CorkRules - Episodes | State Bird Provisions

Available on

About this Episode

Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas navigate the wine list at State Bird Provisions, a restaurant that provides an adventurous and inventive menu of contemporary American cuisine. The focus here is on local, organic and well-crafted ingredients and this emphasis on quality extends to the wine list. Grant identifies a pet-nat wine that offers great value, a riesling and chenin blanc that would pair well with small plates, and an amazing pinot noir from Patagonia.

Wines reviewed include:

· 2021 Clos Cibonne from Côtes de Provence

· 2020 Kadarka, Haimann & Fiai, Hungary

· 2020 Raventos I Blanc de Nit Brut Rose, Penedes, Spain

Transcript: State Bird Provisions

State Bird Provisions

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!

A podcast where we review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I’m your host Robert Tas along with Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier

Hello Grant, great to have you back for another great wine list.

GW: Hello Robert!

RT: Before we jump in, let’s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes wine lists can be intimating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT: So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

State Bird Provisions

Today we’re taking a trip to the other side of the country for the first time and we’re going to take a look at some of San Francisco’s best restaurants which I believe is a fun contrast to the great restaurants of NYC.

State Bird Provisions is an amazing and creative restaurant on Fillmore which is best known for American small plates served dim-sum style. This offers guests a casual, yet delicious, way to experience a wide variety of flavor. They happen to have a great wine team as well that is committed to keeping things exciting, rotational, and always matching with their dynamic menu.

Let’s start with wines by the glass, Robert.

One thing that sets State Bird apart from others is having curated a very interesting sake list by the glass. Of which, you can even order a flight of sake as well. For me, I’d probably go for the flight but I also like the Junmai Daiginjo by Azuma no Fumoto in Yamagata, Japan which is really clear and clean and would be a fun wine to pair with.

For bubbles by the glass, I love the 2020 Raventos I Blanc de nit brut rose from Penedes in Spain from the newly created DO, Conca del Riu Anoia which was created as a break away from the Cava Do that some producers feel has lost its perception of quality.

Next, I have to make a shout out to my friends that started their own husband and wife label here in California called Orixe Sotelo ‘Nebola’ white blend of the Spanish grapes Arinto & Albariño which is killer and a great value by the glass or bottle. Robert, you may remember the bottle of Tempranillo we had at Valley Bar & Bottle on your last visit to meet up in Sonoma.

Another unique wine offered by the glass is the 2020 Kadarka which is by Haimann & Fiai in Hungary’s Szekszárd which is a classic grape of the region using native yeast and %100 carbonic maceration.

Let’s get into the bottle list though. For a bubbly splurge I’d go for the 2011 Vincent Jourdart Special club bottling from the Vallée de la Marne but the 2020 Konpira Maru Pet’nat of Sagrantino called Mt. Midoriyama Total Victory from Victoria in Australia would be a fun value wine as well.