. However, a shift in the weather led the grapes to fully develop Botrytis, or Noble Rot, allowing the grapes to intensify the sweetness and richness of this historic dessert wine. With a 98-point rating from both Decanter and Wine Advocate, this is Sauternes is known as a stand-out vintage. The rich peach, apricot, white flowers, and vanilla would make an excellent companion to any special occasion.

RT: Michaela, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate White Horse Tavern&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.

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End

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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

Sycamore Lane is a popular wine brand that offers a range of varietals, including Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and others. The wines are known for their consistent quality and affordability.

Upmarket Italian eatery serves steaks, seafood & more classic fare in a dimly lit, romantic space.

Eddy V's Prime Seafood Restaurant

The View

Il Capriccio

Clarity

Bellissimo Restaurant

Bellissimo

Sandbar

Mirabelle Restaurant & Tavern

Mirabelle at Three Village Inn

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

Tutti Mangia Italian Chophouse

Rombauer Vineyards

Chardonnay 2020

Chardonnay

Los Carneros, USA

J. Lohr

Los Osos Merlot, Paso Robles 2019

California, USA

MCV, Red, Paso Robles 2018

California, USA

Zenato

Lugana San Benedetto 2016

Verdicchio

Lugana, Italy

Justin

Isosceles 2018

Cabernet Sauvignon

California, USA

Axis Mundi

Santa Ynez Valley 2020

Red Rhone Blend

California, USA

Zonin

Prosecco Rose NV

Blend

Prosecco, Italy

Brander

Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Sauvignon Blanc

California, USA

Taltarni

Cabernet - Merlot - Petit Verdot NV

Victoria, Australia

Saintsbury

Garnet Carneros Pinot Noir 2018

Pinot Noir

California, USA

Buenos Aires

Red Blend 2014

Mendoza, Argentina

Goundrey

Homestead Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Sauvignon Blanc

Western Australia, Australia

Banfi

San Angelo Pinot Grigio 2019

Pinot Grigio

Toscana, Italy

Provenance

Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Sauvignon Blanc

Rutherford, USA

Balletto

Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 2021

California, USA