<a href="https://ko.momofuku.com/">Momofuku Ko</a>&nbsp;is an award-winning restaurant in NYC that offers an exceptional dining experience. &nbsp;It won two Michelin stars in 2009 and has maintained that status ever since. It was also awarded three stars by the New York Times in 2015, and in 2019, it was ranked No. 76 on the World&rsquo;s 50 Best Restaurants list. With credentials like this, you&rsquo;d expect a top-quality wine list and you would not be disappointed.

So, if dining Japanese, which wines pair well?

Japanese cuisine is quite varied and includes a wide range of seafood dishes, tempura, sushi and sashimi, pork, chicken, ramen&hellip;, the flavors and textures are diverse, which means we need a wine list with a variety of options.

With sushi and sashimi, you can go wrong with a crisp, clean white wine like a gr&uuml;ner veltliner. A white wine with high acidity and lemony, citrus notes works well with seafood. Sauvignon blanc also pairs well with sushi, and, of course, Champagne also works well.

If you opt for a bowl of ramen or miso soup, the strong umami calls for a bolder wine that won&rsquo;t be overpowered nor overpower. Consider choosing a fortified wine like an Assyrtiko from Greece or even a Manzanilla sherry. However, many ramen dishes use soy sauce, in this case, a light-bodied pinot noir will also work well.

Fried, battered and grilled dishes like tempura, katsu, karaage and agedashi tofu pair well with aromatic and full-bodied whites, such as chardonnay or pinot gris. However, light to medium reds can also work spectacularly well. Think pinot noir, gamay or grenache.

If you are thinking of dining at Momofuku Ko, &nbsp;check out the CorkRules<a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/momofuku-las-vegas/episodes/23">&nbsp;podcast </a>episode with certified sommelier Michaela Quinlan. She navigates the wine list at &nbsp;Momofuku Ko and offers a few stellar suggestions.

Cheers!

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About the CorkRules Podcast:&nbsp;Each week we pour a glass and share top restaurant wine list picks, providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the wine list through sommelier recommendations, suggested food pairings and expert insights

About CorkRules:&nbsp;CorkRules, the first digital wine app experience, makes it easier for you to navigate the restaurant wine list, and provides you with personalized wine recommendations from your favorite restaurants. Through CorkRules you can find the perfect wine for every occasion based on your preferences. Connect with friends and wine experts to discover new wines to try and learn about wine. CorkRules makes it easier to discover and drink what you love. &nbsp;

Momofuku Ko is an award-winning restaurant in NYC that offers an exceptional dining experience.  It won two Michelin stars in 2009 and has maintained that status ever since. It was also awarded three stars by the New York Times in 2015, and in 2019, it was ranked No. 76 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. With credentials like this, you’d expect a top-quality wine list and you would not be disappointed.

Pairing Wine with Japanese Food at Momofuku Ko

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

Amali

Grant Wood

Amali

&ldquo;Love letters from the Mediterranean&rdquo; is the title of Amali&rsquo;s wine list so I&rsquo;m excited to see what they have curated for their wine list.

Just steps away from central park, this is an exciting Mediterranean restaurant that values sustainability from both the food they cook and the wines that they serve. Let&rsquo;s dive in and see what jumps off their menu.

I&rsquo;d like to point out that I really appreciate when restaurants have an open letter on their wine list to start a conversation with the guests about their philosophy on food and wine. This is a signal to me that there is a real sense of passion behind why they have curated their list. I also appreciate a table of contents because that can help the guest more easily navigate what they&rsquo;re looking for and spend more time enjoying their company and less time pouring over a short novel.

Let&rsquo;s start with half bottles as I love that they&rsquo;re a great way to try more wine with a wider range of what you want to order from the beginning to the end of your dining experience.

Right away, the Ruinart half bottle of Champagne is a real benchmark and a great way to toast your date. I also always like the 2017 Ridge Monte Bello Chardonnay if you want a white domestic crowd pleaser as well the 2019 Cristom Estate Mt. Jefferson Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley.

If you have a large group and want a Mediterranean boler then definitely go for the magnum of 2014 Ch&acirc;teau Pradeaux from Bandol in Provence which is based on the red grape Mourv&egrave;dre and one of my favorite producers coming from Bandol.

Back to standard bottles on their list and getting into bubbles, my rec for Champagne at a good value in comparison to others on the list is the Vilmart &amp; Cie, Grand Cellier, Premier cru NV is a great option. A really fun value, especially if you want to stay on brand with the Medi vibes then for the 2020 Pet-Nat of Savatiano by Vassaltis Vineyards in Greece.

On to whites, I love the 2020 Hatzidakis &lsquo;Famila&rsquo; from Santorini which is one of my favorite Assyrtiko-based whites from the stunning Island of Santorini. These wines are just so fresh, saline, and mineral-driven and are an obvious match with coastal seafood. Another great value is the 2019 Moschofilero by Kalogris Winery in the Peloponnese. If you&rsquo;re feeling a bit more Italian then go for the 2019 La Staffa, Rincrocca from Castelli di Jesi. A great domestic value is the 2019 Melon from Lieu Dit in Santa Barbara.

If you want an awesome rose for the summer that is really interesting, textural, and age worthy, then try the 2019 Chateau Simone, Palette from Provence.

On to reds, I&rsquo;m going to go big with the 2017 Magoutes Winery, Parcel Selection, Siatista which is Xinomavro from Macedonia. Xinomavro is known as the Nebbiolo of Greece with high structured tannins and acid to stand up the bigger, fattier dishes on the menu. A good value would be the 2017 Tselepos, Driopi, from Nemea, outside of Athens, based on the Agiorgitiko grape otherwise known as &ldquo;the blood of Hercules&rdquo; which is rich and dark in color with fruit and savor to also stand up to richer dishes. A nice Italian splurge would be the 2012 Fattoria dei Barbi from Brunello di Montalcino. A great domestic value would be the 2019 Syrah from Pax in Sonoma County as well which is always a solid, peppery red that is very food versatile.

Lastly, let&rsquo;s get sticky with some dessert wines! Let&rsquo;s bring things home back to Greece with the 2014 Domaine Papagiannakos, Melias, Attica made from the malagousia grape which would really be a great closer for your already memorable dining experience at Alamari.

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Cheers!

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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

Sycamore Lane is a popular wine brand that offers a range of varietals, including Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and others. The wines are known for their consistent quality and affordability.

Colonial-style, circa-1844 institution for casual-yet-elegant American entrees & cocktails.

The American Express Centurion Global Lounge Network

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

Braddock’s

Beringer

White Zinfandel NV

Zinfandel

California, USA

Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen 'Eroica' Riesling NV

Columbia Valley, USA

Château St. Jean

California Merlot 2014

Merlot

California, USA

Kendall-Jackson

Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2017

Chardonnay

California, USA

Hands Winery Merlot 2014

Washington, USA

LaLuca

Prosecco NV

Glera

Prosecco Treviso, Italy

Rodney Strong

Estate Pinot Noir 2014

Pinot Noir

Russian River Valley, USA

LaLuca Prosecco Rose, Veneto NV

Veneto, Italy

Spoken Barrel

#42 Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington, USA

Santa Margherita

Pinot Grigio Alto Adige NV

Pinot Grigio

Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

Lindeman's Bin Pinot Grigio NV

South Eastern Australia

Robert Mondavi Winery

Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc 2017

Blend

Los Carneros, USA

Belle Glos

Dairyman Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

Pinot Noir

California, USA

Mumm Napa

Blanc de Blancs NV

Chardonnay

Napa Valley, USA

Duckhorn

Napa Valley Chardonnay 2017

Chardonnay

California, USA