Nothing screams cheesy quite like a heart-shaped pizza and pasta dish at restaurants decked out in pink and red streamers and balloons on Valentine&rsquo;s Day. And it doesn&rsquo;t get more clich&eacute; than scarfing it down with a bottle of Champagne. Bubbles are festive, but aren&rsquo;t you tired of spending the holiday of love and romance the same way every year?

Valentine&rsquo;s Day should be an authentic celebration of the love and joy shared between two people, and there are plenty of ways to convey this without reaching for that same old yellow-label Champagne or eating from last year&rsquo;s prix-fixe menu.

&ldquo;Cultivating an experience where both people are discovering something new together is a great way to spend the holiday,&rdquo; says Samantha Hohl, a sommelier in Boston.

&ldquo;Getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new, whether it&rsquo;s food or wine, is a fun way to get close to your person. I always like to find a place where my partner and I can sit down and go on an adventure together,&rdquo; Hohl continues.

The key to success on Valentine&rsquo;s Day is opting for off-the-beaten-path restaurants with wine lists as exciting and extensive as dinner menus &mdash; otherwise, spend the evening at the restaurant with a thoughtfully curated wine list and take it from there. Look for farm-to-table establishments, where dishes are created with local delicacies and intention, or restaurants that focus on small plates for sharing with a partner. Restaurants with serious wine programs that offer wine-pairing menus can provide an enchanting date night experience by giving dinner guests a chance to experience a journey through the glass and on the plate.

&ldquo;My husband and I like to go to restaurants with wine pairings with their tasting menus, like <a href="https://bellagio.mgmresorts.com/en/restaurants/le-cirque.html">Le Cirque</a>, inside the Bellagio Hotel,&rdquo; says Las Vegas sommelier Maria Valetta. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a very classy restaurant, but it&rsquo;s not stuffy. The sommeliers there are so knowledgeable and entertaining, and they always have great stories about the pairings for each course. To have that special wine with every dish &mdash; like pairing foie gras with Sauternes &mdash; is an exciting and mind-blowing experience to share with a partner.&rdquo;

And never underestimate the power of simplicity.

<a href="https://alcoveboston.com/">&ldquo;Alcove in Boston&rdquo;</a> is a really fun restaurant with an awesome wine list separated by different adjectives. The food program is straightforward and focused on New England coastal dishes, but the wine list is so fun and approachable. You can order wines under categories like &lsquo;crisp and refreshing,&rsquo; &lsquo;mineral driven,&rsquo; or &lsquo;advanced textures,&rsquo;&rdquo; says Hohl.

Of course, restaurants are always necessary to enjoy an evening of romance. Sometimes all you need is your favorite takeout and the cozy comforts of home to set the mood, and wine can undoubtedly come in handy for those intimate moments too.

&ldquo;Opening up a bottle that you love and sharing it with someone you care about can make for an extraordinary moment and celebration of love,&rdquo; says Grace Hood, a sommelier in San Diego. &ldquo;Your whole mood changes after you open a special bottle. It sets a nice mood, an elevated ambiance that can really play up the romance.&rdquo;

Hood adds, &ldquo;Not to mention, wine makes a great gift.&rdquo;

Valetta recommends looking for bottles that can amplify the loving theme of Valentine&rsquo;s Day, like the vibrant and thirst-quenching <a href="https://www.stolpmanvineyards.com/product/Love-You-Bunches-2022">&ldquo;Love You Bunches&#39;&#39; </a>carbonic Sangiovese by Santa Barbara winery Stolpman Vineyards or Jean-Louis Chave&rsquo;s fruit-forward and peppery <a href="https://www.astorwines.com/item/11871">&lsquo;Mon Coeur&rsquo; </a>C&ocirc;tes du Rh&ocirc;ne, which translates to &ldquo;my heart.&rdquo; Want to go the expensive route? <a href="https://www.morrellwine.com/wines/Chateau-Calon-Segur-St-Estephe-2017-w0493344es">Ch&acirc;teau Calon S&eacute;gur</a> makes one of the most recognizable bottles of Bordeaux with a heart-shaped label. However, more affordable options help crank up the heat, too, like <a href="https://www.slodownwines.com/products/2019-love-hammer">&#39;Slow Down Wines&rsquo;</a> Lovehammer Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley.

Another fun option could be Gerard Bertrand&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.plummarket.com/store/2022-gerard-bertrand-cote-des-roses-rose-languedoc.html">Cote du Roses Ros&eacute;</a>, which comes in a beautiful bottle with a rose design. &ldquo;I would love for someone to show up at my door with five of those bottles turned upside down and wrapped with a bow like a ros&eacute; bouquet,&rdquo; says Valetta.

&ldquo;Playing around with different wines and looking for bottles with a special meaning or name that centers on love, joy, and companionship could make for a unique Valentine&rsquo;s Day wine lineup,&rdquo; Valetta continues.

Nothing screams cheesy quite like a heart-shaped pizza and pasta dish at restaurants decked out in pink and red streamers and balloons on Valentine’s Day. And it doesn’t get more cliché than scarfing it down with a bottle of Champagne. Bubbles are festive, but aren’t you tired of spending the holiday of love and romance the same way every year?

Make This Valentine’s Day One to Remember with These Exceptional Wines and Restaurants

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

Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas navigate the wine list at the Mexican restaurant Viva Garcia where they choose wine to pair well with bold Mexican flavors.

Wine List Review of Viva Garcia, Las Vegas

Maria Valetta

Viva Garcia

Viva Garcia

<a href="https://9gq888.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/%C2%A1VIVA-Wine-Menu-10.20.22.pdf">https://9gq888.p3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/%C2%A1VIVA-Wine-Menu-10.20.22.pdf</a>

RT): Hi Everyone, welcome back to Corkrules! The wine APP &amp; podcast that&rsquo;s here to help YOU navigate all your FAVORITE restaurant wine lists.

I&rsquo;m your host, Robert Tas, along with Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria The Wine Blonde on Instagram. Welcome back Maria

MV: Hello Robert looks like our episode is all about bold Mexican Flavors but NOT paired with margaritas !

RT: That&rsquo;s right Maria, SO We&rsquo;re guessing you all may have heard the term Viva Las Vegas!....BUT have you heard of&nbsp; Viva Garcia?&nbsp; As in the famous Chef,

Ray Garcia and his eponymous restaurant in Resorts World Casino? If not, now you have&hellip;.Chef Garcia mixes together traditional and modern Mexican cooking to create vibrant dishes full of flavor in a colorful and exciting atmosphere.&nbsp; Sure, the margaritas are great here But let&rsquo;s talk about the wine list Maria.

MV: This list is pretty straightforward forward with sections of Sparkling, Rose, White and Red. What I like the most about this list are the multiple-by-the-glass offerings of&nbsp; Ros&eacute; &hellip;.4 different options so you can actually make your own flight of ros&eacute;, and also a great selection of Mexican wines from Mexican wine country known as Valle de Guadalupe.. which is my fav up and coming wine region to visit right now. 
RT: Yes I have heard of Valle De Guadalupe but have not been yet, but how great to see this restaurant supporting this wine region. Do they have any Mexican wines by the glass?

&nbsp;

MV: They do and one is a white wine from one of my fav producers that I have visited while there: Casa Magoni. They have their 2020 Chardonnay-Vermentino, blend. 50% chard, 50% vermentino..YESSSS an Italian variety... Wineries in the Valle de&nbsp; Guadalupe are actually planting and experimenting with a lot of Italian Varieties, Expect Green apple and pear aromas, on the nose of this wine, the vermentino adds refreshing acidity. Pair it with Chef Garcia&rsquo;s guacamole or Yellowtail Ceviche!

RT: And you said they have some great Rose&rsquo;s by the glass?&nbsp; Let&rsquo;s talk about those briefly..

MV: Yes, let&rsquo;s talk about Ros&eacute; because the weather is finally starting to warm up here.. I recommend making your own flight and trying these 3 rose wines:

1.) The Domaine de Triennes, Ros&eacute;, Provence, France 2020 The Provence, France&nbsp; a traditional Provence rose the 12.7 made from 4 grapes: Cinsault &ndash; Syrah -Grenache &ndash; Merlot

2.) Then the Ontanon, Clarete Rosado, Rioja, Spain &nbsp;a Spanish Rose from Rioja made from Tempranillo grapes 13% and the

3.) Daou Vineyards, Discovery Ros&eacute;, Paso Robles, California all Grenache Noir grapes made in the classic Proven&ccedil;ale style but a little riper with the 14.1 % alc

RT: Wine flights are always a lot of fun

MV: they sure are and they are a great way to discover your favored taste profile in wines &hellip; by the way, if you like that Daou Rose, you&rsquo;ll probably also love their&nbsp; 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, , a great Paso Robles,<s>&nbsp; </s>Cab also OFFERED BY THE GLASS.

RT: Daou wines are always reliably good. So By the bottle which are your favorite value wines?

MV: Actually, this is easy as most wines on this list ARE value wines, but standouts for me are the Ra&uacute;l P&eacute;rez, Ultreia Saint Jacques, Bierzo, Spain, 2018 $64 made from the Mencia grape that&rsquo;s native to spain, I always say if you are a PN fan you will most likely love mencia.

Also would recommend the, Les Glories Sancerre, Loire, France, 2018 remember sancerre blanc is always Sauvignon Blanc, And one wine I would personally want to try is the Solar Fortune, Syrah, Valle de Guadalupe, B.C., Mexico, 2017 88 I&rsquo;ve been to many wineries in this region of Mexico but not this one&hellip; so bring on the syrah!!

I have to say GO visit Valle de Guadalupe, the hotels are fabulous, everything from 5-star resort options to super boutique and even some funky and glampy places to stay&hellip; incredible food, and interesting wines, plus great hospitality.

RT: NICE, I see a CorkRules wine trip in the future! Maybe???&nbsp; Haha

MV: YES to that! let me be your guide! BUT&hellip;before we wrap, let me give you a few wines that will up your game at Viva Garcia!

RT: Please do!

MV: Now like I said most of the wines on this list are reasonable but if you want to go next level, be sure to order the Ruinart, Brut, Blanc De Blancs, Reims, France

Champagne, AND remember, blanc de blanc is all chardonnay and you could easily drink with this either their langosta: LOBSTER with a Carrot-Pineapple Puree OR even the Red snapper with citrus adobo, both would pair perfectly!

RT: Always love a killer Champagne! Then what?

MV: Then you could roll into the Bodega Numanthia, Toro, Spain, 2015 $100 great price on this actually&hellip;. even though we are stepping up into the slightly more premium red category&hellip; this Tempranillo, would be lovely with the sharable COSTILLAS ( Full Rack of Ancho Rubbed Lamb Ribs,)

&nbsp;or go new world with the DeLille Cellars, Four Flags, Yakima Valley, Washington, 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon&nbsp; <s>175 </s>&nbsp;this going to be bananas with the lamb.

I have always been a big fan of Delille (da lil) waaaayyy before Cabs from Washington were even slightly popular and YES if you didn&rsquo;t know, now you know&hellip; Washington state cabs are a thing that everyone loves now! So get on board!

RT: You heard it everyone &hellip; get on board!

RT: Well thank you Maria for talking Wine at Viva Garcia in Las Vegas with us, and thank you, everyone, for joining us on another episode of CorkRules. Be sure to download the app from the Appstore and start getting your personal restaurant wine recommendations directly to your phone. You can find more wine educational tips from Maria on Instagram @mariathewineblonde and on the CorkRules app.

&nbsp;

MV: It&rsquo;s here! The corkrules App! Download it for free today from the app store so you can browse restaurant wine lists, connect with your friends, and start drinking wines you love.&nbsp;

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 app. Be sure to follow @corkrules on Instagram for episode updates. Prices and selections subject to change, please 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

Santa Cristina is a renowned Tuscan winery that has been producing high-quality wines for over 70 years. The winery is known for its commitment to sustainable viticulture and winemaking practices, as well as its dedication to producing wines that are true expressions of the Tuscan terroir.

Colorful farm-to-table steakhouse featuring local ingredients, heritage beef & craft spirits.

Dante

Geronimo

La Mercerie

Bar Primi

Kirby’s Steakhouse

The Grill

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

Urban Farmer Philadelphia

Hendry

HRW Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley NV

Napa Valley, USA

Gramercy Cellars

Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Cabernet Sauvignon

Washington, USA

La Follette

Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay 2021

Chardonnay

Sonoma County, USA

Michel Jacquesson

Brut Champagne NV

Blend

Champagne, France

L'Ecole No 41

Merlot 2019

Merlot

Washington, USA

Ceretto

Arneis Langhe Blange 2019

Arneis

Langhe, Piedmont, Italy

Golden Cluster

Muller? 2021

Muller-Thurgau

Dundee Hills, USA

Sella & Mosca

Riserva Cannonau di Sardegna 2019

Cannonau

Sardinia, Italy

Peyrassol

Cuvee des Commandeurs Cotes de Provence Rose 2021

Assemblage

Provence, France

Paolo Scavino Barolo, Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo 2018

Nebbiolo

Langhe, Piedmont, Italy

Feudo Montoni

Vigna Lagnusa Nero d'Avola 2018

Nero d'Avola

Sicily, Italy

Route 3

Dunnigan Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Sauvignon Blanc

California, USA

Cakebread

Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Sauvignon Blanc

California, USA

Prisionero

Malbec 2020

Malbec

Mendoza, Argentina

Fattoria Sanfelo

Viognier Maremma Toscana 2021

Viognier

Maremma Toscana, Tuscany, Italy