#318
Urban Farmer
Latest Episode
- 5/6/23 | 4:54
About this Episode
Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas bring a little country to the city with a wine list review from the Urban Farmer, a modern steakhouse that, as they say, is unexpected, unpretentious, and unforgettable. They offer a spectacular wine list that includes an international selection and many great bottles from the Pacific Northwest. Grace finds some sensational sparklers, robust roses, and whites that will make your night just right.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2018 King Estate Brut Cuvee
-
2019 Wichmann Vineyard from Triseatuem
-
2021 Teutonic Rose
Urban Farmer
RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!
A podcast where, in each episode, we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I’m your host Robert Tas along with Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier. Hello Grace, it’s great to have you!
GH: Hey Robert happy to be here as always.
RT: Before we jump in, let’s talk about CorkRules. We created CorkRules to demystify wine lists because we know from experience, that sometimes when we get that list handed to us, well… 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: So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list. Today Grace and I will be talking about the award-winning wine list at The Urban Farmer in downtown Portland. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts.
GH: Thanks, Robert! Yeah, this place looks right up our alley! They have a nice international selection, as well as obviously a killer pacific northwest list, when in Rome and all haha
RT: Sounds great. Should we dive right in with some sparkling?
GH: Twist my arm why don’t ya, ha-ha for bubbles, I would do either the 2018 King Estate Brut Cuvee, or the 2019 Brut Rose from the Famous Argyle Winery
RT: Oregon sparkling – sounds heavenly. Alright, where would you steer us when it comes to the whites?
GH: Well, it wouldn’t be Oregon without some reisling. I’m loving the look of this 2019 Wichmann Vineyard from Triseatuem. They also have a 2021 White Blend from Division Winery called Musical Chairs which sounds like a super fun option.
RT: Ha-ha love a whimsically named wine. How are their selections looking for Oregon chardonnay?
GH: Absolutely delicious obviously! They have one of my favorite wineries, Domaine Drouin, on the list. I would grab their 2020 Arthur Chardonnay. Another great option would be the 2019 Toil from Figgins Winery.
RT: Hope you’re not toiling away too hard on this list ha-ha I kid I kid. Now with Oregon being known for pinot noir, they must have some killer rose.
GH: They sure do Robert. For Oregon Rose, I would do either the 2021 Teutonic Rose, or the 2021 Acid Freak from Libertine.
RT: I can taste the salinity from here ha-ha thanks for that Grace. Alright we’ve come to your favorite, haven’t we? Willamette Valley pinot?
GH: You know me too well Robert! My top choices for Oregon pinot from the Urban Farmer list would be the 2015 Backbone from King Estate, or the 2014 Grace Vineyard from Domaine Serene (no relation unfortunately ha-ha), you could also do the 2016 Chapter 24 which is exclusive to Urban Garmer so that would be a really special bottle to try.
RT: Of course, your name would be a pinot noir vineyard in the Willamette Valley ha-ha only fitting. Love those choices, Grace. Now how about it we’re wanting something a little more lush and juicy?
GH: Ahhh I see where you’re heads at. I’m loving the look of this 2017 Merlot from the Historic Leonetti Cellars, or this 2016 Tempranillo from Abacela Cellars in Southern Oregon.
RT: Southern Oregon? Wow, I didn’t even know they grew wine outside of the Willamette Valley. Love learning something new from all the CorkRules sommeliers.
GH: That’s what we’re here for Robert! To educate and entertain
RT: You certainly do both of those things in spades grace ha-ha alright now how about we finish it off with something big and bold?
GH: You got it Robert. I would go with either the 2017 Col Solare from the Yakima Valley, or the 2016 Reserve from Leonetti
RT: Love the sound of those Grace - thank you so much for helping us navigate the wine list at Urban Farmer. 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: Info@CorkRules.Com or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.
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. Follow us on social media @CorkRules and @wineswithgrace
And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.
Thank you.
End
Want to request a Restaurant?
Interested in having a restaurant’s wine list featured in a future podcast episode? Let us know here.
Related Episodes
Craft L.A.
- 10100 Constellation Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90067, USA
- 5:18 min
Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Craft L.A., a Chef Tom Colicchio restaurant. Following his success in New York, he brought Craft’s pioneering approach to the West Coast. Grace dives into the boutique style list, and in true international fashion, she chooses bottles from around the globe, including France, Australia, Spain and beyond.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2009 Soter Brut Rose, Willamette Valley, Oregon
-
2018 Txakolina from Ameztoi, Spain
-
2017 Alber Boxler Pinot Gris, Alsace, France
Barbrix
- 5:12 min
Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Barbrix a wine shop and restaurant hotspot in Los Angeles with a spectacular selection of women wine makers, orange wine, pet nat wines, and natural wines. Grace identifies must-try wines from the unique selection on offer.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2020 Prosa Sparkling Rose, Austria
-
2021 “Ode to Lulu” Rose, Bedrock, California
-
2020 Barbera d’Alba, Sottimano, Pairolero
Wally's
- 447 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA
- 7:19 min
Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the extensive wine list at Wally's Beverly Hills, a one-stop shop for everything delicious – including a list of over 100 wines by-the-glass to explore, and five pages of Bordeaux to choose from. Wally's offers a large selection of wines from the world's finest vineyards, and Grace helps you navigate the list to choose a divine wine for your table, picnic, or wine to unwind at the end of the day.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2019 Clos du Roy Sancerre from Pascal Jolivet
-
2018 from Zind Hambrecht, Alsace
-
2019 Chateauneuf du Pape from Domaine de la Solitude
The Belvedere
- 7:12 min
Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at The Belvedere located in the Peninsula Hotel in Los Angeles. This elegant, European brasserie displays a classic French-country aesthetic steeped in Southern California luxury. Guests can enjoy the culinary creations of a Michelin-star chef while indulging in a wine list that offers an equally elegant wine list. Grace recommends kicking of the evening with a bottle of top-notch bubbles, she suggests some light floral whites, a beautiful Burgundy and bold cab savs.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2009 Cristal Brut, Champagne
-
2016 Pouilly Fume, Jean Claude D’Aganeau, Loire valley
-
2004 Pillar Rock, Stags Leap, Napa
Spago
- 3600 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA
- 7:11 min
Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas hit the high spot on Las Vegas Boulevard, Spago, where Grace reviews the 60-page wine list to find the hidden gems, value bottles and celebration wines. Whether you lean towards a delightful white Burgundy, Italian or Spanish reds, or are a firm believer in chardonnay all day, every day, Grace finds the wine that will delight and deliver on expectations.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2002 Krug Reims, Champagne, France
-
2006 Franz Kunstler, Rheingau, Germany
-
2015 Gangolff Condrieu, France
Jeune Et Jolie
- 2659 State St Suite 102, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA
- 4:17 min
Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Jeune et Jolie in San Diego. This restaurant offers diners a choice of a 4-course menu in which guests make their own selections, but ultimately enjoy a fine dining California style, or the more casual "Le Menu du Bar”, an à la carte menu available for walk-in guests at our bar and lounge. Whether you prefer casual or formal, the wine list offers a quality selection of bottles to choose from. Grace lets her inner Francophile loose as she reviews a fabulous selection of French wines from bubbles to white Bordeaux and beautiful, bold reds.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2015 Blanc de Noir Marie Courtin, France
-
2018 Meursault from Buisson Battault, France
-
2012 Grand Cru Pauillac from Pontet Canet, France
Cucina Urbana
- 5:25 min
Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas review the wine list at Cucina Urbana where they serve contemporary Italian cuisine with a focus on California seasonality and the bounty of local farms. Their wine program features 200+ labels from around the world, with an emphasis on Italian and California varietals and Grace peruses the wine list to find some hidden gems, including a white Bordeaux that has been described as “liquid gold” a fabulous Cremant, which equals Champagne if bubbles are on your mind, and a unique, pinot noir rose from Sancerre.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2020 Gruner Veltliner, Manni Nossing Winery, Alto Adige
-
2017 Mayacamas, Mt. Veeder, Napa
-
2019 Grenache one from the Giovanni Montisci Vineyard, Sardinia
Rossoblu
- 1124 San Julian St, Los Angeles, CA 90015, USA
- 4:44 min
Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas explore the Italian wine list at the LA hotspot Rossoblu. This fun and funky restaurant will not disappoint serious diners and wine lovers. On the menu, you will find handmade pasta dishes, in-house butchery and salumi, and classic Italian cuisine with a contemporary twist. The wine list offers unique varietals from family-owned wineries. From sensational sparkling wines to light and zesty whites or
Grace spots the bottles that will be delicious, delightful, and sometimes, downright decadent.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2021 Vermentino, Antonella Corda Vineyard, Sardinia
-
2021 Galanghina, Marisa Cuomo, Campania
-
2016 Margaux, Chalatour de Bessan
Petit Trois
- 718 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038, USA
- 5:17 min
Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas visit the French bistro Petit Trois in Los Angeles, an unassuming and unpretentious restaurant inspired by classic Parisian bistros and has won many accolades from foodies and food critics alike. They offer two award-winning wine lists and Grace reviews the wines on both to identify the approachable and affordable and the big baller bottles of French wines, including Bordeaux, Burgundies, syrahs, and stellar cab blends.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2019 Melon du Bourgnon, Muscadet
-
2011 Riesling Domaine Marcel, Alsace
-
2019 Domaine Rougeot Pommard
Cowboy Star
- 4:58 min
Grace Hood, wine educator and certified sommelier and Robert Tas explore the wine list at Cowboy Star in San Diego’s East Village. This steakhouse and butcher shop sources ethically-raised, meat and seafood. They have a stellar wine list and a reputation to match. From bold, tannic reds to crisp, light whites, champagne that will definitely tickle the taste buds, and a few surprises in between, Grace identifies the bottles on the list that will please the most discerning palate, including a Margaux from Bordeaux.
Wines reviewed include:
-
2020 Shea Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
-
2020 Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc, Napa
-
2017 Joseph Swan from the Russian River Valley
Use the QR Code or
click on Download to install!