Certified sommelier Maria Valetta explores the <a href="https://uat.corkrules.com/smith-&amp;-wollensky/episodes/6">wine list of Smith and Wollensky</a>&nbsp;on the upper east side of New York City. Top wine varietals under the spotlight include a 2020 Louis Jadot Macon Village, the PAX 2019 Gamay, the 2018 Aperture Cabernet from Sonoma showcased on their Captain&rsquo;s Pocket List Page or the 2018 Hourglass Blueline Estate Cabernet from Napa.

When it comes to defining wine, you can categorize them by region, varietal, or style, but to really get to grips with understanding the world of wine, it makes sense to go to the source. The grape.

The type of grape is known as the varietal, and whereas once upon a time the varietals were specific to a region, in contemporary vineyards, varietals are planted, crossbred, and potentially, genetically modified. Additionally, the flavors, skins, and chemical compounds of each varietal will change depending on the terroir, temperature, and weather.

There are over a thousand different varietals of wine grapes but the following eight are the most commonly known grape household names. chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, &nbsp;pinot gris, and riesling, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, zinfandel, and pinot noir.

However, beyond these eight common varietals there exists a large and adventurous world of wine varietals to explore, each with its own unique characteristics based on environment, age, and production method.

At <a href="https://www.smithandwollenskynyc.com/">Smith &amp; Wollensky</a>, prime, dry-aged steaks are the cornerstone of their menu, but if fish, lobster or oysters are on your mind, you won&rsquo;t be disappointed with the Cold Water Lobster Tails or the Scottish Salmon Waldorf. Pair the salmon with the Benton Lane Pinot Noir from the

Willamette Valley to experience how a light tannin red works well with the meaty fish. Pinot noir is a lighter-bodied wine with notes of cherry, cranberry, and rose. It&rsquo;s drier and has a higher acidity with smooth tannins. The higher acidity and tannins pairs well with oily, meaty fish dishes. The tannins help bring out flavor that is carried in the fat, and in symbiosis, the fat tempers the tannins&rsquo; astringency, which allows the other characteristics in the wine to rise on the palate.

And with the Lobster, &nbsp;try a bottle of the Louis Jadot, Macon-Villages Chardonnay

Burgundy, and see how the chardonnay&rsquo;s notes of yellow citrus, pear, green apple pairs well with the rich seafood. Chardonnay is a full-bodied white that won&rsquo;t be overpowered by the richness of the lobster. When pairing wine with food, just like every good match, it&rsquo;s all about bringing out the best in each other.

On CorkRules podcast episode five, Maria identifies a few value wines on the list that should not be missed, she points out a few outliers that are well worth trying, and she shines a light on the meaning of verticals to help demystify the world of wine.

Cheers.

At Smith & Wollensky, prime, dry-aged steaks are the cornerstone of their menu, but if fish, lobster or oysters are on your mind, you won’t be disappointed with the Cold Water Lobster Tails or the Scottish Salmon Waldorf. Pair the salmon with the Benton Lane Pinot Noir from the

Top Wine Varietals at Smith & Wollensky

Dirty French is a bistro-style restaurant in Lower Manhattan and Miami  that serves classic, traditional French dishes and brings them into contemporary New York by utilizing modern techniques and adding bold twists inspired by our current love of global cuisine.

Dirty French Wines from Savoie

If wine is an expression of the terroir, soil that is heavily laden, or even lightly sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers must surely affect the jus. Indeed, master sommeliers and renowned winemakers are turning to age-old organic practices in both growing the vines and making the wines. The goal is to rejuvenate the terroir and bring the art of winemaking back into the marketplace because as all savvy winemakers know, sustainable luxury is a growing trend that future generations of wine lovers are embracing. From the growing popularity of Pet Nat wines to wine is eco-friendly packaging, the next generation of consumers are asking for environmentally friendly solutions.

The Future of Wine - Sustainable Luxury

Women have always played a significant role in shaping society as we know it. Working together and side-by-side with their male counterparts, women have helped pave the way for a better future for people of all identities and demographics — though, as history would have it, more often than not, their tireless efforts go unrecognized.

Celebrate Women Winemakers During Women’s History Month

Not all wines are meant to age. Deciding on when to enjoy a wine often comes down to the region, varietal and price point.

Aging Wine: The Little Known Truth

Momofuku Ko is an award-winning restaurant in NYC that offers an exceptional dining experience.  It won two Michelin stars in 2009 and has maintained that status ever since. It was also awarded three stars by the New York Times in 2015, and in 2019, it was ranked No. 76 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. With credentials like this, you’d expect a top-quality wine list and you would not be disappointed.

Pairing Wine with Japanese Food at Momofuku Ko

New mobile app provides personalized wine recommendations at thousands of restaurants around the country.

CorkRules Launches on iOS, Making it Easier for Consumers to Navigate the Restaurant Wine List with Confidence

Avoid the clichés and set the mood on Valentine’s Day with these extraordinary wines and restaurants

Make This Valentine’s Day One to Remember with These Exceptional Wines and Restaurants

Via Carota is a trattoria located at 51 Grove Street in the West Village. Via Carota is all about honoring its Italian roots and this is clearly represented in the ambience, the food, the decor, and, of course, the wine. If you are dining at Via Carota, listen to the CorkRules’ podcast on the wine list to pick up a few suggestions from a certified sommelier.

Italian Wine Labels Explained at Via Carota

Bar Sprezzatura

Grant Wood

Sprezzatura

Sprezzatura 

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where, in each episode,&nbsp;we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Grant Wood, wine educator and certified sommelier.

Hello Grant,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to be back together for another episode.

GW: Hi Robert!

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;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&hellip; 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:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

Bar Sprezzatura

New to SF&rsquo;s One Maritime Plaza is the California version of a Venetian bacaro, a traditional bar that serves wine and small plates called cicchetti. They have savory bar snacks like cheese, caviar along with larger plates like beet-filled casunziei and sepe al nero starring light-as-air whipped Biancoperla polenta. Yum! They have a great wine list as well so let&rsquo;s dive in and see what we find.

As always, I love to start with a cocktail so right off the bat I love Mr. Vespa featuring Mezcal, Gin, Gentian, Lemoncello, and thyme olive oil but another fun one is the Ciao, Bella! Which has Ruby red grapefruit &amp; pink peppercorn sorbet, Gentian Amaro, and prosecco which a pretty perfect if you ask me. You can order spritz galore as well!

Moving on to the wines now I always like mentioning bubbles first and there is some fun ones here. I&rsquo;d go for the sparkling rose by Apres Sol made from Longanesi in Ravenna which is really clean, light and fun and fits the vibe of the restaurant well. If you want something a bit more classic then there&rsquo;s always Ca&rsquo;del Bosco Franciacorta from Lombardy which is made is the same method as Champagne. I love Italian bubbles, though, so you don&rsquo;t convince me with a struggle.

For whites and rose I would go for the Cataratto by Caruso &amp; Minini in Sicilia which is breezy, light and fresh making it perfect for dreaming of the Italian sun but a fun rose is the Rosato de Narello Mascalese by Graci on Mt. Etna, also is Sicilia which is a sign that I&rsquo;ve been watching too much of the White Lotus at home!

Moving over to reds, I like the Dolcetto by Elio Grasso. Dolcetto means &lsquo;the little sweet one&rsquo; which is really soft, red-fruited, fresh, easy to drink, and great with food. Just because it&rsquo;s called the little sweet one does not mean that the wine is sweet, however, it is dry and ready to be an extension of the table. Going back to Sicilia, I&rsquo;d go for the Frappatto by Valle Dell&rsquo;acate which is a wonderful, light-bodied, easy-drinking wine to get down with but for you Robert, I&rsquo;d order the Allegrini Amarone Classico from the Venito which is going to be stronger but still have beautiful ripe red and black fruit and will stand up to bigger meals. Another bigger option is the Aglianico by Cantina Del Taburno out of Campania. Ahlianico is the &lsquo;Barolo&rsquo; of the south with lighter color wines but big tannins and acid that ages well and stands up to fattier dishes.

Lastly, since we&rsquo;re at this little Italian getaway here in the Bay Area, I love to finish a meal like this with some Amaro and in this case, they have one of my favorites, Amaro Nonino.

Bellissimo!

RT: Grant Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Bar Sprezzatura&rsquo;s wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try them myself.&nbsp;

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like Grant to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">Info@CorkRules.Com</a> 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.

&nbsp;

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website all our episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists and of course please download the CorkRules app to help you navigate all your favorite restaurants.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

Thank you.

&nbsp;

The Federal

Stoneacre Garden

Spago Las Vegas by Wolfgang Puck

Spago

Coquette

Spruce

Bacchanalia

Prairie Whale

Carbone

Market del Mar

Seasonal, locally sourced New American dinners served in a rustic-chic dining room with a bar.

The American Express Centurion Global Lounge Network

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Join us each week as we pour a glass and share top restaurant ‘wine list’ picks, providing you with the knowledge to confidently navigate the ‘wine list’ through somm recommendations, suggested food pairings and masterclass insights.

Have a question or comment for our team?