Whether you are just visiting or you&rsquo;re a local to New York City, you know how difficult it can be to choose a new restaurant, but we can help. We&rsquo;ve reviewed the best and brightest restaurants in New York City and we review the wine list, too. It&rsquo;s a one-stop shop where you can find wine reviews and restaurant reviews.

In this article, we visit&nbsp; ABC Kitchen on 35 East 18th Street.

ABC<a href="https://www.abckitchens.nyc/dine/abc-kitchen"> Kitchen&rsquo;s</a> tagline is &lsquo;local, organic, home&rsquo;, but while the atmosphere of this restaurant is comfortable and welcoming, and dare we say, wholesome, the menu is far beyond the meals your mother made.

This farm-to-table restaurant is wholly organic, focusing on fresh herbs, vegetables, and dedication to planet earth is clear in their use of recycled materials.

But what about their wine list?&nbsp; <a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/sommeliers/maria-valetta/78">Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier</a> offers her advice on the one-page menu.

Although it is only one page, this wine list offers a carefully curated selection of wines from all over Europe.

Maria first noted&nbsp; ABC Kitchen&rsquo;s variety of skin-contact wines on the list. Skin-contact wines, or as they are more commonly known, <a href="https://www.winemag.com/2019/07/10/skin-contact-white-wines-orange-wine-beginners/">orange wines,</a> are white wines that have been made like a red, meaning that the wine has been allowed to stay in contact with the skins longer than normal for a white wine. This can be as little as a few days to as long as a year.

The result is a deeper color that ranges from pale gold to deep bronze, orange wines are full-bodied, and more tannic in nature. On this wine list, there are skin-contact wines from Spain, Austria, and Germany. Try the Muller Thurgau, Weinhaus Schlossmuhlenhof for $76 a bottle or &lsquo;Das Ist Keine Orange&rsquo; 2020 from Germany at $70 a bottle. These wines are also offered by the glass which gives you the opportunity to try them without committing to a bottle.

Moving over to whites, Maria recommends one of her favorite Italian wines, a vermentino from Tuscany, the 2017 Vermentino, Tenuta Pietramora &lsquo;Limite&rsquo;. Tuscany is in Central Italy. Wine producers in this area are known for clean, light, and refreshing white wines. Perfect for summer days in the Italian sunshine, or sunshine anywhere.

This hand-harvested wine is slow-pressed with short skin contact. It&rsquo;s light and dry with moderate acidity and notes of citrus, green apple and pear. It pairs well with the charcuterie plate or one of the market table salads, but given its light nature, it would also pair well with pastas and lean fish.

Maria also highlights an excellent pinot noir at a great price, an Argentinean malbec from a historic winery in Mendoza, and sparkling wines and champagne if your trip to ABC Kitchen is a special occasion, or you just want to celebrate life, because, well, why not?

Cheers.

&nbsp;

Whether you are just visiting or you’re a local to New York City, you know how difficult it can be to choose a new restaurant, but we can help. We’ve reviewed the best and brightest restaurants in New York City and we review the wine list, too. It’s a one-stop shop where you can find wine reviews and restaurant reviews.

Best Restaurants New York City and Wine Review

Syrah and Shiraz. Two different names for the same grape variety, but also the name of two different styles of wine. Originally from France but spread around the world today, it has found its own identity in regions far away from the original origin.

The black grape Syrah comes from the French Rhône valley and it’s still very much planted there. Here, it’s the only variety used in Hermitage and Cornas, and also used in blends with other local grapes in areas like Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Côtes du Rhône to mention a few. The grape name won’t appear on the label though since in France, and in Europe in general, the origin is of more importance than the grape variety.

Decoding the wine label: Syrah or Shiraz?

Champagne, the obvious choice for celebrations or holidays in any form for many wine drinkers. Since it’s a fantastic, artisan beverage, why change the tradition? With the holidays coming up, choose to pour something extra special this year – the millésime style champagne.

Decoding the wine label: Millésime

Bordeaux is a name synonymous with some of the world's most prestigious red wines, but its white wines, particularly Bordeaux Blanc, often fly under the radar. While the reds of this region have garnered international fame, Bordeaux Blanc wines, crafted primarily from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle grapes, are some of the wine world's best-kept secrets. These wines offer an elegant balance of freshness, complexity, and aging potential that can rival the finest whites from anywhere in the world.

Bordeaux Blanc: An Underappreciated Gem of the Wine World

As the sun shines brighter and the days grow longer, our palates yearn for refreshing beverages that embody the essence of summer. For those new to the world of wine, choosing between cider, orange wine, and rosé can be a delightful journey. Each offers unique flavors and experiences perfect for warm weather sipping. In this article, we’ll explore three standout choices: Wolffer Dry Cider No. 139, Cune Viña Rosado 2023, and Spiritus Terrae Malvasia Orange 2021.

Savoring Summer: The Best Rosé Drink Choices from Cider-Orange-Rosé for Beginners

Navigating the wine list at a restaurant can be a daunting task, as many wine lovers have experienced. In our previous article on the tension of ordering wine at restaurants, we discussed this issue and shared some tips to help ease the process. However, one CorkRules user has recently encountered a situation that highlights just how challenging it can be.

The Switch? – #restaurantfail #winelistfail

Memorial Day weekend signals the official kick-off to summer, and what better way to celebrate than a backyard barbecue with friends and family? But for the wine lovers out there, the usual pairing of burgers and beer can feel a little, well, uninspired.

Fear not, fellow geeks! Let's ditch the predictable and dive into three exciting wine options that will have you sipping and savoring alongside the sizzling BBQ.

Memorial Day BBQ Bash: 3 Wines to Geek Out Over (While Grilling)

What is the right price for a bottle of wine at a restaurant? Wine pricing at restaurants is a hot topic of late but has many complexities. Let's dig into it and better understand the issues and some potential solutions.

The tension around wine pricing at restaurants?

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a name that resonates with prestige and quality in the world of wine. This illustrious appellation is steeped in history dating back centuries and has been producing some of France's most celebrated wines for generations.



Nestled within the southern region of Rhône Valley, France lies Châteauneuf-du-Pape - translated as "the Pope's new castle". The area earned its moniker during the 14th century when it served as a summer residence for Popes who sought refuge from political turmoil in Rome.

The Rich History of Châteauneuf-du-Pape highlighting some great value wines

In the world of wine and food, we often find ourselves ensnared by ratings, stars, points – an endless parade of numbers that dictate our choices. We chase after high-rated wines or Michelin-starred restaurants with fervor only to be met with experiences that seldom live up to their lofty reputations. But amidst this whirlwind pursuit for perfection lies a simple truth - what truly makes wine and food special are not scores or accolades but pure experiences crafted from love.

The Serendipity of Experiences in Wine and Food

North Italia - Las Vegas

Maria Valetta, wine educator and certified sommelier, and Robert Tas head to Las Vegas where they review the wine list at North Italia.

Wine List Review of North Italia, Las Vegas

Maria Valetta

North Italia

\North Italia Las Vegas in Summerlin

RT): Hi Everyone, welcome back to CorkRules! The wine podcast that&rsquo;s here to help YOU navigate all your favorite restaurant wine lists.

I&rsquo;m Robert Tas, along with Maria Valetta, wine educator, and certified sommelier, also known as Maria The Wine Blonde. Welcome back Maria

MV: Hello Robert! Today we are checking out an Italian spot that&rsquo;s a favorite amongst the locals&nbsp; here in Las Vegas

RT: That&#39;s right, today we are talking about the wine list at North Italia Las Vegas in the suburb of Summerlin. This national chain restaurant is different from most: the food is made from scratch daily with lots of love and there are daily specials that add to the menu of Italian-American favorites. This casual hotspot is always buzzing and busy, for Lunch, Brunch, and especially dinner.

RT: Sounds like a place that probably has plenty of Italian wines on offer, so Maria walk us through the wine list at North Italia Las Vegas.

MV: Sure thing. I frequent this place a lot and I have also been to one of their Arizona locations. It is always reliably good. The wine list by the bottle is short and sweet, offering just as much by way of California as they do Italy, but what impresses me the most are the wines by the glass &ndash; they offer more than most restaurants and they have some interesting wines at that plus the pours are also available by the Terzo !

RT: The terzo?

MV: Terzo means third in Italian so (3rd of the bottle) basically 8 ounces.

RT: Got it...&nbsp; I like that option. so, what are the impressive standouts?

MV: for instance, they have a Vermentino by the glass for white, the Gianni Gagliardo &ldquo;Fallegro&rdquo; Lange (where here they call it Favorita) And they also have a Pecorino by the glass&hellip; The Terra d&rsquo;aligi &ldquo;Zite&rdquo; from Abruzzo and I know what you&rsquo;re thinking&hellip;nope it&rsquo;s not the cheese. It&rsquo;s a grape too. It usually has these nutty citrus and stone fruit aromas.

RT: Yeah you don&rsquo;t see either of those by the glass much... do they have some interesting Italian reds as well?

MV: YES, they do!&nbsp;&nbsp; In Reds they have a Frapatto from Sicily &ndash; the donnafugatta &ldquo;bella assai&rdquo; a lighter bodied red... Barbera, the Marchesi di Gresi Barbera d&rsquo;asti and another fun one, the negroamaro Li Veli &ldquo;Pezzo Morgana&rdquo; Riserva from Salice Salentino (Puglia). All native grapes to Italy... a negroamaro and the Italian meatballs with creamy polenta is going to hit the spot..

RT: Great yummy options there to begin with, so what about by the bottle &ndash; I know you said it&rsquo;s limited but what are your top 2 choices for value bottles on the list?

MV: I&rsquo;ll give you more than that because honestly what&rsquo;s great about this list is that most of the wines are under $100! Amazing!!!

RT: WOW! That&rsquo;s incredible&hellip; A RAREITY! Soo then... give us all your favorites&hellip;

MV: My ultimate line up would be to start with the

Ferrari Blanc de Blanc sparkling from way up north In Trentino... made in the champagne method from 100% chardonnay grapes aged for over 30 months on the lees this to pair with the burrata starter&hellip; then I would choose a lighter-bodied white... the Jermann Pinot Grigio (everyone who knows me knows I don&rsquo;t often drink PG but this one is my fav) perfect for the arancini or the Mediterranean mussels.

RT: Then what, a richer white?

MV: You guessed it&hellip; the ZD Chardonnay when I want that rich buttery style.. butternut squash Anolini&nbsp; OR chicken pesto pasta with this bad boy&hellip;

RT: ooohhhh&hellip; now What about a good pizza red? I bet their pizzas are pretty darn good &hellip;?

MV: oh yeah the PIG pizza (meat lovers obviously) I like barbera and also sangiovese with pizza.. so the Viberti la gemella barbera d&rsquo;alba&nbsp; or the Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico - tomato paste..&nbsp; could go with that PIG and the Bolognese tagliatelle too.

RT? And the finale &hellip; how about a real big red?

MV: I&rsquo;m going for it.. the roasted porchetta and braised short ribs are not to be missed and for these, I&rsquo;d end with the Allegrini Amarone... Veneto 45% Corvina Veronese, 45% Corvinone, 5% Rondinella, 5% Oseleta intense concentrated ripeness here&hellip;

Now If dry wines aren&rsquo;t your thing then the sangria could be right up you taste bud alley.. they have one that&rsquo;s made with a sparkling ros&eacute; and of course a red sangria. both are fantastic. I can vouch! Lol!

RT: well, thank you Maria for giving us an incredible wine lineup at North Italia Las Vegas. Thank you everyone for joining us today you can find more wine tips from Maria on Instagram @Mariathewineblonde. Be sure to download the CorkRules app! And remember, the only rule in wine is &ldquo;drink what you LOVE&rdquo;.

MV: 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 website. Be sure to follow @CorkRules on Instagram for episode and app updates. Prices and selections subject to change, please drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

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