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

Buddha-Bar Restaurant New York

Alexis Rogers

Buddha Bar

Buddha Bar&nbsp;

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!

&nbsp;I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Alexis Rogers, wine educator and&nbsp; restaurant sommelier

Hi Alexis, thanks for being back with us on another episode of CorkRules, - a podcast where we help simplify and demystify the wine lists at some of your favorite restaurants. We talk with certified sommeliers and wine professionals who point out interesting bottles, classic food and wine pairings, hidden gems,&nbsp; value wines, or splurge wines that will take your dining experience over the top.

AR: Thanks for having me again!

RT:&nbsp; Today we are looking at the wine list at Buddha Bar NYC. Bringing the international Buddha Bar concept to NYC&rsquo;s Tribecca neighborhood, the menu here is decidedly Pan-Asian but with some European and California influences. Does this global-mindedness translate into their wine list as well Alexis?

AR: It does! Wines from all the major regions are represented. This wine list has 5 simple categories - Sparkling, Red, White, Rose, and Sake. I&#39;m afraid that&#39;s where the organization ends though. Wines aren&#39;t grouped by country of origin, by grape variety, or even price. You just have to look at every bottle individually. Your more popular and commonly known wines are here - big names like Far Niente and Hundred Acre and Dom Perignon. You don&#39;t really need a sommelier to decode those wines - you know what they are. So in this episode, we&rsquo;ll focus on wines you may overlook.

RT : I can&#39;t wait to hear about what you&rsquo;ve found!

AR: First up is the Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko from the Santorini region of Greece. One of Greece&rsquo;s finest producers making wine from one of the country&rsquo;s most noble grapes! This still relatively-rare grape grows mostly (and most famously) on the windswept, volcanic island of Santorini. These super-crisp, citrusy, mineral-driven wines are a seafood lover&rsquo;s dream! Pair this with anything in a shell that you would normally squeeze a lemon on. Here at Buddha Bar specifically, definitely with the oysters and black Kaluga caviar.

RT: What a treat! Caviar is one of my favorite indulgences! But I would definitely have to try that whole live Kamchatka crab! What would you pair with that?

AR: That &ldquo;for the table&rdquo; snack will set you back a pretty penny so I selected a wine that won&#39;t break the bank - The JM Brocard Chablis. This is the wine for the ABC crowd - Anything But Chardonnay, even though it&rsquo;s 100% Chardonnay. The wines of Chablis are bright and fresh with electric acidity and notes of lemon, lime, and green pear fruit with a pronounced chalky and smokiness. This chardonnay is neither buttery nor oaky and that style is typically what people mean when they say they don&#39;t like chardonnay. A lack of those common aspects of chardonnay is exactly what makes this wine such a great pairing with seafood.

RT: What a snack! And bottle! But what if we DO want to splurge on a bottle? Which would you pick?

AR: Splurging here would be really easy because all of the big names in wine are here. The problem with that is sometimes that&rsquo;s exactly what you&#39;re paying for - the name. So let&#39;s go with a name that&rsquo;s actually worth it - Raen. Raen is a project from winemakers and farmers Carlo and Dante - 2 brothers with a VERY famous last name - Mondavi. As in Robert Mondavi - one of the pioneering winemakers that put California wine on the map in the 1970s. This bottle comes to us from the prestigious Sea Field Vineyard on the western Sonoma Coast. Raen Pinots are known for being rich and concentrated, yet still elegant and lifted. Look for notes of raspberry and rhubarb, wet rock and forest floor, with a touch of dried herbs and violets. Pair this with the duck and foie gras dumplings!

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RT: Sonoma Coast is a great place for pinot and I bet these guys picked up some pointers along the way! Alexis, thank you for joining us to sift through the list at Buddha Bar NYC.&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:

Info@corkrules.com 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 or wherever you get your podcasts.

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And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you 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

Orben is a family-owned winery in Rioja, Spain that is dedicated to producing exceptional wines that highlight the region's unique terroir. Founded in 2004 by Juan Carlos López de Lacalle, Orben is known for its innovative approach to winemaking and commitment to quality.

Fondue restaurant chain offering heated pots of cheese, chocolate or broth for dipping & cooking.

Marc Forgione

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 Melting Pot - Appleton

Domaine Ste. Michelle

Michelle Brut Rose NV

Pinot Noir

Columbia Valley, USA

14 Hands

Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Cabernet Sauvignon

Columbia Valley, USA

Placido

Moscato d’Asti NV

Moscato Bianco

Moscato d'Asti, Italy

Drumheller

Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington, USA

Salentein

Portillo Malbec NV

Malbec

Argentina

Michael David Winery

Petite Petit NV

Petite Sirah

California, USA

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Diamond Collection Sauvignon Blanc NV

Sauvignon Blanc

California, USA

Michael David Winery

Zinfandel, Lodi NV

California, USA

Maso Canali

Trentino Pinot Grigio NV

Pinot Gris

Trentino, Italy

DAOU

Pessimist Red Blend NV

Blend

Paso Robles, USA

Rodney Strong

Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay NV

Chardonnay

Chalk Hill, USA

Esterhazy, Vom Stein Gruner Veltliner, Burgenland NV

Burgenland, Austria

Meiomi

Pinot Noir NV

Pinot Noir

California, USA

Elouan

Pinot Noir NV

Pinot Noir

Oregon, USA

Fleur De Prairie Languedoc Rose France Roussillon NV

France