Hey guys!

Guess where I had dinner last night? Babbo Ristorante in NYC! If you&#39;re a foodie like me, I&#39;m sure you&#39;ve heard of this amazing Italian classic Let me give you the lowdown on this place and why you absolutely need to check it out.

First things first, let&#39;s talk about the history of Babbo. Back in 1998, renowned chef Mario Batali opened this gem in the heart of Greenwich Village. It quickly became one of the hottest spots in the city, attracting food lovers from all over the world. Fast forward to today, and the restaurant is now under the expert management of chef-owner Mark Ladner, who has taken Babbo to new culinary heights.

<a href="https://www.corkrules.com/babbo/episodes/252">Check out CorkRules Podcast #218</a>&nbsp;by our very own Maria Valetta aka @mariathewineblonde.

Food: (4.5/5) - Now, let&#39;s dive into the food. The menu at Babbo is a celebration of classic Italian cuisine with a modern twist. They offer a wide variety of dishes, ranging from antipasti like the famous Grilled Octopus with Borlotti Beans to mouthwatering homemade pasta dishes like the unforgettable Black Spaghetti with Rock Shrimp and Spicy Calabrese. Chef Ladner&#39;s expertise really shines through in every bite, and you can taste the love and dedication put into each dish.

Wine: (4/5) - But it&#39;s not just the food that makes Babbo stand out; their wine program is equally impressive. Head sommelier Jeff Kellogg has curated an exceptional but overwhelming wine list, featuring a fantastic selection of Italian wines as well as some hidden gems from around the world. Whether you&#39;re a wine connoisseur or just enjoy a good glass of vino, you&#39;ll find something to suit your taste here. The knowledgeable staff is more than happy to help you find the perfect pairing for your meal, making the dining experience even more enjoyable.

Service: (4/5) And speaking of the staff, let&#39;s talk about the service at Babbo. From the moment you step through the doors, you&#39;re greeted with warm smiles and attentive hospitality. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the food and wine they serve, and they go above and beyond to ensure that every guest feels well taken care of. It&#39;s the kind of service that makes you feel like a VIP.

Vibe: (4/5) Finally, let&#39;s talk ambiance. If you&#39;re looking for a cozy and intimate setting for date night, Babbo is the place to be. The restaurant has a charming rustic decor, with warm lighting and exposed brick walls that exude a welcoming atmosphere. The energy is lively and vibrant, making it the perfect spot for a celebratory dinner or a romantic date night. And if you&#39;re looking to host a private event, Babbo also offers a private dining room that can accommodate larger parties.

Babbo is one the quintessential restaurants in NYC and is simply outstanding. From the incredible food to the exceptional service, this place has it all. Whether you&#39;re a fan of Italian cuisine or just looking for a memorable dining experience, Babbo is definitely worth a visit. So go ahead and make a reservation and prepare to indulge in the best of Italian flavors. You won&#39;t be disappointed!

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Back in 1998, renowned chef Mario Batali opened this gem in the heart of Greenwich Village. It quickly became one of the hottest spots in the city, attracting food lovers from all over the world. Fast forward to today, and the restaurant is now under the expert management of chef-owner Mark Ladner, who has taken Babbo to new culinary heights.

Babbo Ristorante in NYC! An Italian Classic!

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

Dirty French

Michaela Quinlan

Dirty French

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;A podcast where, in each episode, we 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 great wine list.

MQ: Hi Robert!

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, that 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 Dirty French. Located in the posh Ludlow Hotel down in the lower East side of Manhattan. You will be transported to a classic, timeless French bistro and get to hang with all the cool kids. I can hear the music vibing already!

Dirty French also operates a Lobby Bar where you may dine and drink indoors and outdoors in that swanky garden courtyard.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of this super-rich French wine list?

MQ: What better to pair with classic French cuisine, than stellar, French wine standouts from this extensive list? I am looking forward to sharing several with you.

RT: Me too, I love my French wines for sure. As you looked the list did you see anything special regions jump out at you?

MQ: Let&rsquo;s begin with a unique wine destination in France, Savoie &ldquo;Sav-wah.&rdquo; This region is located in the French Alps, and is a haven for white wine lovers. If you are looking to pair fondue, or savory sauces, I would begin with the 2018 Allobroges Blanc,&nbsp;Ardoisi&egrave;res&nbsp;Argile St Pierre de Soucy. This Argiles blend of Chardonnay, Jacquere, and Mondeuse Blanc is rich and round&hellip;think white Burgundy, with a hint of floral aromas.

RT: Who doesn&rsquo;t love the alps. That is for sure unique.

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 would be to head to the small region of Bandol located within Provence. This region is known for its limited roses produced along with a picturesque coastal climate. You must try the 2017 
Bandol,&nbsp;Domaine Tempier. This red wine made from the Mouvedre grape, exudes pepper, blackberry, and cassis. This is your go to when that spicy dish catches your eye.

RT: That sounds right up my alley. These are some suggestions.

So you know I&rsquo;m getting thirsty and what bottle should we order with dinner, where would you guide us?

MQ: The Valentin Morel, C&ocirc;tes du Jura&nbsp;Les Trouillots 2018 is a unique white wine from the region of Jura, a neighbor to Savoie. This wine is 100% Chardonnay. The wine does spend some time in oak, so you experience a fuller-bodied wine with hints of baked apple. Perfect to pair with tuna or other rich, seafood selections.

RT: Ooh, Terrific. Yum. Michaela, any hidden value wines you&rsquo;d point us to?&nbsp;

MQ: Absolutely! The 2020 Muscadet S&egrave;vre-et-Maine,&nbsp;La Pepiere&nbsp;Clos des Briords is always a favorite. The Muscadet grape is grown in the Loire Valley. Let&rsquo;s not get confused with Moscato. Moscato is often a sweeter, white or rose wine. The Muscadet is a light and quite dry white wine. This is your easy sipper on its own, or perfect pairing with oysters can clams. Excellent wine for an excellent price.

RT: Now Michaela, what if were celebrating a special occasion where we want to break the bank?

MQ: I do love a classic&hellip;with that said, let&rsquo;s head to Chateauneuf du Pape for the Ch&aacute;teauneuf-du-Pape,&nbsp;Beaucastel 2014. This Southern Rhone classic has been in operation since the sixteenth century producing award-winning grenache/syrah blends. What I love about Chateauneuf du Pape is that the soil has a top layer of stones that warm in the sun during the day that keep the grapes warm during the cooler evenings. This balances the acidity for this stunning wine.

RT: I&rsquo;ve had this wine before and it&rsquo;s fantastic. Blackberry and pepper comes to mind. Full-bodied wine. You can drink this for the next 10 or so.

MQ: Absolutely!

RT: Michaela, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Dirty French&rsquo;s very French 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.

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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Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

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Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Grand Marchand is a family-owned winery located in the heart of Bordeaux, France. With a focus on quality and tradition, the winery produces some of the finest wines in the region.

Delfina Restaurant

Delfina

AFICI

Afici

Ancora

Muller & Lux

The Morris

Spruce

Chez Panisse

Bar Sprezzatura

Sprezzatura

Rich Table

The Progress

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

Tucana Madrid

Bodegas Juan Pinero 'Maruja' Manzanilla Sherry NV

Andalucia, Spain

Bodegas Antidoto, Ribera del Duero 2020

Ribera del Duero, Spain

Bodegas Antidoto 'Roselito' Rosado 2020

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Coto de Gomariz 'The Flower and the Bee - La Flor y La Abeja' Tinto 2020

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Bodega Finca Fuentegalana 'El Soplon de Albillo Real' 2019

Castilla y Leon, Spain

Guimaro

Ribeira Sacra Mencia 2020

Mencia

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Toros de Guisando Prisco Merlot - Syrah 2013

Blend

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Bodega Finca Fuentegalana 'Telurico' Pink Ancestral, Sierra de 2020

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Artuke

Pies Negros Rioja 2019

Tempranillo

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Moska-Tell Ancestral 2020

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Neno

Somoza, Valdeorras, Godello 2019

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Dominio del Bendito, Toro, El Buen Rollo 2019

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Doniene Gorrondona

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Greco di Subur Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature 2017

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Albarino

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