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.

Alto means high, referring to altitude when talking about wine, in both Spanish and Italian. Recently higher altitude locations have been planted more and more. A few decades ago, these areas were not seen as suitable for growing quality grapes as the climate back then was too cool. Today, with many producers witnessing a rising temperature, and a lot of new techniques in the vineyard, these areas are finally becoming viable. The higher you plant the cooler the temperature will be, but you will also receive more sun which in turn helps ripen the grapes. The temperature will be quite warm during the day, but very cool at night. This leads to ripe fruit aromas developing during the day, followed by a cool nighttime keeping the fresh acidity in the grapes, the best of both worlds for the grapes.

In Italy this development has been very prominent in northern Piemonte in the last decade. There is now talk about an area called Alto Piemonte, comprised of a few different wine regions. They are all located higher up in the mountains, and like the most famous wines from Piemonte many are based on the Nebbiolo grape. The most well-known wine regions would be Ghemme, Gattinara, and Boca.

But Alto Piemonte is not the only area where the term is used. In quite a few cases, in both Italy, Spain, Argentina and Chile the term can be seen used as part of a producer name or even as the name of a specific wine, sometimes to convey the wine is from a high planted vineyard. It is not uncommon however for winemakers to use the term to show it&rsquo;s their highest quality wine, not a wine from high altitude.

More wine growers have shown interest in high altitude vineyards lately, and the record of the highest planted one is something a few are trying to beat. It&rsquo;s safe to say the positive effects the altitude has on the growing grapes mean these vineyards are here to stay, and terms as alto may be used in more languages soon.

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

Herb & Wood

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas take a trip to San Diego where they explore the wine list at Herb & Wood,

Wine List Review of Herb & Wood, San Diego

Maria Valetta

Herb &amp; Wood

RT): Hi Everyone, welcome back to CorkRules! The wine podcast that&rsquo;s here to help YOU navigate all your favorite restaurant wine lists.

I&rsquo;m Robert Tas, along with Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria The Wine Blonde. Welcome back Maria

MV: Hello Robert! Great to be back for another episode with you as we expand to southern California

RT: Today we are talking about Herb &amp; Wood, this little spot nestled within the Little Italy neighborhood of downtown San Diego is known for Modern interpretations of Traditional Mediterranean cuisine.&nbsp; The retractable roof brings the outside in, while heat lamps in the winter keep you cozy as you nosh on a multitude of tapas-style plates coming from the wood-fired oven. The wine list at Herb &amp; Wood features a selection of Champagne and Ros&eacute; wines plus whites and reds broken down further into headings of Old world and New world, Maria, What do you think of their list?

MV: This is not a large list by any means, but the selection is lovely&hellip; well procured, with a lot of thought put into the offerings, with some excellent

Options from the US, France, Italy and Spain, and even Germany, Austria and Portugal&hellip; something for everyone for sure.

RT: Where should we begin then?

MV: They have some great wines by the glass too, so if sparkling is your thing too, Start with the Pierre Sparr But Rose from Alsace France &nbsp;- this lovely cr&eacute;mant d&rsquo;Alsace is 100% PN made in the champagne method- this will go down super easy! Or you could go with the Sancerre, Domaine Auchere this bright citrusy Sauv Blanc is the perfect companion to all the Hamachi crudo with ginger and apple or any of the Vegetable small plates.

RT: Do you have a fav red by the glass for this menu?

MV: order a glass of the Vietti Barbera d&rsquo;asti from Italy. I Love this Piedmont producer, this wine could go with just about everything. Let me say.. This food menu is great, so many options &ndash; something for everyone!

RT: any interesting bottles that we should not miss here?

MV: yes def some fun stuff on this list&hellip; and the markups are fair &hellip;the Vieux Telegraph La Crau 2020 CDP blancs are kind of rare&hellip; I used to sell this producer when I worked for International Wine Brokers. Dominated&nbsp; by Clairette grape and bolstered by 30% some Grenache Blanc, 15% Bourboulenc, 15% and Roussanne.

Another interesting white Bodegas Edet&aacute;ria &ldquo;Via Edetana &ldquo; Blanc DO Terra Alta Spain 2019 70%Grenache 30% Viognier highly aromatic wine, balanced by a bright acidity. South of Barcelona in Gandesa DO Terra Alta.

RT: I would definitely try both of those&hellip; any interesting red wines you would want us to drink?

MV: My pick is the Keenan Upper Bowl Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2019, a single vineyard cab franc from Napa valley I&rsquo;m &nbsp;totally on board!

RT: That&rsquo;s an underrated gem of a grape for sure!

MV: oh yeah hey.Cheval Blanc knew from the get-go that Cab Franc could make fantastic juice.

RT: How about some value wines.. I know that the Spanish white you recommended falls into that category, any others in that nice price point?

MV: I have a few more great options for you: Try the Tornatore Etna Bianco 2019 a beautiful white from Sicily made from the native Carricante grape grown in volcanic soils

And for red since the menu has some killer pizzas and pasta dishes the Messer Oto Aglianico del Vulture &ndash; a rustic but unoaked version of the Aglianico grape from the Basilicata region of Italy.

RT: That sounds like a perfect wine for that Oxtail gnocchi dish on the menu

&hellip; now can you steer us towards an option or two that I could order to impress everyone at the table?

MV: Okay so take it up a notch because you&rsquo;re trying to impress your in-laws.. &nbsp;I actually think The Trimbach Grand Cru Geisberg (gaysbourg) 2016 Riesling is going to shine so brightly with honeysuckle and Asian sliced pear but with a superior dry finish...&nbsp; and if you are eyeing a re, splash out on the Margaux du Chateaux Margaux 2014 the third wine of famed premier cru Bordeaux estate chateaux Margaux but this is on-trade only offering so here&rsquo;s your chance to try this beauty it would be perfect with the Iberico pork secreto, and if you&rsquo;re on a new world wine kick the Shafer hillside select 2015 $626, you can&rsquo;t go wrong with this beauty - I can rarely recommend this one because it&#39;s always so insanely priced on a winelists so I&rsquo;m happy about this markup so make this top rated cabernet your top notch selection.

RT: Fantastic Choices &hellip;Well thank you Maria for helping us discover the wine list at Herb &amp; Wood in San Diego. And Thank you everyone for joining us today you can find more wine tips from Maria on Instagram @Mariathewineblonde. Remember the only rule in wine is &ldquo;drink what you LOVE&rdquo;.

MV: Have a favorite wine list? Let us review it here. Send us your requests at <a href="mailto:info@corkrules.com">info@CorkRules.com</a> You can find previous episodes on your favorite podcast platform and on

The CorkRules website. Be sure to follow @CorkRules on Instagram for episode and app updates. Prices and selections subject to change, please drink responsibly.

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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

Textbook is a family-owned winery founded in 2004 by Jonathan and Susan Pey. They are located in the Napa Valley, USA, and produce small quantities of high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay. Their winemaking philosophy is to showcase the vineyards from which they come, with minimal winemaking intervention. The result is elegant, balanced wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Napa Valley.

Buzzy cafe run by a family, serving hearty brunch and lunch options at rustic wooden tables.

Grape the Wine Co.

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

The Butcher's Block Wahroonga

TarraWarra Estate, Chardonnay, Yarra Valley NV

Victoria, Australia

É Gòt

Merlot - Sangiovese NV

Blend

Rubicone, Italy

Cork Cutters

Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Cabernet Sauvignon

Barossa Valley, Australia

Château de Pizay

Beaujolais 2021

Gamay

Beaujolais, France

Opawa

Pinot Noir 2019

Pinot Noir

Marlborough, New Zealand

Pikes

Rising Ground Cabernet Franc 2021

Cabernet Franc

Clare Valley, Australia

Credaro, Kinship Chardonnay, Margaret River 2021

Western Australia, Australia

Château de Nalys

Saintes Pierres de Nalys Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge NV

Blend

Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France

Dei Principi di Spadafora Schietto Nero d'Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2019

Sicily, Italy

Langmeil

The Long Mile Shiraz 2021

Shiraz/Syrah

Barossa, Australia

Keith Tulloch, Shiraz Viognier, Hunter Valley 2019

New South Wales, Australia

Cullen, Mangan Vineyard Red Moon, Margaret River 2020

Western Australia, Australia

Jim Barry

The Lodge Hill Shiraz 2020

Shiraz/Syrah

Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia

Moët & Chandon

Imperial Brut Champagne NV

Chardonnay

Champagne, France

Clare Wine Co

Shiraz NV

Shiraz/Syrah

Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia