Nestled between Burgundy in the north and Rh&ocirc;ne in the south, lies one of France&rsquo;s most charming yet often overlooked wine regions - Beaujolais. This picturesque region is known for its vibrant, fruit-forward wines made predominantly from the Gamay grape variety.

The history of winemaking in Beaujolais dates back over 2000 years when Romans planted vineyards along their trading routes. In later centuries, it was largely controlled by Benedictine monks who played a significant role in developing viticulture and winemaking techniques. However, it wasn&#39;t until the 14th century that the Gamay grape began to gain popularity as Duke Philip The Bold deemed Pinot Noir superior for his Burgundian estates and exiled Gamay to this region.

Beaujolais Nouveau &amp; Its Impact

One cannot discuss Beaujolais without mentioning Beaujolais Nouveau - a young red wine released just weeks after harvest each year on the third Thursday of November, celebrated with great fanfare as &quot;Beaujolais Nouveau Day&quot;. This light-bodied wine is meant for immediate drinking rather than cellaring. One of my mother&rsquo;s favorite wines.

However, this annual spectacle has led many people to assume that all Beaujolais wines are simple and lack depth. The reality couldn&#39;t be further from this misconception; while Nouveau represents a large portion of production (about one-third), there are also premium quality wines being produced here which bear no resemblance to their younger sibling.

The Region&#39;s Top Producers &amp; Food Pairings

Beaujolais can be divided into three main categories based on quality levels: Basic (or Classique) Beaujolais; Villages, produced from grapes grown in 38 specific villages; and Cru &ndash; ten top-quality areas each with their unique style. The Cru wines are where Beaujolais truly shines, with top producers such as Domaine des Terres Dor&eacute;es by Jean-Paul Brun, Ch&acirc;teau Thivin and Marcel Lapierre creating expressive and complex wines that can rival many from the more prestigious regions of Burgundy.

Try these staff recommended available from Grape The Wine Company:

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Camille-Melinand-Fleurie-2020-w7869273pq" target="_blank">Camille Melinand - Fleurie 2020</a> - $31.99 &nbsp;

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Jean-Foillard-Fleurie-2020-w28251975z" target="_blank">Jean Foillard - Fleurie 2020</a> - $59.99

<a href="https://www.grapesthewineco.com/wines/Labruyere-Moulin-a-Vent-Clos-du-Moulin-2020-w3284907cr" target="_blank">Labruyere - Moulin a Vent Clos du Moulin 2020</a> - $110

In terms of food pairings, Beaujolais is a versatile wine due to its bright acidity and low tannins. It pairs beautifully with a range of dishes including charcuterie, roast chicken, grilled salmon or even sushi.

Distinguishing Beaujolais from other C&ocirc;te d&#39;Or Wine Regions

While Beaujolais shares a border with the esteemed Burgundy region (collectively known as C&ocirc;te d&#39;Or), it has distinct differences in climate, soil type and grape variety which results in contrasting wine styles.

The primary grape in Beaujolais is Gamay which thrives on the granite soils found here - producing aromatic wines with red fruit flavors and floral notes. In contrast, Burgundy&#39;s Pinot Noir prefers limestone-clay soils yielding more structured wines characterized by earthy undertones.

Moreover, while both regions employ traditional winemaking methods like hand-harvesting and minimal intervention techniques; semi-carbonic maceration &ndash; fermenting whole bunches of grapes under carbon dioxide before pressing - is widely used in Beaujolais to enhance the fruity character of Gamay.

Beaujolais offers an exciting journey for wine beginners: from its fun-loving Nouveau to its sophisticated Crus; there&rsquo;s much to explore beyond what meets the eye (or palate). It might not have the grandeur associated with Bordeaux or Champagne but this humble region delivers an unrivalled combination of quality and value that makes it well worth your attention.

Nestled between Burgundy in the north and Rhône in the south, lies one of France’s most charming yet often overlooked wine regions - Beaujolais. This picturesque region is known for its vibrant, fruit-forward wines made predominantly from the Gamay grape variety.

Intro to Beaujolais Wine: An Unsung Hero of French Viticulture

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

The 1770 House

Certified sommelier Michaela Quinlan and Robert Tas review the wine list at 1770 House in East Hampton. 

Wine List Review of 1770 House, New York

Michaela Quinlan

1770 House

1770 House:

RT: Hello and welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

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 Michaela Quinlan, certified sommelier.

Hello Michaela,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to be back together for another episode.

MQ: 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.

RT: Today we are talking about 1770 House Restaurant and Inn in East Hampton, NY. Enjoy contemporary American cuisine in their fine dining room and outdoor patio, along with pub fare in their casual tavern.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what you think of their wine list?

MQ: You know you are in for a treat when you see a wine list that has received the annual Wine Spectator Award of Excellence consecutively since 2007.&nbsp; 1770 House&rsquo;s extensive wine list features something for all palates, along with high end half bottles and magnums.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: The first wine to catch my eye was a Rose from the glorious region of Bandol. Consider the 2020 Domaine La Sufferene Rose. Located within Provence, France, this featured half bottle is organic and consists of Mourvedre, Cinsault, Grenache, and Carignan. Showcasing fresh strawberries with notes of watermelon, dried apricot, and spice. This is a beautiful way to begin your dining experience or to pair with charcuterie and cheese.

&nbsp;

RT: That is for sure unique. Did you find any others that caught your eye right away?

MQ: Another half bottle that caught my eye was the highly rated 2013 Felsina Vin Santo from Tuscany. For those of you who like to enjoy dessert first, consider this special dessert wine consisting of Malvasia, Trebbiano, and Sangiovese. It features dried apricot, candied fruit, honey, and caramel, and pairs beautifully with desserts featuring fruit and nuts.

RT: So, Michaela, their list seems to have lots of range but was there anything that you would say is a &ldquo;must-try&rdquo;?

MQ: A must-try, especially if you are dining on the outdoor patio, is the 2018 Oremus &lsquo;Mandolas&rsquo; Dry Furmint from Hungary. Furmint is often used to produce a gorgeous dessert wine, however, this dry Furmint features bright acidity, lime zest, tropical fruit, minerality, with notes of saline on the almond finish. Pair this wine with shellfish and seafood.

RT: These are some great calls.

So you know I&rsquo;m getting thirsty and will need to order a bottle with my dinner, where would you guide us?

MQ: A classic producer, one of many on this list, that caught my eye for the table. Consider the 2018 Ken Wright &lsquo;Carter Vineyard&rsquo; Pinot Noir from the Eola-Amity Hills within the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Ken Wright produces Pinot Noir from over 13 different vineyard sites, each exuding unique characteristics. This &lsquo;Carter Vineyard&rsquo; Pinot Noir is organic and fruit-driven featuring notes of plumb, fig, and ripe blackberries with notes of licorice and cola on the finish. Enjoy this bottle with herbed and lightly sauced proteins.&nbsp;

RT: Ooh, Terrific. Michaela, speaking of price, sometimes people have a budget in mind.&nbsp; Any other great value wines you&rsquo;d point us to?&nbsp;

MQ: A standout wine of excellent value to consider is the 2020 Marc Deschamps &lsquo;Le Champs de Cri&rsquo; Pouilly Fume located in the Loire Valley of France. The Pouilly Fume region produces stellar Sauvignon Blanc that is fresh with bright acidity, fresh lemon and lime zest, cantaloupe, and grapefruit, with notes of white flowers and a mineral finish. Pair this standout white wine with shellfish, seafood, and soft cheese.

RT: That sounds great. What is your other value selection?

MQ: A red wine of excellent quality and value that pairs beautifully with herbed dishes and pub fare is the 2016 Olga Riffault &lsquo;Les Picasses&rsquo; Cabernet Franc from the Chinon in the Loire Valley of France. This Cabernet Franc features round tannins, ripe blackberries, with notes of thyme, black pepper, mushrooms, and a lingering finish, all for an excellent price.

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

&nbsp;MQ: If you are looking for a bottle to not only take your experience to the next level, as well as having a rich history, consider the 2017 Antinori, Guado al Tasso from Bolgheri within Tuscany in Italy. The Antinori family has been producing wine since 1385. Grown along the Tuscan coast, this Cabernet Sauvignon is rich and full-bodied with ripe blackberries, ripe plumb, cassis, tobacco, smoke, and vanilla, with a soft, lingering finish. A classic bottle to add to any special event.

RT: Michaela Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate 1770 House Restaurant and Inn&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 us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us an 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.

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.&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

Thank you.

&nbsp;

End

&nbsp;

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