Omakase is experiencing a surge in popularity, let&rsquo;s dig into what it is and of course what wines to drink.

Omakase, a term that translates to &quot;I&#39;ll leave it up to you&quot; in Japanese, is rapidly gaining popularity in the culinary world. This dining experience places your meal entirely in the hands of the chef, who meticulously crafts each course based on seasonal ingredients and their personal creative flair. It&#39;s not just about seafood; while sushi often features prominently due to its status as a cornerstone of Japanese cuisine, an omakase menu can include anything from Wagyu beef to seasonal vegetables.

In comparison with ordering &agrave; la carte sushi, omakase offers a more immersive and adventurous dining experience. The cooking techniques vary widely depending on the dish; sashimi may be delicately sliced raw fish or seafood, nigiri might involve hand-pressed rice topped with wasabi and neta (topping), while other dishes could be grilled or simmered.

An omakase meal typically lasts two to three hours and consists of anywhere between 10-20 courses. To show gratitude towards the chef for their skillful preparation, customers usually express verbal appreciation after each course is served.

Pairing wine with omakase can elevate this already exquisite experience even further. Here are some wines that complement different elements of an omakase meal:

1. <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Von-Winning-Riesling-Herrenletten-Erste-Lage-Trocken-2021-w2600484yk">Riesling - Von Winning - Riesling Herrenletten Erste Lage Trocken 2021- $39.99</a>

Von Winning Winery has been producing wines since 1849 in Germany&#39;s Pfalz region known for its diverse soil types ideal for growing Riesling grapes. This particular wine showcases bright acidity balanced by notes of ripe peach and apricot alongside mineral undertones&mdash;a perfect match for delicate sashimi dishes.

2. <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Hiedler-Gruner-Veltliner-Ried-Thal-2021-w5616107gk">Gruner Veltliner - Hiedler - Gruner Veltliner Ried Thal 2021 - $26.99</a>

Hailing from Austria&rsquo;s Langenlois region, Hiedler has been making wine since 1856. Their Gruner Veltliner Ried Thal is characterized by its fresh and lively acidity, with flavors of green apple and white pepper&mdash;excellent for cutting through richer omakase dishes.

3. <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Domaine-LaFage-Rose-Miraflors-2022-w2115833ea">Ros&eacute; - Domaine LaFage - Ros&eacute; Miraflors 2022 - $18.99</a>

Domaine Lafage in France&#39;s Roussillon region is known for their high-quality wines produced from old vines. Their Ros&eacute; Miraflors boasts a vibrant pink hue with notes of red berries and citrus fruits&mdash;a versatile choice that can complement a variety of omakase courses.

4. <a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/sake/Konteki-Pearls-Of-Simplicity-Junmai-Daig-w52718362g">Sake - Konteki - Pearls Of Simplicity Junmai Daiginjo (720ml) - $37.99</a>

Produced in Kyoto, Japan&rsquo;s ancient capital, Konteki Sake represents the epitome of Japanese tradition. The &quot;Pearls Of Simplicity&quot; Junmai Daiginjo offers clean and smooth flavors with hints of pear and melon&mdash;an authentic pairing to honor the origins of omakase dining.

In conclusion, an Omakase meal is not just about eating; it&#39;s about surrendering yourself to the chef&#39;s expertise while embarking on a culinary journey that tantalizes your taste buds one course at a time&mdash;and when paired with carefully selected wines or sake, this experience becomes even more unforgettable.

Omakase is experiencing a surge in popularity, let’s dig into what it is and of course what wines to drink.



 Omakase, a term that translates to "I'll leave it up to you" in Japanese, is rapidly gaining popularity in the culinary world. This dining experience places your meal entirely in the hands of the chef, who meticulously crafts each course based on seasonal ingredients and their personal creative flair. It's not just about seafood; while sushi often features prominently due to its status as a cornerstone of Japanese cuisine, an omakase menu can include anything from Wagyu beef to seasonal vegetables.

Omakase and Wine Pairing: A Booming Gastronomic Journey

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

North Italia - Las Vegas

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas head to Las Vegas where they review the wine list at North Italia.

Wine List Review of North Italia, Las Vegas

Maria Valetta

North Italia

\North Italia Las Vegas in Summerlin

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! Today we are checking out an Italian spot that&rsquo;s a favorite amongst the locals&nbsp; here in Las Vegas

RT: That&#39;s right, today we are talking about the wine list at North Italia Las Vegas in the suburb of Summerlin. This national chain restaurant is different from most: the food is made from scratch daily with lots of love and there are daily specials that add to the menu of Italian-American favorites. This casual hotspot is always buzzing and busy, for Lunch, Brunch, and especially dinner.

RT: Sounds like a place that probably has plenty of Italian wines on offer, so Maria walk us through the wine list at North Italia Las Vegas.

MV: Sure thing. I frequent this place a lot and I have also been to one of their Arizona locations. It is always reliably good. The wine list by the bottle is short and sweet, offering just as much by way of California as they do Italy, but what impresses me the most are the wines by the glass &ndash; they offer more than most restaurants and they have some interesting wines at that plus the pours are also available by the Terzo !

RT: The terzo?

MV: Terzo means third in Italian so (3rd of the bottle) basically 8 ounces.

RT: Got it...&nbsp; I like that option. so, what are the impressive standouts?

MV: for instance, they have a Vermentino by the glass for white, the Gianni Gagliardo &ldquo;Fallegro&rdquo; Lange (where here they call it Favorita) And they also have a Pecorino by the glass&hellip; The Terra d&rsquo;aligi &ldquo;Zite&rdquo; from Abruzzo and I know what you&rsquo;re thinking&hellip;nope it&rsquo;s not the cheese. It&rsquo;s a grape too. It usually has these nutty citrus and stone fruit aromas.

RT: Yeah you don&rsquo;t see either of those by the glass much... do they have some interesting Italian reds as well?

MV: YES, they do!&nbsp;&nbsp; In Reds they have a Frapatto from Sicily &ndash; the donnafugatta &ldquo;bella assai&rdquo; a lighter bodied red... Barbera, the Marchesi di Gresi Barbera d&rsquo;asti and another fun one, the negroamaro Li Veli &ldquo;Pezzo Morgana&rdquo; Riserva from Salice Salentino (Puglia). All native grapes to Italy... a negroamaro and the Italian meatballs with creamy polenta is going to hit the spot..

RT: Great yummy options there to begin with, so what about by the bottle &ndash; I know you said it&rsquo;s limited but what are your top 2 choices for value bottles on the list?

MV: I&rsquo;ll give you more than that because honestly what&rsquo;s great about this list is that most of the wines are under $100! Amazing!!!

RT: WOW! That&rsquo;s incredible&hellip; A RAREITY! Soo then... give us all your favorites&hellip;

MV: My ultimate line up would be to start with the

Ferrari Blanc de Blanc sparkling from way up north In Trentino... made in the champagne method from 100% chardonnay grapes aged for over 30 months on the lees this to pair with the burrata starter&hellip; then I would choose a lighter-bodied white... the Jermann Pinot Grigio (everyone who knows me knows I don&rsquo;t often drink PG but this one is my fav) perfect for the arancini or the Mediterranean mussels.

RT: Then what, a richer white?

MV: You guessed it&hellip; the ZD Chardonnay when I want that rich buttery style.. butternut squash Anolini&nbsp; OR chicken pesto pasta with this bad boy&hellip;

RT: ooohhhh&hellip; now What about a good pizza red? I bet their pizzas are pretty darn good &hellip;?

MV: oh yeah the PIG pizza (meat lovers obviously) I like barbera and also sangiovese with pizza.. so the Viberti la gemella barbera d&rsquo;alba&nbsp; or the Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico - tomato paste..&nbsp; could go with that PIG and the Bolognese tagliatelle too.

RT? And the finale &hellip; how about a real big red?

MV: I&rsquo;m going for it.. the roasted porchetta and braised short ribs are not to be missed and for these, I&rsquo;d end with the Allegrini Amarone... Veneto 45% Corvina Veronese, 45% Corvinone, 5% Rondinella, 5% Oseleta intense concentrated ripeness here&hellip;

Now If dry wines aren&rsquo;t your thing then the sangria could be right up you taste bud alley.. they have one that&rsquo;s made with a sparkling ros&eacute; and of course a red sangria. both are fantastic. I can vouch! Lol!

RT: well, thank you Maria for giving us an incredible wine lineup at North Italia Las Vegas. Thank you everyone for joining us today you can find more wine tips from Maria on Instagram @Mariathewineblonde. Be sure to download the CorkRules app! And 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.

&nbsp;

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Broc Cellars, Old Vine Carignan 2015

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