Holiday Season Wine Trends, what our CorkRules App users drinking!

As we delve into the holiday season, our community of wine enthusiasts at CorkRules is buzzing with excitement. Our users are out and about, savoring some fantastic wines that are trending this festive period. We have compiled a list of these top-rated wines complete with detailed reviews, tasting notes, producer&#39;s history and food pairing recommendations.

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Billecart-Salmon-Brut-Rose-Champagne-w9034541ol">1. Billecart Salmon - Brut Rose Champagne NV</a>

Champagne is always a top selection among our users. Billecart-Salmon is at the top of list and they been producing exceptional champagnes since 1818 in Mareuil-sur-A&yuml;, France. The Brut Ros&eacute; NV is no exception to their tradition of excellence. It received an impressive score of 94 points from Wine Spectator.

This champagne enchants you with its beautiful pale pink color and delicate bubbles. On the nose, it reveals aromas of fresh red fruits and citrus zest which carry through to the palate along with subtle hints of dried fruit and toasted brioche. The body is light yet expressive; acidity perfectly balanced making it crisp but not overwhelming; tannins are almost imperceptible giving way to a smooth finish.

Pair this delightful bubbly with smoked salmon or sushi for an unforgettable gastronomic experience!

Partial List of Featured Restaurants serving Billecart &ndash; Restaurant Guy Savoy, Las Vegas, NV &ndash; Aquerello San Francisco, CA &ndash; Barbuto NY, NY

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Melville-Chardonnay-Estate-Sta-Rita-Hills-2019-w7644576n6">2. Melville - Chardonnay Estate Sta Rita Hills 2019</a>

Melville Winery located in California&rsquo;s Santa Rita Hills AVA has been crafting exquisite wines since 1987 focusing on cool-climate varietals like Chardonnay. Their Estate Chardonnay scored a commendable 92 points by Robert Parker&#39;s Wine Advocate for its vibrant character.

It opens up with intoxicating aromas of ripe apple, pear, white flowers complemented by subtle oak nuances. On tasting it offers a medium-bodied structure packed full flavors mirroring the nose along with mineral undertones that add complexity. Acidity levels are well-balanced, making it refreshing while the tannins are soft and well-integrated.

This Chardonnay pairs beautifully with creamy pasta dishesor grilled chicken.

Partial List of Featured Restaurants serving Melville &ndash; Essential by Christophe NY, NY - Plumed Horse Saratoga, CA &ndash; Woodwind Chicago, IL

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Trimbach-Riesling-390th-Anniversary-2016-w9458613ag">3. Trimbach - Riesling</a>

Trimbach, a family-owned winery in Alsace, France has been producing wines since 1626. Their Riesling 390th Anniversary edition celebrates their rich heritage and scored an impressive 93 points from Wine Enthusiast.

The wine exhibits vibrant aromas of green apple, lime zest, wet stone and white flowers. On the palate it is dry with high acidity which gives it a zesty freshness. The body is medium with flavors echoing the nose along with a minerally finish that lingers on your palate.

Enjoy this Riesling alongside spicy Asian cuisine or fresh seafood for a delightful pairing!

Partial List of Featured Restaurants serving Trimbach &ndash; STK Steakhouse Scottsdale, AZ - The Martin&#39;s Key West, FL, - Lure Fishbar NY, NY

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Alain-Graillot-Crozes-Hermitage-2019-w2646348x3">4. Alain Graillot - Crozes Hermitage 2019</a>

Alain Graillot established his winery in Northern Rh&ocirc;ne Valley in 1985 and quickly gained recognition for his Syrah-based wines like Crozes-Hermitage.

It received a notable score of 92 points from Vinous due to its expressive character. The wine opens up with enticing aromas of blackberry, black pepper spice, violets followed by earthy undertones. On tasting you will find it full-bodied yet balanced by firm tannins and good acidity levels providing structure to dark fruit flavors present on the palate.

Pair this red wine with hearty meat dishes like lamb stew or steak au poivre for an excellent match!

Partial List of Featured Restaurants serving Alain Graillot &ndash; The Lobster Club NY, NY - Del Ray Cafe Alexandria, VA - Bourbon Steak Seattle, WA

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Cade-Cabernet-Sauvignon-Howell-Mountain-2018-w0854190qc">5. Cade - Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 2018</a>

Cade Estate Winery located on Napa Valley&rsquo;s Howell Mountain was founded in 2005 by Gavin Newsom &amp; Gordon Getty focusing on environmentally responsible winemaking practices. Their Cabernet Sauvignon received a stellar 96 points from Wine Advocate for its bold character.

The wine greets you with rich aromas of black cherry, cassis, mocha and cedar. On the palate it is full-bodied with robust tannins and balanced acidity supporting flavors that mirror the nose along with hints of dark chocolate on the finish.

This Cabernet Sauvignon pairs wonderfully with grilled red meats or mature cheeses.

Partial List of Featured Restaurants serving Cade: Buffalo Club Santa Monica, Ca &ndash; Frankie and Johnnie&rsquo;s Steakhouse NY, NY &ndash; Karne Korean Steakhouse Houston, TX

We hope this list inspires your holiday season wine selections. Remember to share your experiences on CorkRules app as we love hearing about your wine adventures! Cheers to a festive season filled with great wines and good company!

As we delve into the holiday season, our community of wine enthusiasts at CorkRules is buzzing with excitement. Our users are out and about, savoring some fantastic wines that are trending this festive period. We have compiled a list of these top-rated wines complete with detailed reviews, tasting notes, producer's history and food pairing recommendations.

Holiday Season Wine Trends, what our CorkRules App users drinking!

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

Anthony Giglio

The American Express Centurion Global Lounge Network

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

di Montalcino is a historic winery in the heart of Tuscany, known for producing some of the finest Sangiovese-based wines in the world. The winery is dedicated to capturing the unique character of the Montalcino region in every bottle.

Enduring eatery serving green chile wontons & other American staples, plus wine in vintage digs.

Craft

Craft L.A.

Barbrix

Wally's

The Belvedere

Spago Las Vegas by Wolfgang Puck

Spago

Jeune Et Jolie

Cucina Urbana

Rossoblu

Petit Trois

Cowboy Star

homepage

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The Bristol Bar and Grille

Aveleda

Vinho Verde Praia 2018

Blend

Vinho Verde, Portugal

Vina Sanzo Vinas Vieja Rueda Spain 2015

Rueda, Spain

De Martino

Estate Carmenere 2017

Carmenere

Central Valley, Chile

Las Rocas de San Alejandro Garnacha Vinas Viejas NV

Calatayud, Spain

Danzante

Pinot Grigio NV

Pinot Grigio

Delle Venezie, Italy

Bodegas Martín Códax

Alba Martin Albarino 2020

Albarino

Rias Baixas, Spain

Rapido

Pinot Grigio 2018

Pinot Grigio

Delle Venezie, Italy

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Mimi Chardonnay 2018

Chardonnay

USA

Weingut Winzer Krems Ried Sandgrube Gruner Veltliner 2018

Austria

Altos Las Hormigas

Malbec (Clasico) 2018

Malbec

Mendoza, Argentina

Schloss Gobelsburg

Gruner Veltliner Lamm 1 OTW 2018

Gruner Veltliner

Kamptal

King Estate

Sauvignon Blanc, Oregon 2019

Oregon, USA

Louis Jadot

Macon-Villages, Burgundy 2018

Burgundy, France

Martín Códax

Rias Baixas Albarino 2018

Albarino

Galicia, Spain

Altos Las Hormigas

Malbec (Clasico) 2018

Malbec

Mendoza