Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Alto means high, referring to altitude when talking about wine, in both Spanish and Italian. Recently higher altitude locations have been planted more and more. A few decades ago, these areas were not seen as suitable for growing quality grapes as the climate back then was too cool. Today, with many producers witnessing a rising temperature, and a lot of new techniques in the vineyard, these areas are finally becoming viable. The higher you plant the cooler the temperature will be, but you will also receive more sun which in turn helps ripen the grapes. The temperature will be quite warm during the day, but very cool at night. This leads to ripe fruit aromas developing during the day, followed by a cool nighttime keeping the fresh acidity in the grapes, the best of both worlds for the grapes.

In Italy this development has been very prominent in northern Piemonte in the last decade. There is now talk about an area called Alto Piemonte, comprised of a few different wine regions. They are all located higher up in the mountains, and like the most famous wines from Piemonte many are based on the Nebbiolo grape. The most well-known wine regions would be Ghemme, Gattinara, and Boca.

But Alto Piemonte is not the only area where the term is used. In quite a few cases, in both Italy, Spain, Argentina and Chile the term can be seen used as part of a producer name or even as the name of a specific wine, sometimes to convey the wine is from a high planted vineyard. It is not uncommon however for winemakers to use the term to show it&rsquo;s their highest quality wine, not a wine from high altitude.

More wine growers have shown interest in high altitude vineyards lately, and the record of the highest planted one is something a few are trying to beat. It&rsquo;s safe to say the positive effects the altitude has on the growing grapes mean these vineyards are here to stay, and terms as alto may be used in more languages soon.

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

Purple Café and Wine Bar

Whitney Grant

Purple Cafe & Wine Bar

Purple Caf&eacute;:

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!

A podcast where (in each episode) we will review a wine list from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Whitney Grant, wine educator and certified sommelier.

Hello Whitney, it&rsquo;s great to have back on with CorkRules.

WG: Hi Robert! Thanks for having me! I&rsquo;m excited to share these wine selections with you and the CorkRules listeners.

RT:

Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine list&rsquo;s 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: So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT: Today we are talking about Purple Cafe &amp; Wine Bar located in the heart downtown Seattle offers a host of wine bar favorites made from fresh season northwest ingredients and wines from the northwest and around the world.

Whitney I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what you think of their extensive wine list.

WG: This is such a great wine bar! Not only do they have an extensive selection of wines both by the glass and by the bottle, but they also include pairing suggestions for most of the menu items. Now if you are just starting to explore the wine world this is a great way to start learning about food pairing. It takes the guesswork out of finding a wine and the servers and wine experts can help you understand why these particular wines were chosen.

Because there are SO many pairings I can&rsquo;t walk you through all of them today but Robert how about picking just a few to highlight to get us started?

RT: Sounds like a great place to start, what is the first pairing you&rsquo;d like to highlight?

WG: SPICY SHRIMP LINGUINE with the 2017 Clos de Nouys Demi-Sec Chenin Blanc Vouvray, France. From the Lorie region of France in the Vouvray AOC where chenin blanc is the variety permitted but wines can be produced here in a range of styles. The demi-sec indicates that this wine is off-dry or medium-sweet. The sweetness will complement the spicy shrimp nicely. Chenin blanc tends to have great acidity and a wonderful minerality that I really enjoy in the summertime.

RT: A little sweetness with a spicy dish is always nice! What is the next pairing?

WG: The STEAK FRITES with the 2019 Lobo Hills &#39;Right Bank&#39; Red Blend from the Columbia Valley in Washington. This blend is a nod to the Merlot-driven style of the blends made in the right bank appellations of Bordeaux in France. The 2019 blend is 73% merlot, 18% cabernet sauvignon, and 9% cabernet granc. This wine has vibrant aromas of mint, cloves, strawberries, and cherries. Carefully balanced with a lasting finish. This younger vintage&rsquo;s tannins work well with the fattiness of the steak and fried potatoes.

RT: And at last we have the GRILLED SALMON with another Washington wine the 2020 Ashan &#39;Barrel Fermented&#39; Columbia Valley, Chardonnay. As the name suggests this Chardonnay is fermented in neutral French oak and aged on the lees giving the wine more body and texture that pairs nicely with the grilled fish.

RT: Those pairings sound delicious in. So Whitney, is here anything you would recommend for someone looking to try something outside of the box?

WG: I would recommend the AMBER WINE from DAVID HILL ESTATE discovery series &#39;6000 B.C.&#39; Natural and organic this wine is a blend of gewurztraminer and pinot gris produced in contact with the skins giving the wine that beautiful amber color. Aromas of honeycomb, rose water and cinnamon with slight tannins and sea salt salinity balanced by fresh pear.

This wine gets the name 6,000 BC because the wine is produced in clay amphora. These ancient vessels date back as far as 6000 BC in the Republic if Georgia.

RT: Great suggestions, Is anything on the list jumping out at you as a great value?

WG: I love sparkling wine and while true champagne can only be produced in the Champagne region of France, you can get some delicious sparkling wine made in the traditional method used in champagne right here in the states. The Schramsberg 2019 Blanc de Blanc is a great option if you are looking for a more affordable alternative to champagne. This wine is made from 100% chardonnay with aromas of granny smith apples, lemon-lime, baked bread, and toasted almonds.

The traditional method of sparkling wine in short is produced by bottle fermentation. A base wine is made, this wine is typically dry in style, high in acidity, and low in alcohol. Sugar and yeast are added to the base wine, which is then bottled and sealed with a crown cap. The second fermentation takes place inside the sealed bottle, and CO2 dissolves within the wine creating the signature bubbles.

RT: Schramsberg is a fantastic domestic producer of traditional sparkling styles. Now, what about a wine if you are looking to impress someone you&rsquo;ve invited to Purple Cafe &amp; Wine Bar?

WG: One of the great things about this place is that the wines they have selected are very reasonably priced in comparison to many other wine lists. One wine that I would recommend is the Domaine Jerome Gradassi Cotes du Rhone Chateauneuf du Pape. This wine comes in at $125. This wine is 80% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre. Flavors of ripe black and blue fruit, fresh violet, dried herbs, licorice, and wood smoke with subtle foral U spice notes. Rich yet lively with supple tannins and a lingering finish.

Domaine Jerome Gradassi is one of the region&#39;s smallest producers with about 12 acres of vines. Chateauneuf -du-pape is one of my favorite French regions. Known for producing full-bodied, richly textured wines with concentrated spiced red fruit that balances the high alcohol of the wines. Another fun French Wine history fact Chateauneuf-du-Pape was the 1st area to have the Appellation Controlee status.

RT: I&rsquo;ll have to remember that for my next trivia night! Before we wrap up are there any other wines you&rsquo;d like to highlight?

WG: Yes there are two wines I&rsquo;d like to mention before we go. The&nbsp; CH&Acirc;TEAU MUSAR &#39;MUSAR JEUNE&#39;&nbsp; white blend from the Bekkah Valley of Lebanon. I love wines from Lebanon, they have rich history of winemaking that dates back thousands of years. Chateau Musar in particular first planted grapes back in 1930 and are producing incredible wines. This Musar Juene in particular is a blend of Viognier, Vermentino, Chardonnay. At $45 a bottle, this is also a great value for such an iconic producer.

Lastly I&rsquo;ve got to shout out a hometown favorite! Cooper Mountain Vineyards &ldquo;Cooper Hill&rdquo; Pinot Noir. This Willamette Valley vineyard produces organic and biodynamic wines made with only native yeasts. Super clean, super sustainable, and one of my favorite tasting rooms to visit just outside of Portland. This 2020 vintage is easy drinking, with lots of red fruit, cherries, currant, and raspberry, with lovely earthly flavors. A great value for such quality wines at $45 a bottle. My partner and I may just have to open a bottle of this tonight!

RT: Whitney Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate the Purple Cafe &amp; Wine Bar Wine List.

WG: Thanks for having me, Robert, this was an exciting list to review and I hope you get the chance to enjoy some of these awesome wines!

RT: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.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

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homepage

CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

Barrique Venice

Luigi Righetti

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2011

Miscela

Amarone della Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy

Camigliano

Brunello di Montalcino 2014

Sangiovese

Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

Forchir

Friuli Grave Sauvignonlaltro 2017

Sauvignon Blanc

Friuli Grave, Italy

Roero

Marco Bonfante, Arneis DOCG 2018

Piedmont, Italy

Luciano Arduini

Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2016

Corvina

Valpolicella Ripasso Classico, Italy

Speri

Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2015

Corvina

Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy

La Musa

Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2016

Miscela

Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy

Marco Bonfante

Barbera d'Asti Superiore Stella Rossa 2015

Barbera

Barbera d'Asti, Piedmont, Italy

Marco Bonfante

Barbaresco 2014

Nebbiolo

Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy

Castello dei Rampolla

Chianti Classico 2016

Sangiovese

Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

Planeta

Maroccoli Syrah 2011

Shiraz/Syrah

Italy

Amorotti

Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2017

Trebbiano D'Abruzzo

Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, Italy

Castellani Michele

I Castei Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore 2015

Miscela

Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy

San

Michele Castellani Ca' del Pipa, Michele Valpolicella Ripasso 2015

Veneto, Italy

Marco Bonfante 'Bricco Bonfante', Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza DOCG 2015

Italy