CorkRules - Episodes | Zucca Zucca

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About this Episode

Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier, and Robert Tas head downtown to review the wine list at Miami hotspot, Zucca. Known as one of the best Italian restaurants in Miami, Zucca has received numerous accolades for its authentic Italian cuisine, award-winning wine cellar, and gracious hospitality. Tina travels north and south as she dives into the list and finds some real gems, including structured Italian reds; fresh, fun whites, volcanic wines and sparkling wines, and special bottles that won’t break the bank but will be fondly remembered.

Wines reviewed include:

2018 Tornatore Pietrarizzo, Scicily
2010 Annamaria Clementi Franciacorta Riserva, Ca’ del Bosco
2018 Burlotto Langhe Rosso Mores, Piemonte

Transcript: Zucca

Cork Rules Script

Zucca

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!

I’m your host Robert Tas along with Tina Johansson, WSET Diploma graduate and Michelin restaurant sommelier.

Hi Tina, thanks for being back with us on another episode of CorkRules, - a podcast where we help simplify and demystify the wine lists at some of your favorite restaurants. We talk with certified sommeliers and wine professionals who point out interesting bottles, classic food and wine pairings, hidden gems, value wines, or splurge wines that will take your dining experience over the top.

TJ: Thank you Robert! You know when we’re about to dig into the wine list of an Italian restaurant that l’m always extra excited.

RT: Yes, and today we’re looking at the wine list of Zucca, an Italian restaurant that opened in Miami in 2017. It quickly became the new hot spot for Italian food in the city and dining here really takes you on a journey through Italy, and its food and wine. They have everything you could think of from cheese platters, to classic Italian soups, grilled seabass and of course amazing pastas.

TJ: And their wine list holds some real gems! Focus is, of course, on the Italian reds. The list is quite short but with excellent labels so it’s by no means hard to find something to drink for the night. It’s almost the opposite, too hard to pick just one bottle. And if you’re not into Italian, don’t worry, they do carry some highlights from the rest of the world as well.

RT: So let’s say we’re starting our dinner with some antipasti. They have a great selection of cheese and charcuteries, like mortadella ham from Emilia-Romagna and Pecorino Toscano served with local honey. What wine bottle do you propose we start with?

TJ: I’m thinking a softer style of red wine, something very fruit driven, that can handle the meat but won’t become too harsh or tannic with the beautiful cheeses. They hold the 2018 Burlotto Langhe Rosso Mores, it’s a 50-50 blend of the juicy, fruity Barbera grape and the more structured Nebbiolo from Piemonte in the north. A great wine and easy drinking to begin the night with.

RT: Great choice. Sounds like we’re off to a good start for our dinner in Zucca. Let’s move on to one of their signature dishes, the filled zucchini flowers with goat cheese and truffle honey. That just sounds delicious. What to drink with such an elegant but complex serving?

TJ: Let’s travel from the north of Italy to the deep south with the next wine. Why not drink the 2018 Tornatore Pietrarizzo, a white wine from the walls of the Etna volcano on Sicily. This is a fresh and fun wine that has a high acidity that can handle the natural acidity in the goat cheese, but the flavor profile is elegant enough not to overpower the dish. And it’s not too pricey which is nice if you need seconds of their signature zucchini flower serving and so a second bottle of wine.

RT: Yeah, and Etna has become a very trendy wine region in recent years. Always fun to drink volcanic wines! And your final recommendations from the list, something special for a night of celebration in Zucca? What can’t be missed for a night out of the ordinary here?

TJ: Well they do happen to have, in my opinion, the greatest sparkling wine of Italy on the list here. It’s a Franciacorta from Lombardia in the north, produced in the same way as Champagne. Celebrating with bubbles is always extra fun, so my recommendation would be the 2010 Annamaria Clementi Franciacorta Riserva from Ca’ del Bosco. It’s the prestige cuvee from Ca’ del Bosco and it’s aged on the lees for 9 years, as long as many of the most prestigious champagnes! Just a great wine for sparkling wine lovers.

RT: Sounds like a real treat to celebrate with the best bubbles of Italy, thank you for that Tina. I can’t wait to try in in Zucca. 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 wherever you get your podcasts.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

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