Wine can bring out the best in food, and yes, that does include seafood, but it&rsquo;s not only white wine that pairs well with seafood, despite the popular misconception, some red wine pairs well with some seafood. When you are choosing wine to pair with seafood, you should pay more attention to the wine notes, sweetness and dryness, than the color of the wine.

So how do you choose which wine pairs well with seafood. Certified sommelier, Michaela Quinlan reviews the wine list at Oceana where she reviews the list and offers pairing suggestions.

The wine list at Oceana is an extensive, award-winning 33-pages. A list of this size would take quite some time to navigate, but Michaela quickly identifies fabulous standout wines from around the globe and offers a few tips on pairing wine with seafood to help you make a wiser and tastier choice all in under five minutes.

Let&rsquo;s start with the bubbles because who doesn&rsquo;t like adding a little sparkle to the beginning of the meal?

All of the sparkling whites, whether French, Italian or Spanish,&nbsp; Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, will complement fried dishes like calamari, or any seafood fried and cooked in batter, but these bottles also pair deliciously well with caviar.&nbsp; At Oceana, you can order several by the glass, including&nbsp; Prosecco, Palidin, Extra Dry, Millesimato, Veneto, Italy 2020.

Moving on to the more obvious choice of white wine with seafood, to choose wisely, all foodies should understand which whites pair well and why. For example, a dry white wine like pinot gris or sauvignon blanc pairs best with meaty fish like cod and tilapia.

Moving on to the Spanish whites Michaela recommends the Albari&ntilde;o,&nbsp; Valtea, R&iacute;as Baixas, 2020.

The traditional cuisine of Portugal and Spain are seafood rich, so it makes sense that the local varietals of albarino and veldehro pair well with shellfish dishes of mussels, crab, scallops and lobster. These wines are light and fresh with notes of lemon and the right acidity and crispness, to complement the delicate flavors of the shellfish. Just as shellfish should not be overcooked, the wine should not overpower.

If chardonnay all day is your comfort zone, you are in good company. Chardonnay is popular for good reason. These fuller whites are heavier than the pinot gris or sauvignon blanc, but work well with bass, oysters, salmon, and even lobster. The heavier the seafood the more full-bodied the wine is a good rule to follow. At Oceana, the Chardonnay, Saint-V&eacute;ran, Domaine Luquet, Burgundy, 2020 is a good way to go.

Interested in more wine tips and recommendations? Click the link and listen to <a href="https://corkrules.com/episode/details/3">the podcast wine review</a> of Oceana.

Cheers.

Wine can bring out the best in food, and yes, that does include seafood, but it’s not only white wine that pairs well with seafood, despite the popular misconception, some red wine pairs well with some seafood. When you are choosing wine to pair with seafood, you should pay more attention to the wine notes, sweetness and dryness, than the color of the wine.

Wines that Pair Well with Seafood at Oceana

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

Primo - Rockland

Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit Primo in Rockland, Maine.

Wine List Review of Primo in Rockland, Maine

Michaela Quinlan

Primo

Primo:

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 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.

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT: Today we are talking about Primo in Rockland, Maine. Primo describes themselves as a &ldquo;full circle kitchen&rdquo; as they manage their own greenhouses, pigs, and hens. Truly a fresh and ever-changing menu.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: Primo features an exciting selection of Old World and New World wines, along with half bottles, and magnums. A standout selection to pair with their beautifully fresh menu.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: A region that jumped out at me right away was the 2020 Chateau de Segries from Tavel. Tavel is located in the Southern Rhone Valley of France and is known to produce top Rose. This highly rated, organic, full-bodied rose consists of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah, and features aromas and flavors of ripe cherries, raspberries, licorice, with a mineral finish. This is a beautiful pairing with cheese, light fish, and herbed proteins.

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: A white wine that caught my eye was the 2019 Skouras Salto Moschofilero Wild Yeast from Greece. The Moschofilero grape is floral, medium bodied, and is fermented with wild yeast, resulting in a creamy finish. Notes of white flowers, citrus, pear, and melon, along with bright acidity make this wine an excellent companion to lightly sauced or herbed 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 to pair with any herbed dish would be the organic and biodynamic, 2014 Clau de Nell, Grolleau from the Loire Valley. The Grolleau grape is light to medium bodied showcasing ripe black cherries, blackberries, herbs and earthy notes. Consider this classic and savory wine.

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 to consider would be the 2017 Pablo Bea &ldquo;Pipparello&rdquo; Riserva from Montefalco in Umbria, Italy. Also, organic and biodynamic, this red blend of Sangiovese, Montepulciano, and Sagrantino, features black cherries, cassis, mulled spices, with round tannins on the smooth, lingering finish. Another companion to fresh herbs and rich proteins.

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: A stellar quality and value wine to consider would be the 2021 Rallo Ciello Catarratto from Sicily. The Catarratto grape is similar to Sauvignon Blanc with aromas and flavors of grapefruit, citrus, minerality, bright acidity, but slightly fuller-bodied with the Italian classic almond finish. Enjoy this wine as an aperitif or with shellfish.

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: Another favorite quality and value region to consider would be the 2019 Chateau de Montmirail from the Vacqueyras located in the Southern Rhone Valley of France. This stand out red consists of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre is full-bodied with ripe black cherries, white pepper, sage, minerality, and a soft finish. Another complement to richly sauced fish or smoked proteins.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

MQ: A truly perfect wine to pair with any special event would be the 2017 Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon of the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. While Ridge wines are always highly rated, the 2017 vintage received 100 points from Jeb Dunnuck. With a touch of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, this incredible wine showcases ripe blackberries, cassis, licorice, minerality, pine, and notes of cocoa. It is rich, full bodied, and fragrant, with firm, round tannins from the historic single vineyard of Monte Bello. A standout wine to add to any special occasion.

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Primo&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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BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

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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 Goulty at The Mercure Brighton

Castelbello, Rosso NV

Italy

Castelbello, Bianco NV

Italy

Torres Natureo Rose NV

Catalonia, Spain

Bonavita

Faro NV

Blend

Sicily, Italy

Wicked Lady White Zinfandel, California NV

California, USA

Berri Estates, Unoaked Chardonnay, South Eastern Australia NV

South Eastern Australia, Australia

Castillo de Mureva

Organic Tempranillo NV

Tempranillo

Castilla y Leon, Spain

Tekena Estate

Sauvignon Blanc NV

Sauvignon Blanc

Itata Valley, Chile

Lanya Sauvignon Blanc, Central Valley NV

Central Valley, Chile

Rare Vineyards Cinsault Vieilles Vignes Rose, IGP Pays d'Oc NV

Pays d'Oc, France

Kleine Zalze, Cellar Selection Bush Vines Chenin Blanc, Coastal Region NV

Coastal Region, South Africa

Canoas

Malbec San Juan, Argentina NV

Malbec

San Juan, Argentina

Reserve de Mirou Picpoul de Pinet NV

Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Le Fou

Pinot Noir NV

Pinot Noir

Pays d'Oc, France

Ca' Bianca Gavi, Italy, Piedmont, Gavi NV

Piedmont, Italy