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

The world of sparkling wine is a vast one. While champagne has long been the reigning king, there's another contender that’s not only equally delicious but also offers great value for money - Cremant.

Cremant vs Champagne: The real deal for bubbles.

California Chardonnay: it's a name synonymous with sunshine, buttery richness, and maybe even a splash of white wine envy (looking at you, Bridget Jones). But how did this grape, originally hailing from France, become a Californian icon? Buckle up, because we're diving into the world of CA Chard, from its unexpected origins to the reasons it continues to reign supreme on wine lists.

Buckle up, because we're diving into the world of CA Chard!

Forget everything you think you know about sweet, syrupy wines. Lambrusco is a sparkling red wine from Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region that’s as light and bubbly as a summer day.

Lambrusco: The Party in a Bottle You Need to Try under $25

As the days grow longer and warmer, it's time to trade in your full-bodied reds and crisp whites for a glass of refreshing rosé. This versatile wine is not only perfect for spring but also pairs beautifully with a wide variety of foods all year round.



Rosé originates from France, specifically Provence - the world’s leading rosé region. It has been produced there since 600 BC when Greeks brought vines to southern France. Unlike its red and white counterparts, rosés are made using an array of grape varietals including Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault among others.

Spring into Rosé: The Perfect Wine for Warmer Weather

We are interested in understanding your dining and wine consumption habits to gain valuable insights into the wine and restaurant industry.

State of Wine and Restaurant Survey 2024

Aligoté: Burgundy's Unsung Hero Steps Out of the Shadows

For Chardonnay lovers seeking a refreshing, value-driven alternative, Aligoté, Burgundy's "other" white grape, beckons with its crisp acidity, subtle minerality, and undeniable charm. Often overshadowed by its more illustrious neighbor, Aligoté is finally gaining recognition for its unique qualities and exceptional quality-to-price ratio.

Aligoté: Burgundy's Unsung Hero Steps Out of the Shadows

A Hungarian Legacy: Imagine yourself in Tokaj, Hungary, a region steeped in winemaking tradition. For centuries, Furmint has thrived in its volcanic soil, basking in the warm sunshine. These grapes, loved for their thick skin and high acidity, became the cornerstone of Hungary's most famous wine: Tokaji. These sweet, honeyed treasures were once enjoyed by royalty and popes!

Furmint: Hungary's Hidden Gem for Wine Lovers

Check out these four whites wines under $24, from some great producers across various terroirs – France, Italy, Spain. Spring is in the air.

Four must try white wines for under $24 from France, Spain, and Italy

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas join forces for a fun review of the wine list at Bar Zazu where they offer wines from around the globe with a special focus on Spain.

Wine List Review of Bar Zazu, Las Vegas

Maria Valetta

Bar Zazu

Zazu 

Wine

https://www.rwlasvegas.com/pdf/barzazu-beveragemenu-feb24

Food:

<a href="https://www.rwlasvegas.com/pdf/barzazu-dinnermenu-feb24/">https://www.rwlasvegas.com/pdf/barzazu-dinnermenu-feb24/</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: Hi Robert, HI everyone! Stick around because today we are having fun talking tapas and interesting grapes.

RT: That&rsquo;s right, Today our podcast takes us to Bar Zazu located within the Resorts World Casino. Zazu is an upscale tapas lounge, where you can expect to be captivated visually with its colorful lighting, daring digital art, and tempting wine wall on full display. And remember, this is tapas dining at its best, making this a social, shareable experience. I think food like this, calls for one of those bottles from the wine wall, what do you think Maria?

MV: I think the sommelier put a lot of thought into curating this list. Bravo!!

If you like to try something new all the time, as I do, you are going to love the wine list at Zazu.

RT: Tell us about all the fun stuff Maria

MV: Well by the glass they have some great whites, particularly the Furmint by Samuel Tinon &ldquo;Birtok&rdquo;, Tokaj, Hungary 2018 normally this grape is used to make very sweet wine that&rsquo;s a gorgeous golden apricot color called Tokaji but this is made in a dry white wine style and is going to make those CHEESE &amp; SALUMI BOARDS really shine.

They also have an unusual ros&eacute; from Portugal, by the glass made from Syrah, the 2020 Mariella, a Vinho Regional from the Setubal Peninsula, Portugal with a beautiful label that has a mermaid with a harp on it.

For reds, the Alvaro Palacios &ldquo;Camins del Priorat&rdquo;, 2020 Garnacha from Spain 

Is going to pair so well with most all of the tapas plates here, try it with the CHARRED SPANISH OCTOPUS with chorizo, gremolata, almond, romesco

RT: Sounds great and I imagine the by-the-bottle list highlights even more interesting wine?

MV: You know it! Standouts for me of interesting wines are the Anima Negra &ldquo;An&rdquo; 2017, a Spanish wine made from a grape called Callet, native to the island of Mallorca.

This red wine is going to be floral, smoky and herbal with oaky barrel notes <s>two </s>

And this other red, made from a variety called

Tintilla , the Alberto Orte &ldquo;Vara y Pulgar&rdquo; 2018, Tierra de Cadiz, Spain in the southwestern part of the country near jerez where sherry is produced which by the way Bar Zazu has some great sherries by the glass I almost forgot to mention that!

But back to Tintilla, this grape disappeared after the phylloxera epidemic in the early 20th century but Alberto Orte recovered a few cuttings from abandoned vineyards that managed to survive phylloxera, and after many years of effort, they have managed to bring back the vines of Tintilla and are making wines now.

RT: I love when winemakers bring history into the future&hellip; It&#39;s so important to cultivate these native varieties.

MV: it sure is and while the first red is more premium the Tintilla is very affordable.

RT: Fantastic, speaking of affordable, any others you recommend in that kind of price point?

MV: for whites the Albarino Morgadio 2020, Rias Baixas this white is going to go with everything from the jamon and cheese croquettes to the Seafood Paella.

And

For another red option, the Garzon Single Vineyard 2016 Tannat from Uruguay &nbsp;sometimes the tannat grape can be a little too chewy and intense but this is a riper version that&rsquo;s layered with complexities of wild blueberries, black plums, chocolate and a black pepper finish&hellip;&nbsp; the skirt steak with green peppercorns with this bad boy for sure,

RT: Great options! And for something a little special?

MV: With this food, I really have to pick a great wine from Spain, and while definitely that wine from Mallorca I mentioned, that&rsquo;s a great option if you&rsquo;re up for spending a little more, but also need to call out the R. Lopez de Heredia &ldquo;Tondonia&rdquo; 2009, Rioja Reserva, Spain&nbsp; a beautiful wine from the Tempranillo grape that&rsquo;s always a fav and has some age on it and hard to find.

And quickly... you know what else could be fun, if you have a group, finish the evening with a bottle or glass of Madeira! They have some great older vintages of this super caramelized, nutty-flavored fortified wine, like the&nbsp; D&rsquo;Oliveiras 1977 Sercial 

it truly is a way to sip on some history.

RT: And that&rsquo;s the most fascinating part about drinking wine in my opinion.. the history.

RT: Well thank you Maria for talking about interesting wines at Bar Zazu 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.

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

Soalheiro is a family-owned winery located in the heart of the Vinho Verde region in Portugal. The winery is known for its high-quality Alvarinho wines, which are produced using sustainable farming practices and traditional winemaking techniques. Soalheiro's wines are characterized by their freshness, minerality, and complexity.

Large menu of kosher Japanese & Peruvian eats served in a modern, minimalist setting.

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

26 Sushi & Tapas

Available Wines
Total Wines - 8

Cellars

Herzog Wine, 'Baron Herzog' Aleph, California NV

California, USA

Binyamina

The Cave, Galilee NV

Galilee, Israel

Champagne Barons de Rothschild

Brut Champagne NV

Assemblage

Champagne, France

Champagne Barons de Rothschild

Extra Brut Champagne NV

Blend

Champagne, France

Spirit Bay

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc NV

Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough, New Zealand

Ramon Cardova

Rioja NV

Tempranillo

Rioja, Spain

Binyamina

Binyamina Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ( בנימינה רזרב קברנה סוביניון ) NV

Cabernet Sauvignon

Galilee, Israel

Bartenura

Pinot Grigio Provincia di Pavia NV

Pinot Grigio

Provincia di Pavia, Italy