Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting <a href="https://www.67pallmall.com/the-london-club/">67 Pall Mall,</a> an elite private members&#39; club in London that caters exclusively to wine enthusiasts. Nestled in a grandiose building steeped in history and charm, this establishment offers a rich gastronomic experience for all its patrons.

The Food:

Dining at 67 Pall Mall is akin to indulging your senses in an array of culinary delights. The menu was thoughtfully curated with dishes designed not just for their standalone merit but also how they pair beautifully with wines. From delicate canap&eacute;s to hearty mains and decadent desserts, each dish was crafted exquisitely using high-quality ingredients sourced locally.

The Wine Program:

The heart and soul of 67 Pall Mall lie undoubtedly within its extensive wine program &ndash; one that boasts over four thousand different labels from around the globe. Their highly trained sommeliers guide you through this labyrinthine list with grace and knowledge. Whether you&#39;re a novice or seasoned connoisseur, there&rsquo;s something incredibly satisfying about discovering new vineyards or vintages under their expert guidance.

What sets them apart is not only the diversity of their collection but also their impressive storage capabilities which allow them to house these thousands of bottles under optimal conditions ensuring perfect preservation.

Service &amp; Vibe:

Atmosphere plays a crucial role when it comes down to enjoying fine dining paired with exquisite wines; thankfully, this aspect has been mastered by 67 Pall Mall as well. With impeccable service that strikes the right balance between attentiveness without being intrusive along with an ambiance reminiscent of old-world sophistication mixed subtly with modern chicness - it&rsquo;s hard not be enamored by it all!

Global Presence:

Beyond London&#39;s historic St James district where it first opened doors back in December 2015 lies its international presence across Bordeaux, Beaune, Singapore, and Melbourne. Each location maintains the same high standards of service while reflecting the unique cultural nuances of their respective regions.

Comparison with Soho Franchise:

While both 67 Pall Mall and Soho franchise cater to an elite clientele seeking a refined experience, there are notable differences. Where Soho clubs tend to lean towards a broader spectrum of interests including arts, film and media; 67 Pall Mall is unabashedly dedicated to wine enthusiasts providing them with an unparalleled selection along with educational events hosted by industry experts.

The Need for Private Wine Clubs in New York:

Given New York&#39;s vibrant culture and its plethora of enophiles, it&#39;s surprising that private wine clubs like 67 Pall Mall aren&#39;t more prevalent here. Establishments such as Wing-Tip in San Francisco have demonstrated how these venues can become social hubs for those passionate about wines - combining education, appreciation and camaraderie under one roof.

Being part of a community like this not only expands your understanding but also refines your palate over time &ndash; making every sip you take thereafter a testament to your evolving sophistication. As I left the hallowed halls of 67 Pall Mall that evening - satiated yet yearning for more - I couldn&rsquo;t help but feel grateful for having been part of such an enriching experience. Here&rsquo;s raising my glass hoping many more will get to enjoy this oenophile&rsquo;s paradise!

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting 67 Pall Mall, an elite private members' club in London that caters exclusively to wine enthusiasts. Nestled in a grandiose building steeped in history and charm, this establishment offers a rich gastronomic experience for all its patrons.

A Connoisseur's Sojourn to 67 Pall Mall - An Exquisite Oenophile's Paradise

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

Cecilia Bonet

Limani

LIMANI &ndash; New York

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where&nbsp;we review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Cecilia Bonet, Certified Sommelier.

Hello Cecilia,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to have you the CorkRules Family and from beautiful Spain

CB: Hello Robert, great to be here.

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, those lists can sometimes 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.

So, today we are talking about Limani near Rockefeller center. This is a high-end, swanky, beautiful Greek Mediterranean restaurant featuring seafood galore plus they have a broad selection of wines including some great wines from Greece. There is something for everyone.

Cecilia, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

As far as I can see, the wine list is well distributed with reds and whites, although there is perhaps little room for sparkling wines.

You will find a broad selection of Italian, French and local wines as well, but I would like to highlight the incredible choice of Greek wines, which are normally difficult to find.

As consumers, we are used to seeing wine lists with old-world wines, and when I mention this, I mean generally European wines, but not Greek. And if there are, very few.

And if we are talking about the wine offer, they also have some Kosher wines.

Rt; So, with all their great wines, anything unique jump out at you?

In this magnificent Mediterranean restaurant, we will find mostly seafood dishes. Therefore, I would like to suggest on this occasion more white or light red wines than others with more body and structure.

Something you should definitely try is the Assirtiko 2018 from Sigalas Winery. Assirtiko is the champion white grape of Greece, originated on the volcanic island of Santorini. Wines are bone-dry and lean with subtle saltiness, ideal both as an aperitif for its freshness and to pair with most main dishes.

RT: Sounds like a great suggestion, but what a lighter red to get me going?

But if instead, you love red wines, and perhaps with little structure, I would choose the Oregonian Pinot Noir &acute;Seven Springs&acute; Evening Land, produced in 2017 by Eola Amity Hills.

RT: As you looked at the list did you see any good values wine you might point us too?

Value Wines

If I choose to remain in the country I will suggest the 2015 Chardonnay Au Bon Climat, produced in Santa Maria Valley. It is rich on the palate, and the classic Chardonnay flavors of apple, citrus and vaNULLla go on and on. This lively wine will go with a wide assortment of foods, even with some meat.

If, on the other hand, I wanted to try a Chardonnay from its origins, I would prefer the 2017 Pouilly &ndash; Fuiss&eacute; by Albert Bichot, produced in the emblematic Burgundy.

RT: Right on, Bichot is one of the finest producers in Burgundy. Always a great choice. 

So this is a special kind of place, what&rsquo;s a special bottle for one celebrating a special occasion or big business dinner?

Bigger budget/Special Occasion

If it were up to me to decide, and a red one in this case, I wouldn&#39;t pass up the opportunity to drink the 2015 Barolo Cannubi from Chiara Boschis, produced in the heart of Piedmont, north of Italy. I have to say that I had the opportunity to meet Chiara when I was in London, and I was absolutely impressed by the quality of her wines. This would be definitely my choice, if a go for a bit more structure.

RT: Cecila, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Limani&rsquo;s wine List. I&rsquo;m adding this to my list and can&rsquo;t wait to try your suggestion myself.

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 as we have lots of other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists available.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

Thank you.

&nbsp;

End

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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

Sharecropper's is a family-owned winery based in Columbia Valley, USA. They specialize in producing high-quality, affordable wines that showcase the best of the region's terroir. Founded in 2007, the winery has since grown to become a respected name in the industry, with a reputation for producing exceptional wines that are both approachable and elegant.

Chic Italian option for Sicilian cooking & wines set in a historic mill with a patio & water views.

Contento

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

Cosima

Santa Maria La Palma

Aragosta Vermentino di Sardegna 2016

Vermentino

Vermentino di Sardegna, Italy

Colosi

Ecolosi Pinot Grigio - Catarratto 2021

Pinot Gris

Sicilia, Italy

Menhir Salento N. Zero Salento IGT, Puglia 2020

Puglia, Italy

Argiolas

Costamolino Vermentino di Sardegna 2020

Vermentino

Sardinia, Italy

Retrò

Copertino Riserva 2011

Negroamaro

Italy

NV Cantina del Taburno Folius Falanghina Extra Dry, Italy, Campania NV

Falanghina

Campania, Italy

Santa Tresa

Frappato 2021

Frappato

Terre Siciliane, Italy

Podere Castorani Amorino Pecorino Superiore, Abruzzo 2018

Abruzzo, Italy

Poggio Anima

Raphael Rosato 2020

Blend

Sicily, Italy

Valle dell'Acate

Grillo Zagra, Sicily 2021

Sicily, Italy

Mastroberardino

Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso 2020

Piedirosso

Campania, Italy

Santa Lucia

Il Melograno Castel del Monte 2017

Nero di Troia

Castel del Monte, Italy

Argiolas

Costera Cannonau di Sardegna 2020

Cannonau

Sardinia, Italy

Masseria Li Veli Fiano Torremossa Salento IGT, Italy, Puglia 2018

Fiano

Puglia, Italy

Contini

Tonaghe Cannonau di Sardegna 2021

Cannonau

Sardinia, Italy